The world of practical-yet-stylish work bags. These are laptop backpacks that hold everything you need to make it through a day at the office, yet still, look stylish enough to take to dinner once you’re off the clock. What makes a backpack perfect for the commute is different from the characteristics of a regular rucksack, so here are some things to look for:

1. Materials to Consider

In a work environment, what you carry needs to look the part – neutral colorways and smart, low-key designs all contribute towards creating an air of dependable professionalism — whether it’s a tote bag or a backpack.

The materials play a large part in determining the overall look and function of a bag. With a work backpack, you want to look out for materials that are very wearable; meaning that the materials themselves are a reflection of your profession and how you go about your workday.

Depending on your profession, here are some common types of materials that go well with a backpack that looks professional:

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Leather

Leather is a classic material that gives any commuter backpack a premium and stylish feel. Tried and true in the business world, leather bags have been used by working professionals for years, so a leather backpack can help you fit right in with a history of elegance.

Because leather doesn’t come on a roll like other types of bag materials, it costs more to produce and make in a backpack. Bags made from leather also require more craftsmanship so if you’re looking at a leather laptop backpack, be prepared to spend more than a backpack made with knitted materials.

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Nylon & Polyester

Nylon and polyester are great materials because they’re simple and durable while still feeling a premium feel. Both are traditional materials found in early uses of backpacks and bags (Prada and Longchamp have iconic nylon bags) and they’ll last a while without ripping, tearing, or pilling. Tumi is well known for pioneering a type of nylon called ballistic nylon, known for its durability and deluxe strength.

Heathered & Variegated Materials

Wool and denim are both examples of this since they are both used in everyday worn items from Shirts to Pants. Going for a heathered or variegated material will fit a certain type of aesthetic and profession because it will match with the clothing that you’re already wearing, giving you a consistent head to toe look. Bag brands like Incase or Timbuk2 often feature very wearable materials.

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2. Materials to Avoid

Cotton Canvas

Cotton canvas is typically seen in many daypacks or school (like Jansport, Herschel) and the casual looking material can give off a seemingly unprofessional vibe. Canvas is also not very water-resistant (although some bags do add a layer of coating to the canvas), and it’s a fabric that is very fine and therefore is more susceptible to tears or rips.

Noisy, Thin Linings

If you’re at a meeting and getting something out of your bag, the last thing you want is to draw attention to you from the crunchy sound that a backpack’s lining can make. Lining that’s made with cheaper, thinner materials lend themselves to making sounds, whereas you won’t have that issue with a lining made from thicker materials.

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The ISM backpack lining is made from a polyester twill which gives it a soft hand feel, but durable exterior.

3. Features & Functionality To Look For

Padded Laptop Backpack

If you’re carrying your laptop or tablet sleeveto and from work, having a padded laptop compartment is a must-have. The best backpacks will have extra padding underneath the bottom of the laptop sleeve and plenty of room to keep your Macbook or iPad safe.

When evaluating a laptop bag, be sure to check if the padding in the laptop pocket extends all the way to the bottom of the bag or if there are a few inches of space between the laptop sleeve and the bottom of the bag.

Extra points here go to a padded laptop sleeve that lives in a separate compartment from the main compartment of the backpack, so you’ll be able to easily access your tech without having to rummage through all of your other belongings.

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A separate waterproof zippered laptop compartment is one of the main features in the ISM backpack. The large backpack fits up to a 15-inch laptop, while the small backpack fits up to a 13-inch laptop.

Lightweight & Portable

Whether you’re commuting to work or strapping a bag to your carry-on, it’s important to have a bag that is lightweight yet roomy. It’s one less thing to worry about having enough storage space for your gym clothes or your tote causing you back and shoulder pains.

A great daypack is ideally made with materials that are lightweight, so it’s something to keep in mind when looking for a backpack made with heavier materials, like an all-leather bag.

When you’re at the office, it’s great to have a backpack that is also easily portable, so in addition to the shoulder straps, having a secondary carry handle is a useful feature. Accessory handles on the top or side of the backpack allow you to carry your backpack like a briefcase when you’re walking into your office or in a crowded area like the subway. These bags can also double as a travel backpack, due to their versatility.

Structured Backpack

Work backpacks should have a structured look since it makes them feel more presentable and serious. This can be achieved with padding throughout the bag, and padding is also great for protecting your valuables.

Another benefit of having a structured backpack is that it will stand up straight when placed on the ground. You want to be able to put your bag down, open it, get your tablet, charger, or what you need out of your backpack so you can move on with your work. Having a bag next to you that doesn’t look all crumpled is an easy way to look more professional.

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Comfortable Back Straps

Comfort is another key feature in a work backpack. While it doesn’t need to have all the padding and functionality of a hiking backpack, there are a few must-have features to allow for a comfortable carry.

One of those is having a back panel that is padded. A comfortable backing will have some sort of memory foam (EVA/EVE) or mesh padding inside of it to give your back a nice soft surface to lean on. Having breathable materials on the back straps is great for those hot summer days when you’re trying to keep sweat marks to a minimal.

Padding on the shoulder straps is also a nice feature because it decreases the pressure on your shoulders and allows for an easier carry. Unlike a single shoulder bag or tote, backpacks distribute weight evenly between two straps. The equal weight distribution provides relief on your shoulders and back caused by toting or sitting at a desk for hours on end. Adjustable straps are another essential feature in the best work backpacks.

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Memory foam and mesh straps and back padding make the ISM classic backpack lightweight and comfortable to wear during any season.

Plenty of Internal Organization

For easy access, choosing a backpack that has a U shaped zipper opening is your best bet. This type of shape makes it easy to see where your stuff is while making getting things out simple. Types of backpacks to avoid if you value quick access are bag shapes like a roll top or top loader since these require you to untie a drawstring or unroll a part of the bag first before you’re able to get into the main compartment.

For staying organized and on top of your game, it’s convenient to have a bag that has at least two main compartments, with one of them being a dedicated laptop compartment for keeping your tech safe and secure. A convenient front pocket or side pocket also allows for quick access to your essentials.

In the other compartment, it can be convenient if the backpack has some dedicated space for organization, like a zippered pocket, water bottle pockets, or key rings and retractable cords. More is not always better in the case of an organized work backpack, so its best to find a bag that has all the necessary organization but not too many expandable pockets that will probably go unused and feel cluttered.

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Quick Access Pockets

When you’re commuting to and from work, having easily accessible pockets comes in handy. A quick access pocket can be typically found on the front, side, or back of a backpack. Whether it’s a subway card, phone, wallet, keys, headphones,  gum, or any small item that you carry, having an easy access pocket makes getting items out much easier, especially since you won’t have to take off your backpack. If you like to carry a water bottle to and from work, then using a backpack that has water bottle pockets is also convenient.

Durable & Weather Resistant

Having a work backpack that’s weather-resistant is a nice feature since it’ll give you peace of mind that your electronics are safe if you get caught in the rain. This could be a waterproof zipper that keeps your laptop compartment secure or choosing a backpack that has been coated with a water-resistant layer.

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4. What To Avoid

Heavy Branding

With a work backpack, you want the focus to be on you and not your bag so it’s best to avoid heavy branding and noisy graphics. Instead, go for a backpack with a subtle logo and clean, minimal aesthetic. When it comes to your outfit, by keeping your work backpack to a minimal aesthetic, you can highlight other accessories you might wear like a watch, socks, or jewelry.

Excessive Details

Keeping it simple and minimal is best for conveying a professional look, so try and avoid things like excessive buckles, pockets, or zippers. You want to find a backpack that has just enough detail, but not more than what’s required for a workday.

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5. Final Thoughts On Finding the Perfect Work Bag

There’s no black and white way of using a work bag, it comes down to preference, what kind of profession you’re in, and where you’re based (e.g. the difference in climate between San Francisco & New York.)

One thing we do recommend though is looking for a work backpack that has a sophisticated mix of materials. If you have a bag that uses all of the same material, then nothing really stands out as there is no contrast. But having a bag with a mix of two materials can give it some contrast and uniqueness that can take an all-black backpack and give it some subtle distinctiveness.

The perfect bag was something we had a hard time finding. Most functional bags were bulky. We wanted something that was both useful and sleek. To do this, we interviewed hundreds of professionals on what features they actually used every day and designed our backpack around them, while keeping a minimal and timeless aesthetic.

Meet the ISM Backpack. One bag for all-day in two sizes depending on your fit. We use premium materials and provide a lifetime warranty on the bag (it’s made at the same manufacturer as TUMI, Armani, and Longchamp).

For years, women have been on the quest to find the perfect work-life carryall. Backpacks haven’t really been an option for us since most of them were either too casual for the workplace, too techy, or too masculine looking.

Now, women are ditching their single-shoulder bags totes and handbags for a more practical toting solution, and never looking back.

See why the world of practical-yet-stylish work backpacks are everything you need to make it through your day:

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1. No More Juggling Multiple Work Bags

Why has it become a norm for professional women to carry multiple crossbody bags to the office? While men’s bags are able to fit it all, women’s bags seem to have forgotten about functionality.

This leaves women looking to men’s bag brands for utility, carrying less than desirable looking laptop bags and having a separate, prettier handbag or leather tote for smaller items. Every day, there’s the “great morning purse transfer” of moving your wallets, keys, notebooks, and workday essentials from one satchel to the other.

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Women who have switched to a leather laptop bag, and are able to carry one bag for an entire day, have a huge weight taken off their shoulders (pun intended). It’s all about the convenience. Not having to worry about dropping your phone or passport as you’re running through the subway or airport. Being hands-free is refreshing” says Beth Goldstein, NPD’s accessories analyst.

Preparedness is the ultimate power move.  

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How many items do you carry every day? Some backpacks, like The ISM Backpack have separate zippered compartments for storing your laptop, iPad, and everyday essentials.

2. Enjoy A Hands-Free Commute

Once you backpack its hard to go back.

Backpacks are a little bit of everything at once — professional and casual, spacious enough to fit your Macbook and gym sneakers and designed with just enough pockets and zippers to store the things you need. Whether it’s for the morning commute or a long haul trip, carrying one backpack instead of multiple handbags lets you seamlessly go from one event to another. The best work bags are also water-resistant, so you’re never left stranded in the unexpected drizzle.  

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For the road warriors out there, a backpack can be the ideal travel bag, especially when airlines have a strict one carry-on bag limit. A business travel backpack paired with a sturdy carry on luggage can be all you need for a work trip or weekend away.

Bonus points to a backpack that has a separate laptop compartment and top handle — which makes going through TSA feel like a breeze.

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3. Ease Your Back Pain, Comfortably.

Just like the rise of athleisure and sneakers as officewear, comfort is king. Women have stopped accepting that beauty has to be painful, ditching the pumps and now, the one-shoulder bags. Who decided that carrying a heavy bag on one shoulder every day was a good idea?

Some women have sustained chronic back and shoulder injuries from lugging around heavy tote bags or purses — something that chiropractors and doctors have confirmed can be the direct result of carrying a heavy crossbody bag on a single shoulder.

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Unlike a hobo bag or canvas tote, backpacks distribute weight evenly between two shoulder straps. The equal weight distribution provides relief on your shoulders and back caused by a heavy single shoulder bag or sitting at a desk for hours on end.

The best work backpacks are also designed with memory foam and mesh padding on the straps and back panel for an extra soft touch.

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Many modern work bags have mesh and EVA foam padding on the straps and back panel, like the genuine leather ISM Backpack.

4. Accessorize Your Outfits

The backpack is making a seamless transition from the work space to the runway, with designers from Louis Vuitton, Chanel, to Jeremy Scott, making their own rendition. “Backpacks are having a more prominent presence with the ‘90s resurgence, and many designers and brands are creating ones as pretty as they are practical,” explains Nicole Russo, stylist and founder of Let’s Get You.

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In a work environment, the best backpack needs to look the part – neutral colorways and smart, low-key designs all contribute towards creating an air of chic style and dependable professionalism. Minimal logo placement and premium quality materials like full-grain leather and nylon can add to the work and street-style look of a leather bag.

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As a result of COVID-19, a majority of the population has been ordered to shelter in place to combat the extensive spread of the disease. And while this has forced students and employees to quickly adapt to operating remotely, it has also left most people with an abundance of time to spend in the comfort of their homes. Whether you are completing work on the company clock, or trying to find a way to spend the free time you have indoors, you might consider taking a page from history.

Here are 5 famous figures who managed to write history while in social isolation:

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Isaac Newton

If you are a student who was sent home from college and are unsure of how to spend your time, consider this: Isaac Newton was one of many undergraduate scholars at Cambridge University sent home during the Great Plague of 1665. He was not an especially distinguished student while at Cambridge, but managed to spend his time in quarantine wisely. In the two years he was in isolation at his parent’s manor, he developed theories that led to the development of calculus, optics, and the law of gravity.

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With the lack of online schooling during that time, Newton spent most of his days in isolation reading and studying in his backyard. Newton’s apple, famously known for falling on his head and prompting him to ponder why things fall, came from a tree in his childhood backyard. An entire year in isolation led Newton to experience what he calls the most productive period of his life, eventually planting him as one of the most influential scientists today.

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William Shakespeare

Before the 20th century and the development of antibiotics, a new plague hit Europe once every 5 years or so. A particularly serious strain hit England in 1606, causing theaters and plays to shut down for over a year. Though some writers may have taken the time off, Shakespeare saw the quarantine as an opportunity to refocus and create new plays for the holiday court season. During this time in isolation, Shakespeare channeled his creative mind to write some of his best works including King Lear, Macbeth, and Antony and Cleopatra. 

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This was not the first time Shakespeare managed to find a silver lining during a time of life-threatening illness. He also wrote poetry 13 years earlier during the plague of 1593. Quarantines were also incorporated into his later works. For example, remember the friar who was supposed to tell Romeo that Juliet wasn’t actually dead? Well, the reason he didn’t reach Romeo was because he too was in forced quarantine. 

The friar says: “The searchers of the town…suspecting that we both were in a house..where the infectious pestilence did reign…sealed up the doors and would not let us forth.”‍

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Giovanni Boccaccio 

Giovanni Boccaccio was an Italian writer whose book, “The Decameron,” is still referenced today. Strangely enough, the story takes place during a pandemic known as, “The Bubonic Plague.” As you might imagine, the event inspired quite a few quarantines. “The Decameron” is a collection of fictional short stories that are told by 10 friends who escaped to a villa in the Italian countryside with the goal of avoiding the Black Death.

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Boccaccio was likely inspired to write this collection by his experiences in his own life: he also fled Florence to avoid the Bubonic Plague, a good idea as it eventually took the lives of three fourths of the city’s population.

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Jack Ma

Jack Ma is the Chinese billionaire behind the wholesale website Alibaba. He founded the site in 1999, and his business began to thrive until he faced a pandemic in 2004 known as “SARS”. The illness drastically hit China, and when one of Alibaba’s staff tested positive for the disease, Ma and 500 workers were forced into quarantine. Many commentators predicted that the virus would be the end of Alibaba, but Ma believed otherwise.

Alibaba employees managed to set up a system that allowed them to work from home within 2 days. Not only did they prevent a complete shutdown during the virus, but they also added 4,000 new members and 9,000 listings to their website per day, a 3-5x increase compared to their business before the SARS epidemic. The company also used the quarantine to launch another website called “Taobao.” The new site managed to unseat eBay in China, and is currently listed as the 8th most visited website in the world.
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Edvard Munch

Norwegian painter, Edvard Munch is best known for his work, “The Scream,” which effectively captured feelings of horror and human suffering. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that he found an outlet for his talents during the infamous Spanish Flu of 1918. Unlike others from this list, Munch actually contracted the virus he was trying so desperately to avoid. He dedicated his time between 1918 and 1919 to sketching portraits and paintings of his experience with the illness.

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Munch’s history of childhood illness and his advanced age may have made him more susceptible to getting sick. Eventually, Munch recovered and painted an “after” version titled “Self-Portrait After the Spanish Flu”.

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Many believe that back pain is an inevitable part of getting older. However, new research has revealed that back troubles might just be a side effect of our modern lifestyle. Anthropologists who have studied indigenous tribes all over the world note that they rarely complain of problems with their back, despite consistently performing arduous physical labor. Tribal women as old as 80 can be found gardening, gathering firewood, and weaving without sitting down for hours on end. Somehow, they avoid the back troubles that plague us in the west.

Palo Alto acupuncturist Esther Gokhale once struggled with back pain. The problem was so severe that she couldn’t sleep at night, and eventually resorted to surgery to fix a herniated disc. This solution worked for a while, but within a year, all her back-related problems came flooding back. “They wanted to do another back surgery. You don’t want to make a habit out of back surgery,” she says.

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Lessons We Can Learn From Indigenous Populations

Mrs. Gokhale decided to look beyond western medicine. She devoted herself to studying the work of anthropologists like Noelle Perez-Christiaens, and even visited indigenous tribes in remote parts of Africa, Portugal, and Ecuador. After years of study, and careful analysis of the photographs that she took in the field, a simple truth emerged: People in the west are shaped like an “S”, when they should really be shaped like a “J”.

Western cultures that experience more back pain tend to round their spines into an “S” shape. When they stand, they stick out their stomach and curve their spine backwards. When a western person bends down, they fold from their upper waist and curve their backs outward. When someone from an indigenous or less developed area does the same, they bend from their hips, keeping their back straight. A straight back is key to avoiding wear and tear on spinal discs, and avoiding pain.

Observers of rural villagers in Africa describe them as leaning over and making their bodies “parallel” to the ground. When they stand their backs are flat, which means that the only body part that sticks out are the buttocks. Subsequently, their profile looks like a “J”. This is the shape that Mrs. Gokhale and other researchers believe we should strive to emulate.

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Taking The Load Off Your Shoulders

Fixing your posture can help prevent chronic back pain, but in our modern society we face unique challenges. Unlike indigenous populations, we work at desks and sit in cars. Our bodies are also required to carry the weight of objects like laptops, book bags and purses. These items can apply more pressure to one side of the body than the other, which can negatively effect our long-term health. Over 80% of the US population will experience back pain at some point in their lives. Women in particular tend to suffer because they often feel pressured to prioritize style over comfort. Purses and bags made for women tend to emphasize fashionable colors and shapes rather than designs that prevent or alleviate back pain.

Early purses were never intended to hold as many objects as they do now. In the 20th century, as more and more women sought employment outside of the home, the size of the average purse grew. Bigger bags allowed working women to carry the papers, pens, folders, and eventually laptop computers that they needed to complete their office work and advance in their careers. However, the physical well being of the woman professional who carried the bags was never prioritized.

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It’s important to understand the mechanics of how your current bag is probably failing you. Consider a common carry-all for the modern professional woman: the oversized handbag. If you stuff your keychain, phone, wallet, laptop, and a book inside before dangling it by a skinny chain strap on your left shoulder, you are probably in for a bad time. According to Healthline.com, the lopsided weight distribution means that your muscles and natural gait will be thrown off. The excess weight on your left shoulder blade can cause it to roll out of place, straining your back and neck. Over time, the problem can compound, leading to weaker muscles in your back and spine, and even thoracic outlet syndrome.

You can’t always undo what has already been done, so the best way to treat pain is to avoid it altogether. The reason that carrying a handbag can cause chronic pain is that are people often carrying too much weight, or the weight that they are carrying is imbalanced. You can avoid these issues by making a simple switch: opt for a backpack. The even weight distribution across your shoulders and back eliminates the awkward lopsidedness.

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Preventing Pain With A Better Bag

Thanks to stylish and modern designs that meld fashion and function, it’s a lot better to be a woman walking with a backpack than one with a purse. Wearing a backpack can prevent you from experiencing shoulder pain after carrying a heavy bag, and more polished models from high end designers and independent start-ups will insure that your coworkers still view you as a professional woman.

The best way to prevent back pain is by improving your posture and avoiding bags or carry-alls that are overloaded or imbalanced. Though you can reduce chronic pain through stretching and other medical interventions, the best cure is always prevention.

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One of the primary obstacles for professional women who hesitate to make the switch is the concern that backpacks don’t look appropriate on anyone after they graduate from college. However, there have been great leaps and bounds in the field of professional women’s backpacks. Fashion start-ups, as well as old-guard institutions like Prada, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton, have been crafting stylish and innovative bags that accommodate the needs of the modern professional woman. Those who choose to buy a professional backpack over an oversized purse won’t be alone: sales of women’s backpacks were up 28% in the past year, even though men’s backpack sales went down. In that same period, sales of women’s handbags made a drop.

“I found my right shoulder—my purse shoulder—started to look lower than the left in the mirror. I also felt some pain from my neck down my right side because of the pressure. So, I got a cute and professional backpack. The back pain went away,” says Lisa Gillespie, a reporter in Louisville.

“Instagram is secretly recording us.”

While this dystopia has proven to be debunked, it’s a thought that many of us have had as we scroll through our feeds and come across an ad that seems eerily similar to something we were just talking about.

It turns out that while Facebook might not (yet) be big brother, it does have a pretty good idea of who we are — for better and for worse:

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Thumbs Up For Outfit Styling

“My best find would be a Chloe inspired saddle bag from Sole Society (Destin satchel) that I kept seeing on Instagram, and leopard everything has been my jam lately. Also, the super popular Palm Springs Mini is the best casual bag purchase I have ever made. These are all things that I wouldn’t have bought if I hadn’t seen an influencer style them in Instagram, since I am incapable of visualizing what makes a casual outfit work.”

— u/theteacupdragon

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“For me it was the white sneaker paired with everything look. I did not understand the power of a white sneaker, my logical brain kept thinking how dirty they would get and how the colour was so impractical for a shoe. I recently bought white adidas sneakers and they look so good with my outfits! I am fully converted.”

— u/cmak14

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When The Algorithm Knows You Better Than Yourself

“I know people get really upset about their online activity being tracked and information sold to tailor advertisements, but damn I do like having products hand picked for me. My facebook and instagram ads are all luxe minimalist clothing and makeup (with a splash of swedish baby toys and clothes). It tends to be high quality stuff, too, so it’s not like I’m being duped into overpaying for mediocre products.”

— u/fishgoblubb

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“I’m thankful I came across an instagram ad for the ISM backpack, as I’d been searching for weeks but hadn’t found one that I liked. This is the Apple of backpacks I’ve been looking for. This bag is made with quality materials and looks stunning. Can’t wait to use it for years to come.”

— u/brand0ng2

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When The Algorithm Doesn’t Quite Get You

“Instagram has me pegged for a lot more expensive bitch and also can’t decide on my gender. That said I’ve used insta marketing discounts on Timbuk2 backpacks and I found OAD NY through instagram marketing. I got my mom one of OAD’s purses and I got myself a cute wallet from their sample sale.”

— u/neverxsummer

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Impulse Buys Are Well, Impulses

“Worst: a super shitty cheap polyester hoodie with cat ears. It looks horrible. Total impulse buy. I still haven’t worn it, it feels like a plastic bag.”

— u/rincatboxbane

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Until next time, keep calm and click on.

Life can be busy, especially when trying to transition between work and leisure time. Being out of the house for long periods of time during the day, you can have many things to carry with you. Phone, wallet, charger, laptop, makeup, stationery items, food, water bottle — are all shoved in one bag. Especially for commuters, carrying a tote with you at all times can be exhausting. Shoulder pain can arise simply from carrying a heavy purse around all day. Not only can this cause shoulder aches, but it can also cause neck and back pain, as well as headaches.

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Side Effects of Single Shoulder Toting

There can be harsh side effects from carrying your purse improperly. Carrying a bag that is too heavy can eventually cause your shoulders to become uneven — yikes! With a heavy tote on one arm or shoulder, the working shoulder becomes elevated, which in turn causes your balance and spine to become disproportioned. In women with frail bones, this could lead to scoliosis (a curved spine) or kyphosis (a hunched back). [1]

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Why Do You Experience These Pains?

By going from work to the store, gym, or apartment — you could be damaging your body without realizing it simply by carrying a heavy bag. Numbness in your hand and headaches are a few side effects from transporting a weighty shoulder bag. The area of the shoulder contains nerves that extend through the arm. By using a purse, the strap applies pressure to that area and can cause nerve microtrauma. [2]  An extensive amount of pressure, such as a heavy purse, can cause the spine to bend sideways towards the area of weight. This can cause the spine to come out of alignment since it is designed to only bend forwards and backward.

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The Right Way to Carry Your Bag

Fortunately, there are several ways this problem can be solved. First, get in the habit of switching your purse from shoulder to shoulder. Carrying your bag on one shoulder all the time can create too much stress on your body. This can lead to discomfort and it can even cause tension headaches. Especially when most of us are spending hours of the day sitting at a desk with probably not the best posture.

The best way to carry your bag is by using the top handle. This will improve your posture as well as your grip strength. Your shoulders are not being pulled forward with this method, thus relieving back and shoulder pain. [3]

Oddly, it is less damaging to carry your purse on the shoulder rather than using the corner of your elbow. According to Dr. Martin Lanoff, a rehabilitation and physical medicine specialist, holding a bag using the elbow can lead to tendonitis. When wearing a cross-body purse, pull your shoulders back to prevent pain later.

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WEB DESIGN IN THE 90s

20 years ago, website design was still extremely simple. Prior to 1998, “high-speed” internet connections were not a thing, so it was dial-up or bust. Websites during this era were built for less-than-speedy connection speeds, so they were largely text driven, with very little in the way of design layout.

By the mid 90s, graphic design elements were growing in popularity; animated text, dancing GIFs, and page counters were key design features of this period, and designers began to use table based layouts to organize content in terms of structure and appearance.

Design, while still basic, became somewhat more aesthetically pleasing during this period with the advent of table layouts — which allowed for improved design capabilities, and paved the way for current era embeds, columns, and more visually appealing design features. For a visual reference point, check out what some famous websites looked like in 1998 here.

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HOW COMPLICATED WAS IT TO BUILD A SITE?

The inherent complexity of building a website in the mid to late 90s was no small thing. Back in the days when setting up a website was akin to building a storefront brick by brick, costs were also something to contend with.

According to Benj Edwards via Fast Company, “Buying a TCP/IP stack for Windows cost anywhere between hundreds and thousands of dollars.” Edward’s description of building his first website mid 90s sounds archaic and maddeningly complex by today’s standards — “Connecting graphical applications to the web proved complicated in the era between early 1993 and mid to late 1995 because, at the time, TCP/IP networking was not a native part of Windows 3.11. Users had to provide their own TCP/IP stack, the software that allowed your local computer to speak TCP/IP. On top of that, you needed a PPP utility.”

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GETTING WEB TRAFFIC IN THE 90s

So once you completed the near herculean task of building a 90s website, how did you get people to find it prior to the era of Google and social media marketing? Before Google became everybody’s default search engine, web searches were powered by Yahoo, AltaVista, Internet Explorer, or Lycos, among others like Ask Jeeves and AOL. In 1998, Yahoo was considered pretty great — after all, it had a page load time of three seconds, which is slow by today’s standards, but pretty solid for 1998.

In the pre-social media era 90s, content marketing still ran along the lines of traditional marketing techniques; if you wanted your message to find its way to your audience, you had to place ads on billboards and TV, in newspapers, magazines, message boards, and radio. And depending on your budget, this could mean your reach was pretty limited. In the early 90s, print marketing materials like brochures and faxes (for B2B) were popular. Joe Cordo, CMO of WegoWise told Kaleigh Moore for SnapApp that “Public relations in B2B made product brands, and often drove valuations of companies. Front page print coverage and product reviews drove a product to brand leadership.” He further explained that “that doesn’t mean it was all good. An overemphasis on PR created brand perception rather than healthy demand. Good products didn’t necessarily achieve the market presence they should have. The web and data-driven digital marketing in the 2000s changed all of that for the better.”

So while the internet as we know it has been around since the 80s, it didn’t become a powerful marketing tool until the advent of Netscape in 1994. With the Netscape browser, businesses started to build and use websites as a way to capitalize on marketing reach — revolutionizing the way companies approached marketing. In 1998, Google was launched, but it would take some years before it surpassed Yahoo and AOL as the web’s most popular search engine.  

THE INTERNET IS ALWAYS CHANGING

The internet is always changing, and there are so many reasons why that’s a good thing. A big budget and major tech abilities are no longer required for optimizing your marketing reach via a well-constructed website. Not only is it easier and cheaper than ever to create your own website, it’s even easier to advertise it — omnichannel marketing via tools such as social media, email marketing, Google ads, and LinkedIn have exploded the way businesses can get their messages and products out to their potential consumers. While it’s kind of charming to look back on the early days of website creation and old school marketing methods, I definitely won’t be asking Jeeves how to build my next website.

Color preference plays an important part in the way that we perceive and experience objects around us. While much has been written about color theory, little is known about why people like one color over the other. What we do know from research conducted by psychological and cognitive scientists is that our unconscious reaction to color stems from both biological and societal factors.

How Color is Shaped By Our Environment

The way we experience color is rarely in isolation. Think about the aesthetic experience of seeing a beautiful sunset against an ocean floor, a black chair against a white wall, Van Gough’s Starry Night’s golden moon contrasted against a rich blue sky.

In Dr. Karen Schloss’s research on response to color combination, she argues that cultural upbringing plays a large role in preferences for specific colors. [1] Consider how the color red in Chinese and Asian cultures represents health, wealth, and happiness, whereas the same color in the West is associated with passion and love. While the biological reaction to the intensity of the color red is the same across cultures, the derived meaning and interpretation are different.

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Creating a matching color combination is why the ISM Smaller Backpack & The Larger Backpack’s lining colors are Burgundy and Navy respectively — both colors pair beautifully with the black leather and nylon color.

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The theory that environment plays a role in people’s emotional response to color (nurture) is also known as The Ecological Valence Theory. A study at UC Berkeley on ecological valence concluded with strong evidence that people like colors strongly associated with the objects they like (e.g. blacks with fashion and accessories, like a backpack). Colors that people dislike are strongly tied to objects they dislike (e.g. brows with rotten food and dog feces). [2]

The Color of Time

The way we think about the past and the future can often be colored (pun intended). Physicist Sabine Hossenfelder discovered that a google image search for “futuristic” shows a high concentration of images with a black and blue color theme.

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History, on the other hand, seems to be shades of orange, brown, and sepia.

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Even concepts like “truth” or “fake news” seem to curate its own color aesthetic. Google image results for “truth” are mainly black and white, while “fake news” includes many shades of reds.

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Color preference can also change as a person grows or is introduced to new environments. People color code their belongings, whether it’s their living room furniture or daily outfits. If someone has a pleasing experience with an individual color, they are more likely to purchase products of the same shade in the future. [3] Color can influence the products we buy, the clothes we wear, how we decorate our homes, and even how we feel during different times of the year. Psychologist Tania Lombrozo provides research that suggests the types of objects and events that come to mind when viewing different colors can change throughout the year. [4] It’s why we might associate the color green with Christmas in December, while during paycheck week in March it’s associated with money and finances.

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@palette is an ISM art account.

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The Science Behind How We See Colors

The way that we actually see color is through cone cell receptors in our eyes. The average human is a “trichromat”, meaning we have three types of cone cells. Cone cells are receptors that help detect shades of color and each cell is thought to be able to process around 100 shades. For a person with regular vision, all of the possible combinations of the three-cone cells comes out to around 1 million different shades of colors. [5]

Not everyone though sees color through the same lens. Consider someone who is color blind — they only have two functional cone cells that can process a combination of approximately 10,000 shades of color. That’s 1% of the possible range of colors that a regular human can see. For the color blind, perception of color takes on a different meaning. [6]

There’s also the rare case of a woman discovered in 2017 to have supervision powers due to an additional fourth cone cell in her eyes. By having four cone cells instead of three or two, she is able to see ~100 million shades of color. Comparing her color spectrum to the average person is like comparing the same average human to the eyesight of a dog. So far, there has only been one documented case for supervision in a human (also known as a “tetrachromat”) — but scientists believe that there are many more out there with this superpower.

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A 12% Chance of Supervision

What’s the key ingredient to being a potential tetrachromat? The term itself was first suggested back in 1948 by Dutch scientist HL de Vries when studying color perception in color blind people. What Vries discovered was that while someone who is color blind only has two functioning cone cells, a color-blind man’s daughter typically has four cone cells, like a tetrachromat. [7]

If you’re a female that has a history of male color-blindness in the family, you may be in luck for superhuman vision. Dr. John Mollon from Cambridge University thinks that about 12% of the female population should be tetrachromats, including both the daughters and mothers of colorblind men. [8] Mollon was one of the first scientists to actively research tetrachromats in the 1980s and even though he was able to find evidence for the existence of a fourth, dormant cone cell in females that fit the criteria, all of his tests showed that the women were still perceiving color the same way as the rest of us.

Neuroscientist Gabriele Jordan from Newcastle University thinks that the reason most people who have a fourth cone cell aren’t seeing 99 million shades of color is that they never had a reason to use their supervision. The everyday objects and experiences that we take part in are made by people with regular vision for other people with regular vision. [9] This is also what vision researcher Jay Neitz from the University of Washington thinks might be the case with unknown tetrachromats. According to Neitz, it might take both deliberate practice and specially designed color hues to unlock the fourth cone cell and the new spectrum of colors.

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While there’s a good chance that 12 out of the first 100 women who read this article possess untapped supervision, the rest of us will have to be content with our 1 million shades of color. Maybe there’s a reason why black looks good on anyone and anything.  

The sense of touch is powerful. It’s common for individuals to feel as if they have to touch important belongings to believe they are still in their bag or pocket. Have you ever felt to make sure your phone or wallet is in your pocket even though you know it is still there?

Your everyday carry items are affected by the power of touch. In this new digital age, it is easy to get distracted. Individuals often double-check to make sure their keys are still with them throughout the day. After you leave the house, it is common to feel for your wallet periodically to provide assurance that it is still with you. There are several reasons why you need to touch your everyday carry essentials to believe they are in your bag.

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THE POWER OF TOUCH

The importance of touch has a significant impact on the human mind. Neuroscience and psychological research have confirmed that the human brain and the sensory of touch has an important role in this topic. The sense of touch is the first sense that develops in an infant [1].

According to Ophelia Deroy, a director of the Institute of Philosophy and a researcher for the Centre of the Study of the Senses at the University of London, seeing is less psychologically reassuring than touching something in order to believe it is still there. If an object cannot be touched, it often causes a person to feel anxious [2].

René Descartes wrote in The World, “Of all our senses, touch is the one considered least deceptive and the most secure” [3]. By physically reassuring yourself, it is more comforting than just looking at the object. According to Ophelia Deroy, “…we feel more active and in charge when we explore something by touch than through vision” [4]. An individual will feel more secure by touching an object because it is an active assurance that it is actually present. The physical collection of evidence creates a larger impact on the human mind rather than just seeing the object.

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PACKING WITH PEACE OF MIND

It turns out that our extended body sense has high plasticity. So we’re able to quickly feel and almost assimilate into the objects that we physically come in contact with. [5] So the next time you pack your bag for a work day or road trip, consider these tips on how to pack better and avoid worrying about forgetting something.

1. Put all your keys on one ring

Putting all your keys on one key ring and securing them inside your bag or on a lanyard can put your mind at ease. With this method, your keys will be safely fastened in your bag. This will prevent movement and it will diminish the uncertainty that your keys have been misplaced.

2. Give each item its own dedicated spot

When putting your wallet inside a bag, find a specific compartment for it that has a zipper enclosure. This can create a feeling of reassurance that your valuable items will stay secure in your purse or backpack. Some bags even have hidden pockets for your important items.

3. Use pouches to stay organize

When using a backpack or tote bag, store your valuables inside a pouch or wristlet. There will be space to fit your money, cards, phone, and keys. All of these items will be in one spot, and it will be easy to retrieve the wristlet from your bag in a hurry.

Some backpacks, such as the bags from ISM, have specific pockets for your valuable items such as your phone and laptop. The ISM’s laptop compartment is water-resistant to prevent any damage to your technological belongings. The outside zipper pouch is a perfect place to store your keys when in a hurry. There is no need to worry about them falling out of your pocket or out of an unsecured bag.

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Touch is an impactful sense. Even though a person knows their belongings are still in their bag — even if they see them — touching the objects can create ease of mind. Touch is considered to be the most reassuring sense.

Throughout the day, you may find yourself checking your pockets to make sure that your everyday carry items are still where you left them. It is easy to misplace your keys or phone — something so small yet incredibly important. Carrying a backpack and distinguishing certain pockets for specific items can dispel your concerns the next time you think about your valuables.

If you consider yourself a creative type it’s likely that at one point or another you’ve found yourself working through a creative process. When inspiration strikes, you embrace it, and imaginative minds know that the most ordinary of days can suddenly be filled with extraordinary ideas. There’s no limit to creativity or what our minds are capable of dreaming up, but how do we define the process of creativity? Whether it’s an emotional piece of writing, a colorful, vivid painting, or a fashion-forward new trend, creativity is all around us, even when we may not realize it.

The word creativity, much like the pieces and inventions it represents, has no one definition; it’s a fluid, ever-changing process that artists and thinkers have continued to capture in their work. And as these creativity quotes demonstrate some of history’s most well-regarded minds have continually worked to understand and define this most curious action. When it comes to truly understanding how creativity is formed or found, it would seem that there is no shortage of creative answers.

WHAT CREATIVITY IS TO CULTURAL ICONS

For those beginning something creative, YouTube creator Casey Nesitat has a quote that encourages quick action.

“There’s no process. You just start. The only way to get there is to just start. Overthinking the process will kill any career in the creative space. You just have to do, not think.”

However, architect Rem Koolhass disagrees with the idea of completely avoiding contemplation, and instead welcomed mental stimulation.

“I like thinking big. I always have. To me it’s very simple: if you’re going to be thinking anyway, you might as well think big.”

“Continuity of thinking in whatever form, around whatever subject, is the real ambition”

The author Ernest Hemingway though, believed that for writers, one should always start anew.

“For a true writer, each book should be a new beginning where he tries again for something that is beyond attainment. He should always try for something that has never been done or that others have tried and failed. Then sometimes, with great luck, he will succeed.”

However you respond to a surge of creative inspiration remains up to you, but Albert Einstein thought that any creative process should be in response to a personal quest for knowledge:

“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day.”

Pablo Picasso further explored the idea of finding daily inspiration for our creative works. He believed that our daily surroundings potentially held the key to new ideas.

“The artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place: from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, from a spider’s web…We must pick out what is good for us where we can find it.

Despite the unlimited creative possibilities the world around us may present, Coco Chanel stressed the importance of a sense of practically during the creative process.

“Don’t spend time beating on a wall hoping to transform it into a door.”

“Innovation! One cannot be forever innovating. I want to create classics” (Photo: Matchbook Magazine)

Architect Zaha Hadid expanded on this idea bit further. Her definition of creativity doesn’t involve transformation, but she did encourage thinkers to go beyond what’s expected.

“There are 360 degrees, why stick to one”

When it comes to pursuing all your many new ideas, Dieter Rams discovered that sometimes one does have to discard what’s unessential.

“One of the most significant design principles is to omit the unimportant in order to emphasize the importance.”

For fashion designer Phoebe Philo, deciding what inventions or ideas to pursue was a matter of achieving a personal goal.

“After my break, it felt better for me to work on an idea of a wardrobe than too much trend. I worked hard to create things that stand the test of time.”

Whatever trends or imaginative ideas you end up choosing to bring to life, Kathryn Bigelow believed in the importance of keeping innovation in mind.

“Something becomes personal when it deviates from the norm.”

Meanwhile, Virgil Abloh’s touched on the surprising trait that he deemed necessary in today’s creative culture.

“Irony is a tool for modern creativity. There’s a reason why we all probably look at 60 memes a day.”

Taking a break to enjoy humor may work for some creatives, but Honore de Balzac thought success was a matter of self-reliance.

“There is no such thing as a great talent without great willpower.”

J.K. Rowling further explored this idea of remaining dedicated to creative pursuits, believing there’s nothing quite like accomplishing a goal.

“The discipline involved in finishing a piece of creative work is something on which you can truly pride yourself.”

“You’ve got to work. It’s about structure. It’s about discipline. It’s all these deadly things that your schoolteacher told you you needed… You need it” (Photo: The Telegraph)

No matter which creative trait you possess, whether humor or dedication, diving into something unknown can possibly seem daunting. Artist Georgia O’Keefe warned against letting that worry get in the way.

“I’ve been absolutely terrified every moment of my life and I’ve never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted.”

The beginning is only half of the creative process and Elon Musk thought it was important to welcome whatever successes or failures came your way.

“Failure is an option here. If things are not failing, you are not innovating enough.”

As these creative minds have demonstrated, there’s no right or wrong way to approach the creative process. Kendrick Lamar explained that he prefers to avoid any outside influence.

“I never share my album while I’m creating…But me creating music, I never really play music for anybody, even people inside the camp because it can almost sway your creative process 100 percent. So along with that, I cut off everything on the radio; I really just duck off from music. Because I’m gonna be influenced and I don’t want to be. That has always been my process. I just feel like, it’s really the only prized possession that I actually can control, you know? It’s selfishness for sure, but it’s my selfishness and I own it.”

“I learned, when I look in the mirror and tell my story, that I should be myself and not peep what everybody else is doing” (Photo: Rap Up)

Virginia Woolf also relied on a sort of creative isolation to help inspire her work.

“[A] novelist’s chief desire is to be as unconscious as possible. He has to induce in himself a state of perpetual lethargy. He wants life to proceed with the utmost quiet and regularity […] so that nothing may break the illusion in which he is living — so that nothing may disturb or disquiet the mysterious nosings about, feelings round, darts, dashes and sudden discoveries of that very shy and illusive spirit, the imagination.”

If you find yourself questioning what you’re working on or if you feel unhappy with the results, Steve Jobs thought it best to listen to quiet your mind and instead listen to your heart.

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.”

WHAT NEUROSCIENTISTS THINK CREATIVITY IS

What about the creativity happening behind the scenes? Is there a science to how we arrive at our best ideas? Some neuroscientist are trying to find out, and have worked to better understand the inner workings of our imagination. Their research remains ongoing, but based on their work it would seem that landing on your next great idea may all come down to science.

According to Anna Abraham, there’s a very real emotional feeling that stems from being creative.

“Our ability to think creatively is one of the factors that generate excitement in our lives as it introduces novelty and opens up new possibilities to our awareness which in turn lead to developments in a variety of fields from science and technology to art and culture.”

Rex Jung expanded on the benefits of creativity and noted that along with generating excitement, creativity can also provide us with purpose.

“This work with creativity is important because I think it is a uniquely human characteristic that provides meaning in one’s life — whether it’s spiritual, personal, familial — it really hits all those buttons.”

Creativity can provide our lives with meaning, but research from Jeremy Gray notes that great ideas can take time.

“Innovation doesn’t just come for free – nobody learns their ABCs in kindergarten and suddenly writes a great novel or poem, for example. People need to master their craft before they can start to be creative in interesting ways.”

One of the ways you can “master” creativity begins with checking in on your mental state. As John Kounious demonstrated with his research, creativity is often dependent on how we’re feeling.

“Insight is like a cat. You can’t order it to appear. You can coax it. But you can’t command it. Creativity and insight flows from a particular brain state. And if you can put yourself in this brain state, you will be more likely to have these creative insights.When you’re in a positive mood, you’re more sensitive to picking up these weakly activated, unconscious ideas and, when it’s detected, your attention can switch to it, and it can pop into the head as an insight. If you’re in a bad mood, and the anterior cingulate is not activated, it just goes with what’s strongest, which is usually the most straightforward.”

Further research on creativity and the brain from Mark Beeman backs this theory. In a study, published in 2016, Beeman found that some of our best designs are a result of a good mood. He believed that those with higher levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for a rush of feel-good emotions, were more likely to feel creative.

“Our findings support the idea that dopamine levels in multiple brain areas affect human creativity. “

A study from researcher Hikaru Takeuchi examined a different part of the human brain in their quest to understand creativity. In a study of 55 people, Takeuchi and his team found that those with white matter in their brain were more likely to be creative. Their research even determined some attributes of thinking believed to be essential in creativity.

“Creativity is a complex cognitive function that requires diverse cognitive abilities, such as working memory, sustained attention, cognitive flexibility, and fluency in the generation of ideas and in the judgment of propriety.”

Other research has theorized that creativity is fluid, and the success is dependent on the person. Researcher Adam Green discovered that creativity could technically be defined as two things.

“Creativity is a trait because some people are more creative than others. But creativity is also a state because creative people are not always being creative, and generally uncreative people sometimes have creative ideas.”

Kalin Christoff took the idea of creativity being a mental state a bit further. Her research argues the case that anyone can be creative, and a lack or surplus of creativity could be attributed to how often we daydream.

“We propose that mind-wandering isn’t an odd quirk of the mind. “Rather, it’s something that the mind does when it enters into a spontaneous mode. Without this spontaneous mode, we couldn’t do things like dream or think creatively.”

Just like the creative minds quoted above, these neuroscientists are also split on how best to understand and define creativity. But as their research has demonstrated, it’s possible that one day we may truly understand and unlock the key to the history and future of creativity.

Whether you believe creativity is a science or a mysterious process we may never fully understand, there’s one quote from Maya Angelou that’s sure to instill hope in the hearts of dreamers and creatives everywhere.

“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”

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