Kars (@koiztra) is a men’s fashion creator based in the Netherlands. When COVID hits his hometown, Kars must find time and space to navigate the ‘new normal’ by building an office in his attic, juggling a full-time job with his creative pursuits, while also taking care of his family and 4-year old daughter. Here’s how Kars gets it done:

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On his work routine:

In the mornings I wake up 10 minutes to 6 as my daughter runs into the bathroom. I go down to walk the dog and prepare our breakfast. I take a quick shower, dress for the day and take my daughter to school. Then I get to work.

In my day-to-day I work in business development and sales at a global digital agency. Having worked with household brands including Levi’s and Chanel, my primary focus is to help our clients build loyalty with their customers and connect with them through digital channels.

At the end of my work day, if it’s my turn to cook dinner, I’ll go grocery shopping and get to cooking. I make sure to squeeze in some time to play with the little one too.

After I bring my daughter to bed in the evening, and I’ll either edit some photos or do some self-studying. Then I’m off to bed.

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On his everyday carry:

I’m really enjoying the ISM backpack, especially in combination with the bottle and the charger. I go into the office, roughly two to three times a week now and the bag fits everything I need for my work.

I always have my MacBook, work phone, bottle of water, and chewing gum. I also carry a notebook and a pen for the ideas I have on the go. Can’t forget the daily necessities too, including: my wallet, iPhone, keys and AirPods. That’s basically it, I try to keep my everyday bag minimal and low in weight—carrying only the essentials I need to get to work.

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On designing his workspace:

Prior to COVID, I actually never had my own workspace at home. So when lockdown began, I took some old cupboards from IKEA, picked up wood from a local hardware store and turned our attic into my very own office.

I wanted to cultivate a space where I could feel comfortable at home while also enjoy my work.

When it comes to my aesthetic eye, I’m drawn to a lot of neutral tones, white, black, and gray. I also love surrounding my space with things that inspire me. One photograph in my office is from an artist who creates stunning photos of surfing. To me, the image resembles the feeling of being totally free again. I appreciate having items that relax the mind but also minimal enough to maintain my productivity.

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On the biggest challenge in COVID:

It was a normal day when lockdown was announced. I had meetings at the office. Clients visiting. Then suddenly from one day to the next, everything was work from home and fully digital. It was a total 180.

In addition to my own work, my partner was starting up a business. It became a challenge for my us because our 4-year old daughter came home as well (goodbye daycare, hello homeschooling). Suddenly two grown ups needed to work, school, and entertain all in one space.

The days felt like they were getting longer and longer, like I didn’t have time to breathe.

We knew we needed to find a balance.

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On new opportunities:

In many surprising ways, COVID introduced some interesting angles into my life. Designing my home office opened up a new avenue of interior photography for me. While my feed is usually focused on flat lays and product photography, I found myself experimenting with photos of my workspace and to my surprise, received a positive response from my audience. Fast forward to today, I now collaborate with interior brands too.

To add to that, it’s typically a struggle for parents to spend quality time with their kids when you have to be at work for most of the day. But as a young father, how often can you say that you’ve spent three whole months with your daughter every single day while also having a full-time job. That’s what I love about working from home, I can spend the extra minutes I take for commuting, for extra work breaks with my family.

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On what he’s looking forward to:

Luckily the Netherlands handled COVID pretty well and lockdown only lasted about a month or two. The first thing we did was go to the lake near our house where there are some great restaurants (gotta support the local businesses!).

I’m back on traveling as well, and the backpack has perfect for that. The luggage strap is handy and makes it easy when traveling in the airport. My first destination is the South of France. My family and I went there about two years ago and we’d love to see it again. Great food, great environment, lovely beaches— totally my vibe. So looking forward to going there again.

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From supermarket cashier to full-time travel blogger, Christine (@christineabroad) calls the world her “office” after having visited over 55 countries and counting. With a passion for responsible travel and paradise beaches, the Swedish content creator aims to inspire people to explore the world by sharing her hidden gems, practical tips, and destination guides. This is her take on the perfect travel pack.

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Since I started traveling the world, I’ve been searching for a bag that’s lightweight, organized, and stylish. A while ago I found the perfect one — the ISM backpack. Without a doubt, it is one of the best backpacks I’ve ever used during my travels.

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THE ISM BACKPACK

ISM is a brand that offers comfortable and stylish backpacks. They are made of high-quality materials that are durable and water-resistant. The bag itself has a padded back with adjustable straps (that don’t dangle), and a leather flap on the side to easily charge my phone on the go.

The front of the backpack is made of full-grain leather and nylon, while the inside comes in a beautiful royal blue or burgundy fabric. The zippers and hardware are offered in a gold or black accent color.

There are several pockets that help me stay organized: a separate laptop compartment with two padded sleeves, a zippered pocket in the main area, a zippered pocket in the front, and two square pockets on the inside.

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THE ISM ACCESSORIES

In addition to the bags, ISM also sells a matching power bank and water bottle that fit perfectly inside. Designed with vegan leather and an aluminum case, the power bank can charge my phone up to 3 times and iPad up to 2 times (6,000 mAh).

The slim and minimally designed water bottle is made of stainless steel and can hold up to 60 cl (20 oz). Both accessories come in either navy or black and are always in my backpack.

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A BAG THAT CARRIES IT ALL

When I was searching for a new backpack, there were some things on my list that needed to be met. First, staying organized is a must while traveling. I love that the ISM backpack has several pockets to keep me organized, including the pocket in the front, main area, and laptop compartment.

Another feature I needed was the separate laptop compartment. This external case makes it so easy to go through airport security because I no longer have to fuss through my stuff just to get to my laptop out.

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Last but not least I wanted a durable, comfortable, minimalistic, and stylish bag to travel with. This backpack exceeded my expectations – it’s simply beautiful and goes with every outfit. I’ve used both backpacks for the last couple of months and they still look brand new – the quality is amazing!

THE PROS AND CONS

Pros: It’s stylish, comfortable, and durable. It keeps me organized with its various pockets, especially the separate laptop compartment. It is a good size, lightweight, and backed by ISM’s lifetime warranty.

Cons: I don’t really have any complaints about the ISM backpack. The only thing is that the smaller size isn’t wide enough to carry a big DSLR camera, BUT the larger one solves for this!

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The ISM backpack may not be the cheapest bag in the market, but you absolutely get what you paid for. I’ve purchased backpacks in the past that were much cheaper but did not last as long as this one. Also, I think it’s awesome that the large bag costs the same as the small one (235 USD) and fits up to a 15” laptop. You can see how much thought and effort they’ve put into this backpack — it’s a combination that’s hard to beat.

DO I RECOMMEND IT?

Yes, I highly recommend the ISM bundle to anyone that is looking for a comfortable, organized, durable, and stylish backpack to travel with. From traveling, hiking, to day-to-day trips — the ISM bag works for every occasion.

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How do you stand out from the crowd with a classic backpack design? Create something to a high standard, executing a premium experience that delivers on your mission. That’s exactly what the ISM Classic Backpack has done, a productivity tool for the creative. With a strong aesthetic and obsession for details inside and out, it’s hard not to fall in love with a carry that empowers you to create

Designer Aesthetics, Premium allure

A recap on the ISM Classic backpack, it measures 30cm wide, 43cm long and 13cm deep. Full-grain leather are used for the bottom half of the bag, shoulder straps and rear trims. The rest are built of waterproof nylon, with mesh padding and ventilation on the rear and under-strap.

If you’re hesitating between different styles of bags, the ISM Classic backpack is a versatile day carry. Dress up or dress down, it’ll always compliment your style of wear thanks to the simple, modern aesthetics and materials. It’s lightweight, yet feels premium all-round. The structure holds itself with a stiffened frame so it doesn’t cave in on small loads. It intentionally relaxes on the main zipper opening for brighter access and visibility of the main space and two compartments towards the bottom. A bag-wide pocket stores small items with reasonable flex to fit in a few flat items.

There are two accent colours for the ISM Classic Backpack – gunmetal black or gold zipper and matching logo trim. I really like the gold trim as it comes across as sophisticated and premium, matching well with the build quality of the Classic. The gunmetal black is also a great option for an anonymous and subtle visual. Both bags look great on men and women, complimenting any outfit.

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Diving into the ISM details

I’m methodical when it comes to understanding the flow of a backpack. That is my workflow, access, storage, carry and function. The 17.2L of space is good for a day backpack for your tech and productive essentials. The separate laptop compartment offers 2 dividers to slot in up to a 15″ laptop, a tablet and another item in front of it if you choose to. Bear in mind this eats into the ISM Classic Backpack main space to keep its slimline exterior profile.

You do have the flexibility which is nice and I found sometimes flat items fit better in the main space or laptop compartment for a secured and protected fit. I like the fact the latter space is separate for organised access too. If the outside feels premium, the inside feels like luxury. ISM left no detail unattended to. Every pocket or divider edge is polished and stitched with a leather trim. The inside lined with svelte, navy polyester is smooth to the touch and classy.

Each zipper has their own personality – the front with a long leather zip-pull and detailed leather trim bordering the gold zipper, the main compartment with black zippers hidden underneath the nylon material for a cleaner look, and the laptop compartment with an aqua-guard sealant to weatherproof and protect the tech devices inside. ISM’s attention to detail is what really uplifts the premium experience of the Classic backpack.

What can it fit?

What do I carry with me? My setup neatly organises my essentials, fitting perfectly inside. I can bring my full laptop suite which includes my 13.5” Surface Book, Laptop Stand, Microsoft Designer Keyboard and FODI origami flat stand. I can literally bring my full setup to the café in this slimline day backpack. Sweet. My Arc Touch mouse slides nicely into the main compartment pocket on the top, together with my wallet. The bottom pockets take my ISM Limited Edition Power Bank and portable hard drive.

The USB pass-through built into the left side of the bag lets me charge my phone on while keeping the power bank inside. A great touch. Any books will need to be in the main space or laptop compartment, as well as any documents. My Nintendo Switch case, travel organiser and flask set me up for the day. If it’s a sunny day, then I also bring a spare shirt and sunglasses. You can carry a mirrorless camera and lens if you have a slim camera cube but I don’t see the ISM backpack as one designed for it.

Wearing the ISM Classic backpack is a pleasant and comfortable experience. The leather shoulder straps are comfortable by material, so when you add extra mesh padding, it absorbs more weight, making it easier on my shoulders for the whole day. The webbed seatbelt-like material and metal links let you adjust the shoulder strap length for a tight and looser fit. It’s not really made for something you can do on the fly, but once it’s set, you’re set.

I use the carry handle on the top of the ISM Classic backpack a lot if I’m picking it up. It feels solid in the hand, well-built and balanced. Essentially, it works as you’d expect. Reinforced leather stitching secures the shoulder straps and I imagine this bag will last for many years to come.

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Built for the creatives of the world

This kind of backpack is not built for free-flowing access to your backpack at will like other functional backpacks. What the ISM Classic backpack is built-for however, is readily available access to your creative tools and be productive once you’ve arrived. And for that, they achieve it with thoughtful storage options, well-organised tech compartment and great visibility into the bag to take out with ease.

There are a lot of backpacks that either sacrifice design for functionality, functionality for design but nothing really hitting both. The ISM Classic Backpack is a great example of something that strives for both with great execution. This is a day backpack that offers a lot of storage options in a compact, small footprint. It offers depth that you don’t need to hold back on what to bring, though it’s minimal, contemporary and modern aesthetics encourages that way of thinking to keep you lightweight and agile.

The mix of nylon and leather give both durability and luxury at the same time. And although the compartments get tight as you pack items inside the ISM Classic Backpack, I always felt my items were comfortably accessible and protected with the premium feeling materials. If there is something I take away from using the ISM Classic Backpack as my everyday carry, it’s that even simple designs can be exciting and sophisticated.

View the original article, published by Russell on his blog.

This article was originally featured in the NY Times Wirecutter.

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If you take your laptop with you to work or school, a backpack is the best way to carry it. A backpack is more ergonomic than a messenger bag, capable of holding more than a briefcase, and more stylish than a rolling bag. Seven Wirecutter staffers took 53 backpacks on buses, trains, cars, and planes (and through TSA lines) to find the best laptop backpacks for commuting.

Although each person has their own criteria for what makes a perfect backpack, every bag we recommend holds a laptop and its power supply, remains comfortable to wear for an entire commute, and looks stylish (though tastes vary, of course). We have backpacks that are great for riding on tightly crowded buses and train cars or for biking in downpours. For ultra-organized tech wranglers and for people who want a black hole. For the fashion-forward and those who want something small and super-stylish or leather and luxe. For road warriors who fly regularly and for fitness-minded folks who bring their gym gear to work.

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WHO THIS IS FOR:

‍Someone who values a comfortable, attractive bag with lots of storage but wants one that looks more stylish, subtle, and refined than most other backpacks.

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WHY IT’S GREAT:

ISM’s The Backpack is a great choice if you want a stylish, sophisticated backpack that’s comfortable to wear for a long time and has enough storage for a full day of work (notably more storage than you’d find in small fashionable bags like the Rains). It fits a variety of body sizes and, in my opinion, appears a cut above everything my co-workers tested, thanks to its full-grain leather bottom.

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Shop The Backpack in Black

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The ISM (pronounced -ism) bag is a sleek, demure-looking backpack, with understated leather flourishes that provide a subtle contrast to its primarily nylon construction. Its leather bottom and trim details make it suitable for attending important meetings at the office or for impressing your date so thoroughly that they forget you were late to dinner because of said meetings.

The ISM bag is comfortable to wear on your back for long periods of time. The mesh padding on its arms and back is plush, and I had no issue wearing this bag for a cumulative 10 hours while testing. Riding on public transit, waiting for coffee, shopping at a vintage vinyl record outpost in SoHo—we’ve done it all together, the ISM and I. And I never felt like it was overheating my back.

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ISM’s The Backpack has enough storage space to cover you in most situations. I counted six pockets and two main compartment areas, including a laptop sleeve for a 16-inch laptop. Most other backpacks I tested didn’t provide as much room as this one for storing notebooks and folders. The ISM pack provides a teeny leather flap on the right side, where you can pass through a phone charger from the inside of the bag.

ISM offers a lifetime warranty that applies to manufacturing defects in the bag’s materials. I couldn’t find a warranty this long for any of the other stylish backpacks I tested; some, like the AllSaints Ridge Rucksack, offer only a farcical 14-day return window.

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Shop The Backpack in Gold

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FLAWS BUT NOT DEALBREAKERS:

‍At its usual price of $235, ISM’s The Backpack is expensive, so I recommend this bag only to those who care deeply about appearances. The lifetime warranty makes this pricey pill a touch easier to swallow compared with other fashionable bags like those from AllSaints and Saturdays, both of which have a paltry two-week return policy. The ISM pack also lacks side pockets, but if you’re carrying a bag for style, it’s better to avoid stashing a plastic water bottle on the outside.

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Dimensions: 18 by 13½ by 5 inches
Weight: 1.8 pounds
Water-bottle holders: none
Warranty: lifetime (manufacturing defects only)
Maximum laptop size: 16 inches
Colors: black with black accents, black with gold accents

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I wanted to create a space that was minimal and tailored around the needs of my work. 

For the past 15 years, I’ve worked in various industries from advertising and branding, to education. Currently I’m the Chief Content Officer at The Futur, a design education company where I teach and share what I know through video content, thoughtful articles, interactive workshops, and speaking engagements. 

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I focus on the intersections of communication and the creative process so my time is usually split between doing two things: making content and managing the team.

So my workstation needed to be a space where I could be both a maker and a manager. Something that would allow me to do deep work and incorporate systems to help me focus on the most important day to day tasks.

Here’s how I did it. 

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To start the office design process, I blocked out the space in my favorite 3D program. (I know, super nerdy). This helped me figure out the general layout, before committing to any big efforts or purchases. I personally like dark minimal spaces, so I decided to paint two of my walls dark grey, which I color matched to the other areas of the building.

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For my desk, I chose the Sway desk by Ergonifis. It’s a motorized sit stand desk that’s made of solid walnut and has black detailed finishes. It gives me a lot of real estate to work on and has programmable settings so I can lock in the optimal height for both sitting and standing.

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For the rest of the space, I wanted to keep a consistent aesthetic, so I tried to match the rest of my accessories, to pair with the walnut wood of my desk and the dark paint on my walls.

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I also created a “cozy corner”, to help me relax between sprints of work and add a little warmth to the space. This corner of my office is specially designed for decompression. A big comfy Barcelona chair, surrounded by beautiful green indoor plants. The round rug on the floor helps to visually anchor the open area, and the organic shape of the plants break up straight lines of the room.

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To light my space, I was looking for a flexible system that would adjust as the day transitions into night. To accomplish this, I invested in a set of Phillips Hue Play lights to place behind my monitor, and a few bulbs for the lamps I had in the room. This gives me plenty of ambient lighting. Which I can adjust for cool temperatures during the day to help me focus. And can shift into warm temperatures at night, when I’m winding down.

There’s still a lot of empty space in the room for potential shelving or decorations, but for now, I thought I’d keep it minimal and live in the space a bit, before I add anything else (yet). 

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‍Matthew Encina is the the Chief Content Officer at The Futur, a design education company. He also serves as a creative director at Blind, a design consultancy where he creates interactive experiences and content for brands, tech, and video games. 

You can learn more about Matthew by visiting his Instagram @matthewencina & @mod.musings, YouTube channel @matthewencina, or by going to his website: matthewencina.com‍

So if you haven’t noticed, I never do things just because “every other blogger is doing them.” I just do me. Hence why I’ve steered clear of the obligatory “What’s In My Bag” blog post for so long. But nowadays I get this question quite a lot, so, you ask and you shall receive.

Here’s the deal, I’m a hands-free kinda gal. I like to be mobile, light, and ready for action — and that’s why I love backpacks. Sadly, the struggle is real when it comes to finding the perfect backpack. And let’s be picky because as I learned in business school, WE DESERVE TO GET OUR NEEDS MET.

HERE’S MY LIST OF BACKPACK REQUIREMENTS:

Chic AF — This is not 2003 and I am not rocking a Jansport. I want leather. I want gold hardware. This is an accessory people. It needs to have beautiful DETAILS.

Functional — I want my backpack to keep me organized. It should have enough pockets to keep from turning into a black hole, but only the RIGHT pockets. I don’t want tons of useless extra pockets I’m never going to use. My backpack must keep my precious baby (my laptop) safe — my whole world is in there. It has to be comfortable, lightweight, and durable. I tend to throw my backpack around; I’m not a dainty flower.

Priced right — Personally, I’m all about investing money back into my business, so I can’t justify spending more than $300 on a backpack.

The problem is that most laptop-functional backpacks are (I’m sorry but…) hideous. Like, I do not want rubber material on or anywhere near my backpack.

Don’t worry though, I got us covered. Ever since I got my ISM backpack I pretty much haven’t taken it off — dorky, but true.

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HERE’S WHY I LOVE IT (YES, IT MEETS ALL MY REQUIREMENTS):

Chic AF — This backpack is beautiful. It’s made with full-grain leather and no silver hardware, you get to choose black or gold! Just my style.

Functional — This backpack is pocket perfection with just a few strategically placed compartments, nothing extra. There’s a totally separate PADDED & WATERPROOF laptop compartment to protect my tech gear! (Is it weird how excited I get about that?). It’s also super sturdy and well-made (thrown-across-the-floor-tested by yours truly), and the padded straps make it super comfortable to wear and provide back support (no one likes a hunchback).

Priced right — How is a full-grain leather backpack only $235, you ask? Unlike many other luxury brands, ISM cuts out the middle-women and sells directly to the consumer.

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So basically ISM is my backpack soulmate… Cute right? I treat it as such and thus refuse to fill it up with gum wrappers and old receipts. I used to fill my bag with unnecessary things. These days, I clean out my backpack at the end of every day because an unorganized bag stresses me out, and stress just doesn’t go with my outfit (or lifestyle, for that matter). For so long I thought I needed to be more organized, but now I know I just need to own less stuff by decluttering and donating things I no longer use.

I keep the contents of my ISM backpack lean, so everything in there is legit AF (if I do say so myself).

HERE’S WHAT’S IN MY BACKPACK:

Tech Essentials

Laptop + Case — I went for the 15-inch Macbook Pro because the extra 2 inches prevents me from hunching over my laptop at cafes. It’s also super powerful and can handle the 100 programs and 1000 tabs I have going at once.

Airpods — Ok so, I’ll admit it, I used to be anti-Airpods. I mean, they’re not the cutest look. But I’ve changed my tune because the functionality is just THERE. But I don’t use earplugs when I’m somewhere I could potentially meet people, like coffee shops. I keep my head up, smile, and stay open because you never know who you might meet!

Chargers — Along with my laptop charger, I also carry the ISM power bank and it fits perfectly with the backpack. Although I love the vegan leather, what I love even more is the fact that it’s a literal powerhouse. It can charge your phone up to THREE TIMES (so necessary).

Non-Tech Essentials

Wallet & Keys — I love my tiny Gigi New York wallet because I can slip it in my pocket if I need to and I get to have my initials on it.

Sunglasses — Somehow I can never have enough of these – but I keep it to just one pair at a time in my backpack. My current faves are from Raen Mason. I love the round frames and super lightweight feel.

Water Bottle — People. Please stop buying plastic water bottles. I’m serious. It’s so, so bad for our planet.

Leather Jacket — On the rare days it gets cold in LA, I have to throw one of my fave leather jackets over my crop top.

As lean as I try to keep my backpack, of course, I still have a bunch of odds and ends. I keep them in separate pouches so they don’t get lost in the abyss. Here’s what’s in the pouches:

Office Pouch: I’ve got a notebook & chic pen because I’m constantly taking notes. I do it on my phone too, but some things just need to be done on paper. I’ve also got black post-its and metallic Sharpies because I like to leave people unique notes so they always know it’s from me! And of course, business cards — I never leave home without em! You never know who you might meet.

Personal Pouch: In here I have chapstick, gum, tampons, and midol. I used to always have 100 tampons in my bag EXCEPT for when I got my period — so now I just keep them in this pouch so I can easily find them. I also have hair tools and face wipes for after workouts and while traveling. I also have crystals and peppermint essential oil to keep me calm and grounded.

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Anna Wood (@brainsoverblonde), Female Empoweress and founder of Brains Over Blonde, is a career and lifestyle consultant who empowers women to claim their mind, body, and confidence to achieve their full potential. The Stanford MBA graduate, Google alumnus, entrepreneur, content creator, and Feminist, provides women the tools and strategies to help them live purpose-driven lives. This is her take on the girlboss work bag.

THE FIRST TIME I GOT PAID TO CREATE CONTENT…

It was for this letterboard company that reached out to me.

They were really the ones that propelled me down the path of content creation as a career.

It was such a great feeling to get paid for my work.

I loved the creative freedom around the project.

When I’m creating content I always start with a general idea. A theme. What do I want to convey?

I find it so important to have a story behind what I’m looking to create.

I’m big into kindness, support, uplifting others. I try to convey this on my own feed.

I know a flatlay isn’t an original idea, at the end of the day it’s just product and props.

But, I think if you convey a mood and narrative through colors, compositions, and color schemes, you can tell a meaningful story.

I’d like to create states of dreaminess and these unrealistic worlds that can speak to people at the same time.

So I go in with that idea.

WHERE I GO FOR INSPIRATION

I think it’s important to get your inspiration from a lot of places.

At times it can be a struggle for me to come up with a good idea.

I tend to look to arts, to books. Books that aren’t necessarily on the Top 10 Read List.

I think it’s important to feed your creativity in places where not everyone else is going.

Consuming different content introduces me to so many contradictory things that I wouldn’t necessarily think about myself, but it gets me thinking in a certain way.

That’s why I try to avoid Pinterest as a place for inspiration.

There’s a lot of the same and I think whether you want to or not you subconsciously absorb it.

MY CREATIVE PROCESS

I love using pen and paper.

I like to sketch out my flatlays first.

If I can come up with a fun play on words, I’ll write that down, then I’ll usually draw out what props I’m including in the flatlay.

I don’t think I’ll ever show anyone my sketches as they’re super rough, but it gives me an idea of what I want to do.  

After my sketches, I get to the creating.

I’ll gather all my materials, my DSLR, tripod, backdrop, elements, and then I’ll just start composing.

A lot of times the end result is improvised.

I tend to stick to the color schemes of what I have planned out, but the elements and props included tend to change a little bit.

Sometimes I feel like “Oh I should add a bit more coziness”, or “I should add a quote here” or what have you. There’s a lot of improvisation that happens when I create, which I think is important.

I think it’s okay to deviate a little from your plan as long as the general idea is still there.

That’s the fun part.

When I’m in my space, I’m able to visualize the shot. As long as the lighting is great, I know when it’s a good shot.

When I first started I would take an exorbitant amount of photos, though I’ve learned now it’s not much of a necessity.

I think it’s a part of the learning process.

Experience teaches you where this prop should sit, how to play with lighting, how to be more efficient.

When I first started, I wasn’t confident at all in what I was creating.

I thought “this isn’t good”, “what am I doing?”

As I started to create more I learned more about what works for clients, what works for yourself.

I think it comes down to experience.

That’s why I tell people if you’re into something make it a part of your everyday.

When I go out and do stuff, my brain is always in flatlay mode.

When you make something a part of your everyday experience, it’s so ingrained in you that I feel like you just intuitively know what’s going to work and what’s not going to work.

Like all things, it takes time. But you never forget that first one.

MICHELLE’S TOP TIPS FOR CREATING A FLATLAY

1. Understand Composition

Composition plays a big role in creating a flatlay that will resonate. It’s important to balance out colors. I tend to do a lot more neutrals than color. I think it’s important to understand color and how they play with each other

2. Get Great Lighting

Understand how to play with lighting. Some people are like “I don’t like my flatlay because it has shadows, but I think that shadows can be good because it creates a mood. It’s about understanding the aesthetic of the flatlay you’re trying to create and letting lighting create that mood.

3. Get Your Props in Order

Sometimes what people will do is they’ll put all the same size props together. Or they’ll put too many circles. But it’s important to play with the size of your products, so the main event (the hero) stands out and everything else compliments it.

4. Be Yourself!

Just because something is trendy or popular doesn’t necessarily mean you need to hop on board if it doesn’t resonate with you. For personal flatlays, put as much of yourself in them. That’s how it resonates with the right people!

Michelle is a content creator focused on product styling and photography.  

You can find her flatlays and other work on her Instagram @mich.elle.imagery

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