Apple announced at its WWDC conference last month that it will be switching to its own custom-made silicon processors, having previously relied on those made by Intel. Offering "world-class" performance and power according to Apple, the new chips will no doubt help the MacBook Pro hold on to the top spot in our best laptops for graphic design list. But they could also see the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro combine to become a single product. 

Tech website SonnyDickson has speculated that, thanks to Apple silicon, it would make sense for the brand to consolidate its MacBook line-up under a single moniker: 'The New MacBook' (or perhaps simply 'MacBook'). In short, we might soon be able to enjoy a MacBook with the power of the Pro, and the portability of the Air ('MacBook Pro Air'?) ('MacBook Prayer'?)

Currently, the main difference between the Pro and Air models is that the latter's processors are more efficient and thermally friendly, allowing for a thinner body. Apple's new chips could offer incredible power whilst also requiring less cooling (and therefore fewer fans). "If you can make a MacBook Pro practically as thin and light as a MacBook Air, asks SonnyDickson, "why would you not do that?"

With the 'Pro' line synonymous with power and performance, digital artists might be nervous to see it go. As well as being a top machine for graphic design, the MacBook Pro is one of our best laptops for video editing. But if that same performance is available in a slimmer body, the New MacBook could be the perfect device for creatives, removing the need to choose between portability and power.

Time will tell whether Apple is planning to consolidate the MacBook line up, but if its new silicon technology does indeed allow it to offer Pro performance in an Air-style chassis, the idea of combining the two products seems to make a lot of sense. Until then, both are still fantastic machines for creatives – check out today's best MacBook deals below.

Read more:

• Radical new iPhone 12 design could be Apple's greatest hit ...
• The new Apple tablet rumours everyone's talking about
• New Apple iPhone design concept is the one we've been waiting for ...

Elsewhere in the magazine we celebrate the artists who not only inspire but also actively add positively to their work. We’re sure you’ll agree that our cover artist Ejiwa ‘Edge’ Ebenebe fits the bill with her gorgeous and colourful painting. Isn’t it amazing? 

Buy a print edition of ImagineFX here

Also inside, there are character design tips, Blender workflow advice and a stunning feature on the  artwork from The Last of Us Part II. We also continue our quest to find the Artist of the Year - make sure you submit your work. PLUS we’re giving away a 164-page ImagineFX Annual book worth £6.99, which has over 20 hours of pro video tuition. 

This issue is on sale in the UK today and will reach overseas in the coming weeks. If you are still not venturing outside, please visit our online store to order your copy for home delivery. See below for more information on the digital and print options available to get hold of ImagineFX.

You’ll see just some of the many highlights in this issue below.

Never miss an issue: Subscribe to ImagineFX here!

Paint an uplifting floral portrait

Ejiwa ‘Edge’ Ebenebe reveals how she utilises whimsical and ornate flower elements to create a joyful, colourful portrait in Clip Studio Paint.

The Last of Us Part II concept art and workshop

We speak with Shaddy Safadi, the engaging art director and head of one Pixel Brush all about his team’s incredible concept art work on one of the most eagerly awaited games of 2020. Also, concept artist Balázs Ágoston shows his 2D and 3D process for an environment for The Last of Us in a step-by-step workshop. 

How to be happy as an artist

You don't have to suffer for your art. Leading creatives share how their art makes them happy and offer tips on how you can be more at peace with your work.

19 Blender workflow tips

Follow Brandon Hix and Kjartan Tysdal’s guide to getting more out of Blender, including optimizing your workflow and sculpting advice.

How to get hold of ImagineFX

You'll find us in major news outlets and magazine retailers in the UK, Europe, America and Australia. There are a limited number if ImagineFX print editions available for delivery from our online store (the shipping costs are included in all prices). We deliver to over 100 countries. Check here to see if we deliver to you.

Alternatively, you can access us instantly through theses digital options:

• Apple app (for iPad or iPhone)

• Pocket mags (multi-platform app, great for Android users)

• Zinio (multi-platform app for desktop or smartphone)

Follow us on Instagram for the latest art news and latest editions.

• Get started with Flame Painter
• The best cloud storage in 2020
• Figure drawing: A beginner's guide

The way you design your letterhead is now about way more than simply placing your name, address and contact details aligned to the right, and not utilising this element is a wasted opportunity – especially since it is often the first thing a prospective employer or client will see. 

So you want to create your own? First, you need to decide what message you want to send. From using the right font (try these free script fonts to get you started) to the perfect layout, your choices say something about your business, whether you're a freelance graphic designer, or you sell vintage designs online. 

Whatever you do, your letterhead should creatively reflect you and your brand. Here are 14 examples of beautiful letterhead designs to inspire you. Plus, see these creative letterpress business cards to learn how to take every opportunity to convey your brand message.

01. Simon

This letterhead design was part of a cohesive visual identity project for a friend of the designer. Filippos Fragkogiannis created the letterhead, business card and envelope for a photographer called, you guessed it, Simon. It's simple, bold and, most importantly, you won't miss or forget the name of the brand. The designer says: "Because it's simple, clear and adjustable, the informational structure achieves a standardised visual system. It was created using the Classic Sans font by Gert Wiescher."

02. A Panzer

This simple yet elegant letterhead design is a beautiful example of how less can be so much more. Designed by creative studio, You Always Get What You Deserve, this minimalistic design sees the company logo, name and founders printed in the top spot, leaving readers in no doubt as to who the gorgeous correspondence is from. 

03. Musto B&B

Lorenzo Rocco is the designer behind this beautiful foil blocked letterhead for Musto, a bed and breakfast in the centre of Naples, Italy. The gold runs throughout the whole logo design and brand identity, conveying elegance and understated Italian style.

04. École nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs

An art and design university should have well designed print materials, and we love this letterhead for the École nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, France. Created by Atelier trois, the fresh yellow and blue colour scheme runs throughout the school's branding design.

05. Ted Perez & Associates

There's nothing quite like a bit of beautiful type to get some attention, which is the focus of this letterhead design for Ted Perez & Associates. Created by Alex Rinker, the design mixes a bold, shadowed sans serif with a vintage-style script font to create an eye-catching piece.

• Also read: The best free fonts for designers

06. Pixelflix

Australian agency A Friend of Mine created an identity package for Pixelflix, a digital production and editing company, including an eye-catching embossed letterhead. The idea of the branding is to reflect the nature of Pixelflix's work: taking an assortment of confusing and out-of-context scenes, and rearranging them into a coherent whole.

07. Modhouse

Another letterhead from A Friend of Mine – this time for Modhouse, which builds modular homes for people who want a quality, contemporary, sustainable home in a short timeframe. The grid-based identity system allows modules to be flexibly arranged in dynamic layouts to best suit the given content and context, and the bold typography and varied palette reflects the Scandinavian style of Modhouse homes.

08. Bronx Zoo

Created by designer Caroline Madigan, the concept behind this design was to capture the interactive nature of a trip to the Bronx Zoo for both children and adults. The letterhead 'speaks' to the recipient with sounds of the zoo animals printed beautifully with a selection of different fonts.

09. Bittersuite

The Bittersuite logo itself is a beautifully designed ambigram – a graphic that spells out a word not only in its original form but also in another direction or orientation. Featured prominently on the letterhead, the design also incorporates a playful concept where a simple fold in the top corner creates another illustration

10. SHE

SHE (Sustainable Health Enterprises) is a New York-based organisation whose mission is to improve the quality of life for women and girls in developing countries. The team at Blok Design in Toronto, Canada, came up with these gorgeous letterhead designs, where SHE stands tall at the top of the page, emphasised by a bold underscore and varied colour palette.

11. Wine Concepts

When multidisciplinary creative agency Hunt&Co was asked to develop a new identity and branding for Melbourne-based wine consultant Wine Concepts, it came up with this simple but effective design. The logo represents a stylised wine label and (our favourite bit) features overprinted wine drops to reinforce the brand and emphasise the product.

12. One Flew South

Graphic designer Alvin Diec is the man behind this cool letterhead and branding concept for restaurant and sushi bar One Flew South. Located in Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson airport, Diec worked with the brand's original patriotic colours, resulting in this sophisticated design.

13. Musica

OK, so technically this is a letter-footer rather than a letterhead, we know but with such a gorgeous design we decided to ignore that technicality. Musica is the largest music retail group in South Africa. And the job of developing a rebrand fell at the feet of graphic design agency Studio Botes, which used detailed black and white illustrations to depict the world of Musica.

14. Dylan's Barbershop

We love this obvious but brilliant comb letterhead design for a startup barbershop in Portland, Oregon. Graphic designer for Nike Sportwear, Lizzy Green, came up with the concept for this eye-catching identity.

15. Best Men's Ties

This elegant, stylish design for high quality tie retailer Best Men's Ties was created by Croatian design studio Cipmann. The brief was to create a 'visual identity that will communicate elegance and style to men who enjoy fine neckwear'. And this classy design does just that.

16. Absurd Machine

This vibrant letterhead for music and video production company Absurd Machine leaves you in no doubt as to who you're receiving a letter from. The clever concept by graphic designer Jessica Benz features vinyl records and film rolls in an eye-catching design, which surrounds the company name.

Related articles:

• The best creative resumés
• How to create mood boards that inspire: 20 pro tips
• The best laptops for graphic design

It's notoriously hard to find good deals on Apple products, as the brand's hardware retains its value so well. But when Amazon puts on a sale, there are some great bargains to be found, and right now the online retailer has decided to release an unknown quantity of these great true wireless headphones until stocks last. And that's not all! You can also get a nice £30 saving on the high-end Apple AirPods Pro headphones too. 

If you're looking for deals on other Apple products, check out our up-to-date guide on the best Apple Watch deals in 2020.

Amazon Summer Sale on Apple AirPods and AirPods Pro 

Not in the UK or the US? Don't worry. Our price comparison tool collects the best deals from around the world...

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• Radical new iPhone 12 design could be Apple's greatest hit
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Rather than merely touching up photos, Quickart is designed to create artistic masterpieces. With tons of adventurous filter options and a simple one-tap process, it could well end up joining Facetune on our photo apps list. 

From Pop Art to Kaleidoscope to Split Colours (above), the various options go beyond your standard Instagram filters, and a few offer some pretty impressive 3D effects. The 'Dispersion' filter quite literally blew us away:

While it obviously can't compete with pro software like Photoshop in terms of versatility (check out our best Photoshop tutorials), Quickart is a fun and simple option for novice editors. All you have to do is choose a filter, load a photo from your camera roll, and let the app do the rest. Most of the filters also offer a few customisation options once applied. 

Lightricks' apps have seen a surge of popularity recently. According to a press release, a recent survey conducted by the company found that the pandemic has "accelerated consumer appetite for powerful, easy-to-use creative tools that empower users to unleash their artistic expression while offering them an escape". Quickart was designed to help users bring their ideas to life with just a single tap – no editing skills required.

Although Quickart is free to download, you'll need a premium account to access several of its filters. This costs $5.99 per month or $19.99 for 12 months. Or, if you're feeling truly committed, you can get a lifetime subscription for $59.99. It's bad news for Android users, though – the app is currently only available for iOS. Check out today's best iPhone 11 deals below.

Read more:

• Radical new iPhone 12 design could be Apple’s greatest hit
• best camera for beginners
• Could this new app be the perfect tool for 2020?

How to make a face mask

Learning how to make a face mask probably wasn't a skill you expected to acquire in life, but rest assured that this guide has all you need to make the process easier. With face masks now mandatory in more and more places, everyone wants one (or two, or three...). That means it can be tricky to get hold of a face mask, and it's even harder to find one that you actually don't mind wearing. The good news is that making a face covering is super-achievable in just a few short steps, and we've got four easy-to-follow methods for you to choose from.

Below, we outline four different ways to make a homemade, non-medical face mask or face covering. We've based our guide on the methods outlined by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), plus our own tips and tricks on how to make the most comfortable, functional and easy to create face masks. 

If you'd rather buy a face covering – even if you are making your own mask, you may still want to buy spares – then see our guide on where to buy a face mask, or use the quick links below to jump straight to retailers selling face masks right now. 

• Face masks UK: Should you be wearing one? Plus where to buy them
• Where to buy kids' face masks

Where to buy face masks: quick links

• Etsy.co.uk – handmade face masks from just £3.99
• ASOS – fashionable designs at low prices 
• Easylife – Pack of 30 surgical face masks for £29.99
• Buff – stylish face coverings at low prices
• HYPE – get three face masks for £24.99 with 100% of profits for the NHS
• Ebay.co.uk – washable face masks at a bargain price
• Vistaprint - Kids and adults face masks for $18/$13
• Silkies – two protective face masks for $16.99
• Stringking – CDC-recommended cloth masks for just $6.99
• Etsy.com – patterned face masks for as a little at $4
• Los Angeles Apparel - 3 adjustable face masks for only $30
• Sock Fancy – funky face masks for only $12

4 ways to make a face mask

This guide is ordered in terms of difficulty level. The first two methods – how to make a bandana-style face mask and how to make a face mask using a T-shirt – are super-easy and require no sewing at all. We've then got two methods for sewing your own face mask, one without a sewing machine, and one with a sewing machine. 

If you are sewing, you can either using spare fabric you have lying around at home, or buy something new.  If you want your DIY face mask to stand out, bright or patterned fabric is best – John Lewis (UK) has loads of affordable designs in the UK, as does Etsy (US). A bright design also means you are less likely to get your face mask confused with anyone else's, and are perhaps less likely to lose it.

• Browse fabric at JOANN (US) – from just $3.99 p/y
• Browse fabric at John Lewis (UK) – from just £6.50 p/m

Before we get into our instructions of making a face mask, first consider whether or not you need one at all. The official advice on this differs across the globe, but the general consensus is that wearing a homemade face mask will not help protect you from contracting Covid-19. However, it can help protect others from you passing on any germs that you may be carrying, which may be particularly useful if you are asymptomatic and don't realise you are carrying the virus. Note that the face masks we're talking about here are not medical-grade face masks, and we wouldn't advise you to attempt making your own versions of PPE: leave that to the professionals.

The CDC recommends wearing a face mask in places where social distancing is not possible, and many countries around the world are also asking their citizens to wear face masks when out in public, or in enclosed spaces such as supermarkets. In England and Scotland, it is now compulsory to wear a face mask on public transport.

Check your country's own guidelines if you're unsure and remember that wearing a face mask or covering doesn't mean you should stop following social distancing measures, or stop washing your hands and practising good hygiene. It's also very important that you put your face mask on and off very carefully, following government guidelines.

With all of that in mind, here are four ways to make your own face mask.

01. How to make a bandana-style face mask

You will need:

• A bandana or scarf
• 2 x elastic or rubber bands, or hair ties
• A coffee filter, paper towel or kitchen roll (optional)

The easiest method for making your own face mask involves folding a bandana or a scarf. Note that you need to choose the right bandana or scarf. Hold it up to the light to see how much you can see through it. The less you can see, the better; if the material is too thin then your face mask won't be as effective. Tightly woven, 100 per cent cotton is best. 

The CDC recommends folding your bandana in half, then folding it again twice – lengthways from both the top and the bottom. At this point, you can also add a square piece of coffee filter, paper towel or kitchen roll to your mask – which you can change.

Then, place your rubber bands or hair ties around your strip of material, and fold the material in towards the middle, tucking the ends into each other if possible.

Surgeon general, Dr Jerome Adam, demonstrates how to do this in the video below. As you can see, this is a very quick and easy method of making your own face mask.

02. How to make a T-shirt face mask

You will need:

• A T-shirt
• Scissors
• Coffee filter or paper towel (optional)

If you have a T-shirt that you don't mind cutting up, then you can easily and quickly make a face mask from it. Note that you don't want to be using really old T-shirts if they have holes in them or are worn through. Ideally, your T-shirt should be 100 per cent cotton and as opaque as possible. 

To start, simply cut the bottom off your T-shirt. The height of the amount of material you need should be the length from the top of your nose to underneath your chin (around 7-8-inches of 17-20cm). It's best to get the measuring tape out if you're unsure, and cut bigger than you think you need so you can trim the excess later (if you cut too small, you'll run into problems). 

You then need to cut into your T-shirt – around 6-7-inches (15-17cm) – to make the ties for your face mask, making a sort of elongated c-shape. Next, cut your ties so that you can retie them around your head. Adjust until you get a snug fit around your nose and chin. If you like, you can add a coffee filter or paper towel to your face mask, and secure it with a safety pin. See the video below for further instructions on making a face mask from a T-shirt.

03. How to make a cloth face mask without a sewing machine

You will need:

• Cotton fabric (10-11-inches or 25-28cm in diameter)
• 2 x 6-inch (15cm) pieces of elastic or rubber bands, hair ties or strips of cloth
• A plate, or something round to draw around
• Needle and thread
• Scissors
• Pins

This method of making a face mask can be done with or without a sewing machine. It's a simple pattern, and our instructions are based on the video below, which is very easy to follow, and we recommend watching it before you start (though you'll probably want to mute the cheesy music!). 

This face mask method gives you a slightly rounded mask, which may fit your face better than the rectangular pattern in the next method. It is also all made from one piece of material, which makes it nice and easy.

First, place your material face down on a flat surface (iron it first if necessary). Put a plate, which is roughly 10-12-inches or 25-28cm in diameter, on top of it, and draw around the plate. Then cut out your circle shape. Once it is cut out, fold it twice, so you get four curved triangles on top of each other, and then cut down the sides of your triangles, so you have four separate shapes (watch the video if you're unsure about this and all will become clear!).

Next, place one shape face up, and another face down on top of it, so the wrong sides of the material are on the outside. Pin together if you have pins. Do the same with the other two shapes. 

Then, stitch along the curved edge of your fabric with a needle and thread, using running stitch or similar. You ideally don't want any gaps between your stitches. Once you have done this, unfold your triangles, so you get a sort of dome-like structure. Place the domes on top of each other, front sides together. Then pin in place and sew round the edges of your face mask, leaving a small gap at one end. 

Next, pull your material through the gap (carefully), until you have the front sides of your material on the outside of your face mask, then stitch up the small gap. 

All you need to do now is insert your ties into you face mask. To do this, fold one of the pointy edges of your mask over itself and then sew it down. You can use an iron to iron as you fold if you like to make this easier. Then do the same on the other side. 

You should now have created a little pocket, or hem, to insert your ties into. You can then insert your elastic or ties, using a safety pin or needle to thread them through the hem. Tie up your elastic and you are done. You can turn the ties so that the knots are inside your face mask if you want to.

04. How to make a cloth face mask with a sewing machine

You will need:

• Cotton fabric (10 x 6-inches or roughly 25 x 15 cm)
• 2 x 6-inch (15cm) pieces of elastic or rubber bands, hair ties or strips of cloth
• Sewing machine (ideally)
• Needle and thread
• Scissors
• Pins
• Jewellery wire, or thin wire (optional)

To make a face mask with a sewing machine (although note that is is possible to create this face mask design by sewing by hand), first, cut your material to around 10 x 6-inches or roughly 25 x 15 cm. If you want to make it really clear which part of your mask is the front and which is the back, use two different materials, this will help you avoid putting on the mask back to front (which is not recommended for hygiene purposes). Next, place your two pieces of fabric on top of each other. You want the pattern that you'd like to be on the 'front' of your mask face down. The piece of material facing up towards you will be the inside of your mask. 

Next, fold over the long sides of the material around 1/4-inch or 0.5-1cm. Pin in place (don't worry too much if you don't have any pins, you can always use a needle or just keep checking that your fabric is held together) and hem. Hem just means folding the edges of your material over and stitching them so that your fabric will not fray and will stay together. It's best to do this using a sewing machine but you could do it by hand, just make sure that your stitches are nice and close together.

Once you have hemmed along the length of your face mask, fold over the sides of your face mask around 1/2 an inch (1.5cm), pin and hem the sides too. 

Once you have created your hem, you can thread your elastic or hair ties through the hem you have created. You'll need a needle to do this, or a pin, or safety pin or basically anything that you can use to poke the elastic through your hem – a thin pencil might do the job. You could also add some thin wire into the top hem of your face mask to help you shape it around your nose, jewellery wire works well for this.

With your ties threaded through the sides of your mask, tie your elastic or hair ties in secure knots, and move the knots until they can be tucked inside the hem. You can then adjust your face mask to fit your face, and add some stitches on either end of your face mask to keep your elastic in place.

If you are a seasoned sewer, you can sew the whole thing in one go, turning it as you go, or you can create face mask with a pocket for a filter (see video below). You could even add your elastic in before you hem. The reason beginner sewers shouldn't do this is that it's very easy to catch the elastic in your hem and accidentally sew it down, and that will make it much harder to adjust later. 

Alternatively, you can also follow this face mask sewing tutorial from designer Amanda Riley. 

Read more:

• Disney face masks feature most popular characters
• The best streaming services in 2020
• The expert guide to working from home

If you're a fan of either of the behemoth brands, it's likely you've been coveting the fantastic array of Harry Potter-themed Lego sets around at the moment. Now is the time to treat yourself (or a small person you know) as the Amazon Summer Sale has slashed the price of the Harry Potter Hagrid’s Hut: Buckbeak’s Rescue Playset by a whopping 24 per cent, taking the price of the set down to a mere £37.99. You only have until the 10 July to take advantage of this deal, so don't hang around too long.

This Harry Potter-themed set is packed full of features, and themed around a buildable Hagrid's hut, which includes two rooms, accessories, furniture and even a switch-operated light brick for the fireplace. It also comes along with six minifigures, and all for £12 less than the RRP. This is by far the cheapest we've seen this set on sale for, so it's a great chance to go back to (wizarding) school, and start creating your magical masterpiece. For more HP-themed sets, you can also see our best Lego Harry Potter sets buying guide.

As part of the set of bumper Amazon offers, you could also start dive into the popular Ninjago Jay's Cyber Dragon Mech Building Set (now with 24 per cent off), or get the littlest builders involved with the DUPLO Town Fire Station with Light and Sound (for 21 per cent less than RRP). You can check out the selection of kits on sale here, or see below for more information.

Not quite what you're looking for? We've found even more great savings on Lego. Check them out below.

Read more:

• The best Lego sets for adults in 2020
• The best Lego City sets
• The best Lego Harry Potter sets

While the official design was mercilessly mocked (mainly for resembling a WiFi router), Giuseppe Spinelli's concept (below) enjoys a much more traditional PlayStation look. Rendered in a smart all-black outer shell, the concept does away with white entirely. If you feel like creating a concept of your own, take a look at our best 3D modelling software. 

Spinelli's concept has gone down a treat online, with several YouTubers commenting that Sony ought to hire the concept artist. "I was waiting for this – great job just like always!" one user says, while another shrewdly observes: "this is the colour Batman would choose". The video has racked almost half a million views since being posted last week. 

While PS5's design has been the butt of several jokes online (below), its tech specs are a different story. A recent preview of the console's graphical capabilities using the Unreal 5 Engine looks incredible, and Sony is talking up its "lightning fast" loading speeds, thanks to a GPU capable of 10.28 teraflops (our new favourite word).  In short, games should look amazing and run quickly – a dream combination for game designers.  

Sony has been known to offer several colour variations for previous Playstation models, so we wouldn't be surprised to see an all-black design further down the line. If so, we can't imagine anyone being unhappy if it resembles Spinelli's slick concept, which makes the device far less eye-catching (in a good way). But with no official release date for even the white version yet, there could be a while to wait. Luckily, there's still time to grab a PS4 though – and it's even available in black. See today's best deals below.

Read more:

• Radical new iPhone 12 design could be Apple’s greatest hit
• Lego finally enters the art world with new 2D poster sets
• Hidden trick gives your WhatsApp font a retro twist

And if you're looking for something a little bit more portable and versatile, we've found this great deal on the Microsoft Surface Book 2. It's a device that's become hugely popular among the creative community in recent years. The entire screen is detachable, making it easy to use as a drawing tablet and for note-taking, annotating and loads more. This clever device takes the concept of a convertible laptop as far as it can go – read our full Surface Book 2 review for more details.

And if you like deals, keep an eye on our Amazon Prime Day 2020 page where we'll be putting regular updates on the massive deal event.

• The best Apple deals available now

If you're a creative and have specific creative needs from your laptop, we've got you covered. Check out our guide to the best laptops for video editing, the best laptops for graphic design, the best laptops for photo editing, and if you're still looking for a bargain, the best cheap laptop deals in 2020.

Not in the UK? Here are the best prices on the Microsoft Surface range in your area:

Read more:

• The best laptops for graphic design
• The best Apple Pencil alternatives
• The best drawing tablet: Our pick of the best graphics tablets in ...

Elsewhere in the world, kids over the age of two are recommended to wear kids face masks, with face coverings actually mandatory in certain social situations in many parts of the world already. 

But knowing where to buy a face mask that your child won't mind wearing is different matter! So we've put together this article to provide a list of dependable retailers in the US and UK that are offering various kids' face masks of different designs and patterns. The article is broken into some quick links to deals that we've spotted, and then some more in-depth deals that we think your little ones will love. 

We've also got a guide to help you learn how to make your own face mask, if you're feeling creative, and if you're in the UK and want more options, here's our guide on how to buy face masks in the UK.

Where to buy kids' face masks in the US

• Etsy – An array of patterned face masks starting from as little as $4
• Disney – Pre-order sets of your favourite Disney characters. $19.99 for four
• Vistaprint – Beautiful $13 prints fitted with Replaceable Nanofilter System  
• Amazon – A range of friendly, colourful kids' face masks from $4.99
• Maisonette – Stylish options from $16 for 2 (10% off first order over $75)
• Sanctuary – Five pack of fashionable prints. One size for ages 2–10
• Walmart – Pack of 10 comfortable masks for under $20
• Akings – One dollar per mask, shipped in packs of 10, 50 and 100

Where to buy kids' face masks in the UK

• Vistaprint – All under £18 and fitted with Replaceable Nanofilter System.
• Etsy.co.uk – Patterned face masks starting from as little as £2
• Samuel Johnston – Kids' face masks for £6.99 
• HYPE  – Packs of three with fun patterns (graffiti, tie dye, logos) for £24.99
• ebay – Loads of cotton kids' face masks from £4 upwards 
• Wowcher – Deals refresh daily, including pack of five for £5 
• Amazon - Packs of face masks from as little as £2.50

Where to buy kids' face masks in the US: in-depth 

Where to buy kids' face masks in the UK: in-depth 

• Where to buy a face mask: quality face coverings in stock now

In the US, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children over two should wear face masks when they're in a crowd. And the UK government recommends the use of homemade face masks when people are out and about in enclosed public spaces. Face masks are also mandatory on public transport in England, though children under 11 are exempt (children under five are exempt in Scotland). 

Getting your child to wear a face mask may be a different challenge (toddlers, we're looking at you), but hopefully some of the designs featured here will make the prospect of wear a kids face mask a bit more appealing. Or maybe you'll be more successful if you get your kids to make their own. You can sell it as a (supervised) arts and crafts activity – see our guide to how to make a face mask at home. 

Help kids get used to face masks

As we mentioned above, it's all well and good being able to buy a kids' face mask, but getting them to wear it may well present a much bigger challenge. Smaller children, who are too young to understand why they are being asked to wear one, could be particularly resistant. 

There's a number of ways that you can make your child feel more comfortable about wearing a face mask, including:

• Make it the norm: Where possible, leave face masks around the house so they become an item they see regularly. Encourage them to practise taking them on and off, and even wear them around the house to get them used to it.
• Making their own: Let your little ones choose a design or pattern they like, and help them create their own face mask.
• Encourage creativity: If you've bought a face mask for your child, encourage them to get creative and make it their own. Let them draw or sketch some designs or drawings they want to show off to the world. 
• Play a game: Face masks can be a bit scary-looking if you're small (and big, for that matter), so maybe implementing a face mask in play at home will make it seem a bit less daunting. Promote your child to doctor or nurse of the house, and let them look after you (or maybe their favourite stuffed animal might be better?).

Related articles: 

• Where to buy a face mask (for adults)
• Face mask sewing tutorial
• Disney launches face masks of popular characters

Created by remote-working collective Universal Everything, Super You is a "costume arts experiment" which uses the power of AR to deck its target out in 11 different abstract costumes. The only catch is that it isn't compatible with Android – you'll need a fairly up-to-date iPhone (so it's a good time to check out these huge iPhone 11 deals). We tried it out and found our new, bulbous outfit rather fetching:

Super You is extremely simple to use – all you have to do is open the app, point the camera at your friend and the body tracking technology (Apple ARKit 3) will do the rest. Swiping from left to right will allow you to switch between costumes consisting of various blocks, blobs, squares and spikes. 

With many AR experiences (such as Google's new virtual dinosaurs) focussed on realism, it's a treat to see an app show off the tech's potential for the artistic and surreal. Universal Everything provides some tips for getting the most out of the app, from wearing bright clothing to "moving gracefully" (as if we don't always). 

Super You is part of the collective's Future Humans series, which explores the human touch that can be found in AR. “This project combines our fascination for mixing timeless figurative representation with emerging technologies to create new forms of soulful digital expressions," founder Matt Pyke said in a press release. "By democratising the artwork through releasing this app to the public, we look forward to seeing the crazy, funny, inventive unexpected results”.

To use Super You, you'll need an iPhone with either an A12 or A13 chip – which means any iPhone from 2018 onwards. Take a look at today's best iPhone 11 deals below. 

Read more:

Prime Day 2019 was a little misleading last year, with the epic event running across not one but two days on the 15 and 16 July. It was the longest Amazon Prime Day(s) to date, and, having scoured Amazon to bring you the best Prime Day deals, saw some incredible offers.   

This year is different. So far the coronavirus crisis has filled 2020 with uncertainty, and the Amazon Prime Day date has been unclear. If recent intel is to be believed though, it seems the flagship sale may be taking place in early October (though we have also been led to believe that it could have happened in September – that now doesn't look likely). For more information, see the when is Amazon Prime Day 2020 section. 

But if you're after a great deal, you don't have to wait. The Amazon Summer Sale is now in full swing, and there are some brilliant savings to be had right now across a range of items. 

Use the links below to head straight to the items of most interest on Amazon, or scroll further down to see a more detailed round up of the deals we expect to see surface on Amazon Prime Day 2020, plus some amazing deals already on. 

Amazon Prime Day 2020: Quick links

• Apple devices: Big savings on iPads, MacBooks, Apple Watch and more
• Amazon devices: Reductions on Amazon Echo, Kindle and Fire TV sticks
• Copic markers: Quality marker pens for less
• External hard drives: Discounts on quality WD My Passport drives
• Laptops: Money off HP, Lenovo, Dell and Asus laptops 
• Microsoft Surface range: Big discounts on the Surface Pro 7 and more
• Monitors: Samsung, BenQ, Dell and Asus - all at low prices
• Tablets: The most powerful tablets around for less
• TVs: Pick up a bargain on Sony, LG and Samsung TVs

Amazon Prime Day 2020: Laptop deals

If you're looking to buy a new laptop, it's well worth waiting to see what Amazon Prime Day offers. Last year we saw a number of huge savings on popular devices for creatives, including the MacBook Pro, Surface Laptop, Lenovo and Dell devices. Granted it was on older devices, but all of which are still highly capable laptops in their own right. If you're not bothered about the most recent model, Amazon Prime Day is a great time to pick up an amazing bargain on still seriously powerful devices.

If you can't wait for Amazon Prime Day to come around before you buy, here are some of the best laptop models for artists and designers, at the lowest prices. 

Amazon Prime Day 2020: Tablet deals

There are a number of powerful tablets on the market, many of which saw incredible discounts last Amazon Prime Day. There were huge savings to be had on Apple's iPad and iPad Pro and Microsoft's Surface Pro 6 and 7, in particular. With both companies releasing brand new products this year, we expect to see even more impressive reductions on some of their older, but still very capable, devices. So if you're in no immediate hurry, it's worth holding on to see what Amazon Prime Day has in store this year for these powerful tablets. 

If you need a new tablet now, there are some great offers available:

Amazon Prime Day 2020: TV deals

Amazon Prime Day is always a great time to grab a bargain on a new TV. Last year, saw popular brands including LG, Samsung and Sony drop their prices by a huge amount, with one of the best deals being a 55-inch, 4K Smart LG TV for less than £450. This year we expect to see similar, if not better deals, with incredible reductions on everything from 55-inch to 75-inch TVs. So no matter what size or style you're after, you're sure to find amazing savings this Prime Day. 

Can't wait that long? Here are the best TV deals available now:

Amazon Prime Day 2020: Copic Marker deals

Prime Day 2019 was a brilliant year for Copic Marker deals, with huge savings across a range of sets. And you won't be surprised to hear they flew off the shelves. One of the best offers we saw was on a 36-piece Copic Marker set, which was reduced by over £80! This super popular art tool is a best seller all year round, but if you can hold off buying any for a little longer, it could well be worth it when Amazon Prime Day arrives. Here's hoping we see even better savings this year. 

If you're quick, you can grab one of these amazing Copic Marker set deals aready running. Hurry, these are only available while stocks last, and at these prices, we don't expect them to hang around for long. 

When is Amazon Prime Day 2020?

Like with any event right now, predicting when or even if it will happen is not an exact science. If Amazon Prime Day 2020 was to follow the event's regular pattern, our money would have been on it starting on Monday 13 July and end at midnight on Tuesday 14 July 2020. But this is not a regular year, and we don't like losing money!

But there have been some more whispers regarding the actual date, with an email reportedly sent to third-party sellers pushing the event back from September to early October. Apparently, the week of the 5 October has been marked as a "placeholder date", but since Amazon's response emphasised that there hasn't been an official announcement, this isn't definite yet.

Since there's been no official word from Amazon either way, this is still just speculation at this point, and the event could still be cancelled (though we highly doubt it – even business behemoths like Amazon need to earn a crust).

What will be the best deals on Amazon Prime Day 2020?

An April article by Reuters reported that the decision to delay Amazon Prime Day 2020 would mean the company has a huge backlog of extra devices (approx 5 million), and so if the event does go ahead, we expect to see the absolute biggest discounts across the Amazon device board that we've yet seen. 

Last year saw a number of incredible deals for artists and designers across a range of categories, but the most popular were hardware (including a certain fruit-themed company), creative software and art supplies. We think this will be the same for 2020, with even better discounts. 

Items including the Microsoft Surface Pro, Apple iPad Pro, Copic Markers, Adobe Creative Cloud, memory cards and power banks all saw significant reductions, with some prices dropping to a record low. 

What can we expect from Amazon Prime Day 2020?

If Amazon Prime Day 2020 does go ahead, we expect it to be unlike any other so far. Amazon will almost certainly push its own products and Alexa-compatible products, but depending on how ongoing Covid-19 crisis is affecting the world at the time it goes live may well inform where we see the best offers. 

In general we’d expect to see some good deals on home office equipment, garden furniture, outgoing console generation, on Windows laptops – especially high-spec ones – and on peripherals, plus the usual selection of kitchen gadgets and bits and pieces. And for creatives, we’d expect very similar deals to the ones we’ve detailed above, including even more deals on various iPad and Microsoft Surface models. 

Now available at over 70 per cent off, the Sellfy Online Store Builder: Starter Plan will assist in taking your online business to new heights. The software is an excellent tool for the creative that doesn't want to spend hours coding or dealing with complicated e-commerce platforms. With options to sell videos, ebooks, art, merchandise, subscriptions, services, files (such as PSDs), and so much more all from one place, you'll be able to get started on your next professional endeavour in just a few steps. 

A one-stop shop solution for creators

Named a one-stop-shop solution for creators and used by fast-growing companies such as Forbes and TechCrunch, this intuitive and user-friendly software takes your services or products and helps you start selling in just a few minutes. Completely optimised and customisable to your specific aesthetic, Sellfy will set up your shop's layout, shopping cart features, payment options, discount codes, and more. You'll even be able to sell straight from social media platforms – giving you options that cater to the up and coming entrepreneur. Connect your storefront to an existing domain to amplify your brand and sell as many products as you'd like in your shop; the sky's the limit. You'll never have to worry about how many options you can house at once.

Not only will you be provided with a simple 'shoppable' website, but you'll also get the tools you need to help your business thrive. With built-in marketing and analytic tools aiding in the monitoring of your profits and learning where you can make improvements, you'll be able to track everything you sell. You'll see which products are best-sellers, and have the option to kick-off email marketing campaigns to gain more traction to your site. Send customers updates on current orders, or collect new subscribers and feature discounts so they can get to know your brand and its services. Best yet, you won't have to add in any other apps or plug-ins or have to pay extra, everything is included all in one place.

Originally priced at over $200, the Sellfy Online Store Builder: Starter Plan is currently on sale for only $59.99 (that's 73 per cent off). Launch your online store and start selling the products you've wanted to share with the world with this powerful yet straightforward digital solution.

Prices subject to change.

Read more:

• The next big thing in web design: 7 trends you need to know
• How to sell your 3D assets online
• CSS tricks to shake up your web layouts

If you're looking for editing software that allows you to get creative and transform images from good to flawless, then The Luminar 4 Bundle is one option you should consider. This bundle comes with six pieces of software that incorporate elements of AI with different creative editing features. It also contains tutorials and eBook guides that will show you how these programs work.

Here's a breakdown of what the bundle contains:

01. Luminar 4: Windows & Mac ($89 value)

If you'd rather not spend a lot of time tweaking a photo on an editing software, Luminar 4 works as a quicker alternative. With its supporting AI Accent feature, you can easily enhance and adjust images with a single click. Luminar 4 also has a minimalist interface that removes clutter, making it easier for you to browse and enjoy photos. Its layers, brushes and masking help with selective editing, and you can apply Lookup Table (LUT) files for creative colour grading & film stock emulation. This software also supports RAW, JPEG, TIFF & other popular files, and it tailors your workflow to any style, which means that you can use Luminar 4 as a standalone application or as a plug-in to popular host applications. 

02. Luminar add-on pack: Amazing Planets ($49 value)

With this software, you can transform photos simply by placing a moon over the skyline or adding a planet to your landscape. The sky selection, masking and blending is automatically handled by AI technology, which makes it super easy to use.

03. Luminar add-on pack: Burst of Drama (a $25 value)

The Burst of Drama Ad-on pack in Luminar 4 comes with 25 dramatic sky options that will transform an ordinary view into a stunning image. You'll also get perpetual access to this software after one purchase.

04. Luminar add-on pack: Cinematic Bespoke ($15 value)

The Cinematic Bespoke Ad-on pack contains signature presets by Hong Kong-based portrait photographer Justin Lim. The busy and vibrant urban scenes captured in these presets add a hint of complexity to portraits and lifestyle shots. These scenes also combine the beauty of strong contrasts in the city with the subtle fade of indie looks, and they're not only suitable for photos set in the city, but for a broad range contexts.

05. Luminar for Landscape video photography course ($49 value)

This course will show you the basic to advanced tools in Luminar and how to use them to edit landscape photography. Skilled Landscape Photographer David Johnston is on hand to help you master the simple techniques in Luminar that enable you to create professional landscape photos, the most effective way to use tools on the software and how it can be used to fine-tune specific parts of your landscape photos. You'll also discover the limitations of Luminar and what you can’t do with the software.

06. Mastering Photography eBook ($12 value)

This eBook is basically a guide on how to use your digital camera. It contains lessons on a lot of important aspects of photography, such as how to move out of your camera's fully automatic exposure modes and take control of your camera's settings, use Programmed Auto, Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority modes, and understand the role of aperture, shutter speed & ISO in obtaining the optimum exposure. It also teaches you how to use picture controls, learn about white balance, why the raw format is so much easier to use than the JPEG format, and so much more. 

The Luminar 4 Bundle is also available at a discount. You can get it at $59, or 75 per cent off the original sale price of $239.

Read more:

• The best photo apps in 2020
• The best monitors for photo editing in 2020
• The best tablets for photo and video editing

Dolly has already replaced Big Boy on the company's website and social media pages. This marks the first time in the restaurant's 84-year history that Big Boy himself has stepped out of the limelight, making way for the blonde-haired Dolly, illustrated in a rather less detailed cartoon style (check out our character design tips for some slightly more inspiring examples). 

Big Boy replaced? We told you something BIG was coming!Join us at https://t.co/7PBDJTMDw5 to find out more and even have a shot at some sweet rewards!#whoisdolly #whereisbigboy pic.twitter.com/VbBOyOOleeJune 29, 2020

It seems Dolly is already part of Big Boy's, er, extended universe. According to the restaurant's website, the character, who has featured in the Adventures of the Big Boy comic book series and Big Boy kids' menus and colouring pages since the 1950s, has always been "Big Boy’s side-kick". 

Predictably, some fans weren't happy with the change, with many taking to Twitter to declare their outrage. "You cowards, bowing to the so-called movement – I will never eat here again!" one exclaimed, while another asks, "what part of BIG BOY don't you understand?".

Gone too far! What group are you trying to please now? Big Boy is off the list for me.July 7, 2020

The company has since revealed (below) that the change isn't permanent. Indeed, the stunt was created to promote 'The Dolly Chicken Sandwich', with Big Boy "simply sharing the stage" with Dolly for a moment. We have mixed feelings about discovering that, rather than representing a bold new rebrand, Dolly's appearance seems to be temporary.

The illustrious 80s hair band Cinderella once said: "you don't know what you got till it's gone."Well, what you got, never left. Our Big Boy is just sharing the stage for a hot minute with his old pal Dolly. Wait, what? Here's a little video to clear the air... pic.twitter.com/y32WEGfZcwJuly 7, 2020

While it's unclear whether Big Boy has backtracked on Dolly as a result of the complaints, the video above suggests that she was only ever being rolled out to advertise a new burger – making the whole stunt feel a little opportunistic (rather like the debacle of McDonald's socially-distanced logo).

Still, there's no denying that Dolly's appearance has got fans (and design websites) talking, and we hope she isn't doomed to disappear completely when Big Boy inevitably returns. And while we're not sure we'd call the advent of Dolly one of the controversial moments in branding, the response just goes to show how protective fans can feel towards their favourite mascots. 

Read more:

• Lego finally enters the art world with new 2D poster sets
• These 'rules' for working from home are both beautiful and relatable
• Hidden trick gives your WhatsApp font a retro twist

The iPhone is a mainstay of our best camera phones list, and with recent rumours suggesting much-improved autofocus and zoom, we've no doubt the iPhone 12 will bag a spot. But these dummy units, acquired by MacRumors, suggest the most exciting thing about the new phone could be its design.

These units appear to confirm rumours that we'll be getting a brand new size: 5.4-inches. This would be the smallest iPhone since the original iPhone SE, and could be a treat for creatives who prefer to use their phone one-handed. We were disappointed by the large size of the supposedly small 2020 iPhone SE, and this new model looks like great news for those who aren't looking for an iPhone the size of an iPad.

Speaking of iPads, the iPhone 12 appears to be somewhat modelled on the iPad Pro, with a new square-edged design. Whether these flat edges will mean improved grip (and fewer broken screens) remains to be seen, but it will be nice to see a more consistent design language across the iPhone and iPad range.

As for the cameras, there's little information to be gleaned from these mockups. According to MacRumors, dummy units are created for case makers, who care about size and shape of the device but not specific features. While the three camera lenses on the iPhone 12 Pro dummy seem to negate rumours of a fourth LiDAR scanner for improved AR, we're unlikely to know what the camera setup will look like until the phone is officially announced.

While many are expecting the iPhone 12 to arrive in September as in previous years, nothing seems guaranteed in 2020. Luckily, you don't have to wait to get hold of an incredible iPhone – check out the best iPhone 11 deals available now. 

Read more:

• The new Apple tablet rumours everyone's talking about
• Lego finally enters the art world with new 2D poster sets
• Hidden trick gives your WhatsApp font a retro twist

In this article, then, we recap the best new logo designs of the year so far, from small tweaks to radical rethinks. For further logo inspiration, check out our roundup of the best logos of all time, or our ultimate guide to logo design.

01. Coronet Theatre

This design for the Coronet Theatre in Notting Hill, London, makes clever use of type to represent an actual coronet. As we noted on its release in March, it's so simple, you'll wish you thought of it. 

It's a risky strategy, as this kind of literalism in logos can often look obvious and dumb. But North has pulled it off brilliantly, exploiting the fact that 'Coronet' and 'Theatre' have the same number of characters, and spacing out the letters of 'The' evenly to create a visible crown effect.

The design works perfectly whether positioned horizontally or on a slant, as in the poster above. And it also interplays nicely with a number of hand-drawn coronet symbols North has created as a secondary visual language, across the theatre's merchandise and staff badges.

02. Royal Astronomic Society

To help mark the Royal Astronomical Society's 200th birthday, Johnson Banks was tasked with crafting its first new logo since 1820. No pressure, then. Thankfully, it came up trumps with this fabulous design.

Released in January, the new logo avoids anything obvious like stars or planets, and instead goes for something a little more abstract. Stepped spokes are repeated and rotated to form a symbol that can be interpreted in multiple ways: a stylised eye, perhaps, or planet with an orbiting moon. It's a beautifully original way to reflect the many different sides of the Society’s work. 

The emblem is complemented beautifully by the wordmark; an elegant serif. We love how it manages to condense the super-long word 'Astronomical' in a way that retains readability, while achieving a pleasant shape overall. In short, this logo design strikes the perfect balance between classic and futuristic, making it match-fit for decades to come, and perhaps even another 200 years.

03. Move United

Established from this year's merger of Disabled Sports USA and Adaptive Sports USA, Move United is a non-profit organisation devoted to the promotion of sports among people with physical disabilities. This inspiring logo, released in May, deftly avoids cliche and stereotype, and offers something striking, eye-catching and visually impactful.

Designed by the New York office of Superunion, the logo is based on the deconstruction and reconstruction of the word 'disability', while the patchwork design reflects the patchwork of community-based adaptive sports organisations at the new body's heart. These might sound like complex concepts, but Superunion have skilfully fused them into a single, evocative design that 'just works', and for that the team deserve much applause.

04. GoDaddy

It's not unreasonable to say that web hosting provider GoDaddy has had a pretty cheesy image for some years now, as the previous logos (shown below) will attest to. So we were delighted to see that its new logo (above), created by Koto and launched this January, strikes a very different note.

Its curvy new emblem, somewhat reminiscent of Airbnb's, is matched nicely by a slimmed-down wordmark, and the brand now feels far more sophisticated and grown-up as a result. We're not sure it quite achieves the stated aim of summoning the "entrepreneurial spirit", but that's not really important. GoDaddy now has a logo that's as professional as the service it offers, and that's truly something to be celebrated.

05. North Shore

Vancouver’s North Shore Tourism Association brings together three municipalities (The District of West Vancouver, The District of North Vancouver, and the City of North Vancouver) under one banner, and promotes the North Shore as a multifaceted, four-season tourist destination.

Local design studio Loki were tasked with crafting a logo that would be flexible enough to work across a wide range of activities, and they've pulled it off masterfully. Released in May, this fun and flexible logo, with its dramatically rising and falling letter heights, feels instantly outdoors-y and adventurous, as well as subtly evoking the movement of the sea.

06. Thrillist

Founded in 2004 and based in New York, Thrillist is an online magazine covering food, drink, travel and local culture. Aimed squarely at millennials, it claims to have the biggest digital reach of any travel content publisher today. In April, the site launched a refreshed brand identity, aimed at evoking the feel of "loosening up, chilling out, and having a good time no matter what". 

With its '70s movie poster vibe, the new bouncy and colourful logo (above) conveys that spirit beautifully, and much more so than its relatively formal and stripped down sans-serif predecessor (below).

Designed in-house, the new logo has an obviously retro vibe, but still feels fresh and forward-looking. The character shapes are thoughtfully crafted, the shadowing gives a real sense of 3D, and the design as a whole looks great, even when reduced to monochrome and small sizes.

07. Adobe Creative Cloud

When Adobe moved its software to the Creative Cloud back in 2013 (yes, it was that long ago!), it caused such a stir that its clever logo icon, based around two interlocking C's, was somewhat overlooked. So we're pleased that with the 2020 update, Adobe hasn't replaced it, but refined it and made it even better looking.

Released at the end of May, the new logo combines the colours of all the Creative Cloud product brands, together with Adobe's new corporate red, in one gorgeous gradient that effortlessly conveys the theme of creativity. Adobe has also increased the weight of the logo itself to increase legibility and scalability. As you might expect from a company focused around art and design, the end result is the perfect example of evolution, not revolution.

08. DK

Although skeuomorphism is starting to return to graphic design after a long absence, we haven't quite returned to full-on representation of worldly objects; it's more of a halfway house referred to by some as neomorphism. So DK, the British publisher formerly known as Dorling Kindersley, was bang on trend in January with this new logo design (above), which nicely updates its anachronistically ornate predecessor (below), without throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

The new logo, designed by Pentagram's Angus Hyland, is clean, modern and forward-looking, while retaining the distinctive open-book framing. The lettering itself is bespoke, and hits that perfect sweet spot; it's minimalist, but makes subtle use of serifs to sidestep the perils of blandness. Overall, the design is flexible, scalable and, well, just looks fantastic.

09. Fisher Price

Another logo designed by Pentagram, this new design for US toy company Fisher Price (above) hits all the right notes. Emily Oberman has made some small but important updates to the previous logo (below), most notably changing the awning from four to three semicircles to represent the brand's three founders: Herman Fisher, Irving Price and Helen Schelle.

The new design, launched in January, also swaps the F and P from upper- to lower-case, and turns the hyphen into a subtle smile. These changes may not be huge, but they add up to a remarkably refreshed design that feels fun and childlike (as we reported at the time), while never feeling childish.

Read more:

• Where to find logo design inspiration
• The 20 biggest logo design trends
• 10 iconic logos with hidden meanings

Lego has announced four Lego Art sets, which will allow builders to craft 2D posters based on Star Wars, The Beatles, Iron Man and Andy Warhol's Marilyn Monroe. While there are lots of brilliant Lego sets for adults, a set that you can hang on your wall certainly feels like a departure. Lego art has been around for a while, but it's a treat to see the company officially endorse the medium. 

Build the iconic Andy Warhol print of Marilyn Monroe. This is LEGO ART. 🔥 https://t.co/SFoHdnp62o pic.twitter.com/HhNbCuzzV6July 1, 2020

Each set can be used to create one of up to four artworks. The Andy Warhol set, for example, lets you create recreate the famous 1967 painting in one of four colour combinations, while The Beatles set allows you to choose a portrait of, you guessed it, one of the four bandmates.

Lego seems to be aiming the sets squarely at adults, emphasising the relaxing nature of the building process. Each set also includes a bespoke soundtrack featuring anecdotes from the creators of Iron Man and Star Wars, or those closest to the stories of Andy Warhol and the Beatles. According to Lego, these soundtracks  are designed "to help adults fully immerse themselves in the building experience and unwind while they explore their love of music, art or film in a new way". 

These art sets sound like a truly creative and original way to enjoy Lego, especially for those looking to unwind while stuck at home. But if we have one complaint, it's the price. At $119.99 each, the sets aren't too unreasonable as Lego sets go – but they'll only create a single artwork each. If you want to recreate the 'Let it Be' album cover with all four Beatles on your wall, it'll almost set you back a whopping $500. 

Lego's art sets are set to be released on 1 August, and are available to preorder at Lego.com. If you can't wait until next month, you can currently save 30% on lots of Lego sets with this huge Amazon deal. 

Read more:

• These 'rules' for working from home are both beautiful and relatable
• Hidden trick gives your WhatsApp font a retro twist
• Iceland's football logo reveal is ludicrously exhilarating

One thing that all of the external hard drives below have in common is that they all have super-fast data transfer speeds and are easy to use. And the best bit? Our clever price comparison tool has found the best deals on each model. Not sure which one is right for you? Jump to the what model should you buy section. And if you can't find what you're looking for here, don't miss our guide to the best external hard drives available right now.

Amazon Summer Sale deals on WD hard drives

The Amazon Summer Sale is currently on, and we've selected the best deals on the best WD external hard drives. But act now, as all deals below will expire on 12 July, or while stocks last. 

The best WD My Passport deals in 2020

01. WD My Passport 4TB

Capacity: 1TB / 2TB / 4TB / 5TB | Interface: USB 3.2 Gen 1 | Dimensions (L x W x D): 107mm x 75mm x 19mm

The 4TB iteration of the Western Digital My Passport is a top choice. In fact, we rate it so highly, it takes the top spot in our round up of the best external hard drives (mentioned above). You can also get it in 1TB, 2TB and 5TB iterations, but for value for money, this is our choice. It's got a huge capacity to store all your favourite media – perfect for creatives that deal in massive digital files. 

With the 4TB version, you'll get cloud storage and 256-AES encryption, plus Western Digital's own backup software. Best of all is its great data transfer speeds and, though this hard disc drive (HDD) doesn't offer the speed of a solid state drive (SSD) device (see WD My Passport SSD below), the Western Digital My Passport offers a great balance of quick transfer speeds and massive storage without a huge price tag.

• The difference between HDD and SSD

02. WD My Passport SSD 1TB

Capacity: 256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB | Interface: USB 3.0 / USB 3.1 Gen 2 | Dimensions (L x W x D): 90mm x 45mm x 10mm

As detailed below on this page, there are some key differences between a solid state drive (SSD) like this one, and a hard disc drive (HHD). In short, the SSD version of WD's My Passport is far faster at transferring data, and it comes in a smaller shell. You'll have to pay a little more to get the storage up to 1TB or 2TBs,  but if you value speed and portability over all else, it'll be worth it. 

Built for both PC and Mac, the My Passport SSD is compatible with a range of ports – both the USB Type-A and Type-C ports, with the latter able to reach speeds of up to 540MB a second. It's also a sturdy model, made to stand a drop of up to two metres. And it's as compact and portable as they come, proving that great things really can come in small packages. 

03. WD My Passport Ultra

Capacity: 1TB / 2TB / 4TB / 5TB | Interface: USB 3.0 | Dimensions (L x W x H): 110mm x 81.6mm x 12.8mm

The WD My Passport Ultra 4TB stands out from the My Passport crowd by offering a three-year warranty – a nice addition if you aim to get a lot of use out of it and want peace of mind – and also having a Mac-specific version of the hard drive available (all the models on this page can be reformatted to work with Macs, but this version is ready out of the box).

Ever so slightly wider than the WD My Passport 4TB, but a little shallower, the Ultra comes with a metal cover and WD Discovery software for WD Backup, WD Security and WD Drive Utilities. It is USB-C ready, and USB 3.0 compatible with an adapter provided, and there are a range of storage sizes, including the huge 5TB option. 

Can't find a portable storage device to suit above? Here are some more great WD My Passport deals available now.

WD My Passport: Which model should you buy?

When choosing the right one for you, foremost on your mind should be its storage capability. Even though many come in massive multi-terabyte iterations, 500GB is plenty to get you started. But if you want to store lots of large video and/or RAW files, or you want to use your external hard drive for housing  games, investing in few more terabytes is a good idea. 

Other important information to consider before making a purchase is the hard drive's connectivity. The rectangular USB-A ports are slowly being replaced by the newer, smaller reversible USB-C ports, found in all newer generation Macs and PCs. 

The difference between HDD and SSD

There are two types of external hard drive: hard disk drives (HDD, also known as mechanical or traditional hard drives) or solid state drives (SSD). An SSD is faster, lighter and less power-hungry, whereas an HDD drive will be cheaper and slower than an SSD. HDDs are also good for storing lots of data as they often have a high capacity. 

So, if you want to store huge amounts of data while keeping prices low, a HDD is the way to go. But if speed is your top priority – for example, if you move a lot of large files, or want to run programs off the drive – then choose an SSD. Or, you can always use a smaller SSD for files that you need to access or move around often, and then store the other data that you use less often on a higher capacity HDD.

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• The best 4K monitors

Standard widescreen monitors have to make do with 16:9, but with 21:9 monitors, you're getting a whole lot more space on either side to work on. It effectively gives you the kind of workspace you'd normally achieve with two or more monitors, but rather than having multiple screens jostling for space on your desk, you can get all that space with a single monitor.

This makes them the ultimate productivity tools, and they are brilliant devices for creatives who need plenty of space to have lots of apps open at once without the cost and complexity of buying and installing multiple monitors on a single desk.

And while the best ultrawide monitors are certainly large screens, they still take up less space on your desk than having multiple separate monitors.

Amazon Summer Sale: best ultrawide monitor deal

As Amazon has just announced its Summer Sale, we thought we'd include this fantastic deal on the 34-inch Acer Nitro. Whether you're a gamer or creative, this immersive display will be a great addition to your workspace.

If you want to know more about the different things you should consider when choosing the best ultrawide monitor, jump to the best ultrawide monitor: things to consider. Not sure if ultrawide is for you? Head to our guide to the best monitors.

• The best computer for graphic design
• The best computers for video editing

The best ultrawide monitors in 2020

01. Asus Designo Curve MX38VC

Screen size: 37.5-inch | Aspect ratio: 21:9 | Resolution: 3,840 x 1,600 | Brightness: 300 cd/m2 | Response time: 5ms G2G (grey-to-grey) | Viewing angle: 178/178 | Contrast ratio: 1,000:1 | Color support: 1.07 million colors | Weight: 9.9kg

The Asus Designo Curve MX38VC is our pick for the best ultrawide monitor for creatives in 2020. Unlike some of the other monitors on this list,the Asus Designo Curve MX38VC has been created specifically for digital creatives. This means you get excellent color accuracy, and a high resolution that'll be a boon to photo and video editors. 

However, it is one of the more expensive ultrawide monitors on this list, but if your a digital designer, photographer or artist, and you're looking for the very best ultrawide monitor, then this is a price worth paying. The built-in wireless charging mat is an added bonus.

02. MSI Prestige PS341WU

USB-C: Yes | Screen size: 34 inches | Resolution: 5,120 x 2,160 | Aspect ratio: 21:9 | HDMI inputs: HDMI 2.0 x 2 | Display ports: DisplayPort v1.4 x 1

The MSI Prestige PS341WU is easily one of the best ultra-wide monitors for creatives you can buy in 2020. Not only does it have a wide 21:9 aspect ratio, but it also features a huge 5,120 x 2,160 resolution over its 34-inch IPS screen.

This leads to crystal-clear image quality, while also offering you huge amounts of desktop real estate to work on. It's expensive, but it features a stunning IPS panel, along with DCI-P3 colour gamut support, making this an ideal ultrawide for creatives like photographers and video editors who require colour accuracy.

03. Samsung CRG9

Screen size: 49-inch | Aspect ratio: 32:9 | Resolution: 5,120 x 1,440 | Brightness: 600cd/m2 – 1000cd/m2 | Refresh rate: 120Hz | Response time: 4ms | Viewing angle: 178°(H)/178°(V) | Contrast ratio: 3,000:1 | Color support: 1.07B

If you're after an absolute monster of an ultrawide monitor, then the Samsung CRG9 is the one to get. The screen is a huge 49-inches, and the aspect ratio dwarfs other ultrawides with a huge 32:9. If you have a desk (and wallet, this is expensive) big enough to hold it, you'll find this monitor offers an unrivalled amount of workspace that lets you have all your apps, websites and more open at once.

Thanks to its multiple inputs and picture-in-picture mode, you can actually hook up two difference devices and use them together on the same monitor - again making it a much more space-efficient alternative to having multiple monitors set up on the same desk. This monitor also offers superb image quality thanks to some of Samsung's best tech - making it an ideal choice for creative professionals.

04. Dell U3419W

Screen size: 34-inch | Aspect ratio: 21:9 | Resolution: 3440 x 1440 | Response time: 5ms | Who’s it for: Video editors, designers, creative professionals

Dell’s newest ultrawide display – the Dell Ultrasharp U3419W – retains pole position on our list, thanks to a winning combination of superb picture quality, fantastic connectivity, and great build quality. In addition to two HDMI ports and a DisplayPort connector, it now has USB-C, which can simultaneously connect the display to a laptop and deliver up to 90w of power for charging.

It has a KVM feature for connected devices too. Connect a single keyboard and mouse to the USB upstream ports to control two computers at once, both of which are visible at the same time via the Picture-By-Picture function. For graphics work, 10-bit colour and 99% sRGB coverage means excellent image quality too. While the U3419W is slightly pricier than its predecessor (the also-excellent Dell Ultrasharp U3415W), we think the extra features and more modern connectivity offers future proofing that makes the extra expenditure worth it.

05. LG 34UC79G

Screen size: 34-inch | Aspect ratio: 21:9 | Resolution: 2,560 x 1,080 | Who’s it for: Gamers and those dipping a toe into ultrawide

Designed for gaming, the LG 34UC79G is a well-priced ultrawide monitor with DisplayPort plus dual HDMI. There is a potential downside: at 2, 560 x 1, 080, it doesn’t have as high a resolution as more expensive options – LG instead opted for native 144Hz performance. However, we’d choose colour accuracy, contrast and motion blur reduction over a high pixel count – and in most of those areas the LG 34UC79G delivers. It has a great contrast ratio and black levels, alongside vibrant colours, but it does require some calibration for maximum accuracy. The monitor also features a couple of technologies designed to improve gaming performance, including AMD FreeSync (50-144Hz range) to reduce stuttering and motion blur. There’s a fast 1ms response time, too. A cheaper 29-inch version is also available. 

06. Dell U4919DW

Screen size: 49-inch | Aspect ratio: 32:9 | Resolution: 5,120 x 1,440 | Response time: 8ms (normal mode); 5ms (fast mode) | Who’s it for: Gamers, design pros, people who like big things

Dell has knocked it out of the park with its monstrous 49-inch U4919DW, due to the excellent image quality from its enormous IPS panel, superior to the majority of alternative ultrawides that use VA panel technology.

Offering 99% sRGB coverage, 350-nit brightness and a 1000:1 contrast ratio, it has a 32:9 aspect ratio and a 5,120 x 1,440 resolution - an absolutely huge desktop area that can accommodate two full screen applications side by side.

Delving in a bit deeper, its relatively low 5ms (fast mode) response time means it’s fine for gaming too, making it well worth the additional expenditure, although it doesn’t support adaptive-sync like some alternative displays out there.

07. Alienware AW3418DW

Screen size: 34-inch | Aspect ratio: 21:9 | Resolution: 3,440 x 1,080 | Who’s it for: Gamers, design pros

Alienware is one of PC gaming’s best known hardware brands of high-end and high priced laptops and desktops, but with the AW3418DW, it’s turned its attention to ultrawide displays and come up with a specification that is great for gaming on.

It’s a 34.1-inch display with an IPS panel, 21:9 aspect ratio and a WQHD 3,440 x 1,440 resolution, that will certainly offer up great desktop image quality. Gamers will be most interested in the 120Hz refresh rate and G-Sync adaptive-sync technology for ultra-fluid, tear-free animation with Nvidia graphics cards.

What’s more, the 4ms response time stands out as one of the lowest in an ultrawide display, further boosting its gaming credentials.

08. Acer Predator Z35P

Screen size: 35-inch | Aspect ratio: 21:9 | Resolution: 3,440 x 1,440 | Response time: 4ms | Who’s it for: Gamers, people who love industrial hardware design

With the Acer Predator Z35P, Acer is continuing its exploration of exciting hardware design. The stand on this ultrawide monitor is like a twisted metal piece of a sci-fi spaceship, and the 34-inch curved screen that offers superb gaming performance. 

It offers a 100Hz refresh rate – which will give a great boost over the usual 60Hz we’re all used to, along with native G-Sync technology for tear-free gaming using GeForce cards. Connectivity is the standard array of DisplayPort, HDMI and a USB hub, with picture quality that goes up to 100% sRGB coverage, making this screen perfectly suitable for general computing tasks as well.

09. ASUS ProArt PA34VC

Screen size: 34-inch | Aspect ratio: 21:9 | Resolution: 3,440 x 1,440 | Who’s it for: Design pros

While there are loads of options for standard sized 16:9 colour accurate displays, and plenty of general purpose ultrawide displays with features for gaming, the choice is more scant if you want an ultrawide that can offer exceptional colour accuracy.

The ever resourceful Asus has managed to fill this slot though with its ProArt PA34VC, a 34 inch 21:9 HDR screen that’s the one to go for if you demand high levels of colour accuracy. It’s one of the few ultrawide displays that ticks both boxes, offering 10-bit colour, 100% sRGB and 98% DCI-P3 coverage.

10. AOC Agon Curved Ultrawide

Screen size: 35-inch | Aspect ratio: 21:9 | Resolution: 3,440 x 1,440 | Response time: 4ms | Who’s it for: Gamers who want higher resolution

Featuring Nvidia G-Sync for stutter-free gaming, The AOC Agon AG352UCG is our gaming choice if you’re not prepared to put up with the lower resolution of the LG above (and you can stump up the extra cash for this model). 

Again, this display is gently curved and there are also a couple of AOC technologies to improve gaming colours and shadows. The stand is height-adjustable, too. The rear of the screen features a striking ‘winged’ design so won’t be for everybody. It’s a little bit of an odd combination since the front of the display is rather utilitarian in appearance. 

The best ultrawide monitor: things to consider

While the most common, comfortable size of an ultrawide is around 34 inches, the largest screens on offer are even wider, a whopping 49 inches wide. If you like the idea of such a massive screen, you should consider that you’ll need a large desk to accommodate it.

You may also want to think about how close to the screen you'll be sitting. If you sit too close to a large screen, you may find that it's uncomfortable to use, as you'll be turning your head to view certain parts of the screen.

In terms of resolution, look for WQHD (Wide Quad High Definition) – which gives you a pixel count of 2560x1440 – and a wide aspect ratio of 21:9. Usually the bigger the screen, the higher the resolution. Some of the best ultrawide monitors offer additional features such as picture in-picture or side-by-side, so you can connect up a couple of sources (like two computers, or a computer and tablet) to the same display. 

There are some ultrawide monitors that offer 2560×1080 resolutions. While this still gives you more workspace compared to a regular 1080p widescreen monitor, we feel it's still a little too low to get the full benefit of the ultrawide aspect ratio. However, they are quite a bit more affordable than ultrawide monitors with higher resolutions, so if you're on a budget, these could be a good choice.

Another issue with ultrawide monitors is that the screen is so wide, the edges will be slightly outside your peripheral vision, when sitting at a normal working distance. To solve this, most ultrawide monitors are just slightly curved at the edges, subtly bending the image to bring it back into your vision. The effect works extremely well and makes it much nicer to work on an ultrawide monitor.

Ultrawide monitors vary based on panel technology and features. Ultrawide screens  generally look just fine with vertical alignment (VA) panels, but the sharper, brighter and considerably more expensive in-plane switching (IPS) panel technology will offer better image quality.

Displays of all shapes and sizes now come with a range of optional extra features, such as 4K screens, colour-accurate screens and gaming displays with fast refresh rates (some up to 144Hz), low latency and adaptive-sync technology, all of which will certainly be great for all kinds of desktop use, from watching movies to using graphic design tools. Ensure your monitor is displaying perfectly with one of the best monitor calibrators. 

While 21:9 is the most common ultrawide aspect ratio, there are even wider monitors with a whopping 32:9 aspect ratios. These offer even more workspace, but they are also more expensive, and take up more room on your desk.

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In this article, we’ll explain how to download Adobe XD for free and how to pay for it; either as a single app or as an All Apps subscription to the Creative Cloud. We'll give you all the facts so you can decide which option is best for you.

Adobe XD is an end-to-end solution for designing and prototyping user experiences for websites and mobile apps, allowing you to create and share wireframes and prototypes for websites, apps and other digital interfaces, all in one powerful tool. It even made it to our list of the best wireframing tools. Here we outline the best ways to download Adobe XD to your devices, and what you need to do in practice to get started. 

• Get Adobe Creative Cloud 

Can I download After XD for free?

Yes, you can download a free version of Adobe XD. We're not just talking about a free trial, but a version that's free forever. And the best news is that right now, the free version of Adobe XD is almost as good as the paid version.

Until recently, if you used Adobe XD under the free starter plan, you got unlimited local documents but were limited to one active shared document, two editors and one active shared link. That was okay for trying out the software, but it wasn't going to be much good if you wanted other team members, stakeholders or clients to be able collaborate on your designs.

However, since 3 April, Adobe has generously acted to help remote workers and freelancers affected by the lockdown by adding unlimited designing and prototyping, unlimited shared documents and editors, and unlimited shared links to the free plan until October. (After that, you will again only be able to get them as part of the paid-for plan.)

To download the free version of Adobe XD, you’ll first need an Adobe ID, if you don’t have one already. This is easy to set up and free. Go to the Adobe Account Page, click 'Create Account' and follow the instructions.

Once you have an Adobe ID, head to this page. Scroll down to the pricing plans near the bottom of the page and under 'XD Starter plan Free', click the blue 'Download XD' button. 

How do I buy Adobe XD?

While the free version of Adobe XD allows you access to a limited number of fonts and 2GB of cloud storage, the full version of Adobe XD comes with full access to the Adobe Fonts Portfolio (full font library) and 100GB of cloud storage. 

You'll also get unlimited editors, shared documents and shared links. (Right now, that's available with the free version as well, but only until October 2020.) At time of writing, the full version of Adobe XD costs £9.98 / $9.99 / AU$14.29 per month per user.

An alternative way to buy Adobe XD is as part of an All Apps Creative Cloud subscription, for which you pay monthly or annually. This will cost you more, but gives you access to all of the Creative Cloud apps, along with a range of other benefits. (If you’re not sure which Creative Cloud apps might prove useful, read our Adobe software list). 

If the cost seems too high, then bear in mind that Adobe often runs special promotions; we keep track of these in our constantly updated guide to the best Adobe Creative Cloud discounts. 

Beyond that, there are always discounts for students and teachers, as well as separate pricing for businesses, schools and universities. So it’s always worth having a look to see what deals are available at any given time.

What’s the price of Adobe XD?

You can get started with Adobe XD for free with the Starter Plan (see above), which until October offers most of the features of the paid-for plans. If you want more storage and fonts, though, your lowest cost option is to subscribe to Adobe XD as a single-app subscription, which at time of writing costs £9.98 / $9.99 / AU$14.29 per month, and includes 100GB of cloud storage and full access to Adobe Portfolio Fonts. 

The alternative is to buy Adobe XD through the Creative Cloud All Apps option, which gives you access to Adobe XD, including 100GB of cloud storage and full access to Adobe Portfolio Fonts, as well as Adobe’s entire collection of creative desktop and mobile apps. At time of writing, this costs $49.94 / $52.99 / AU$76.99 per month.

Adobe XD discounts for teachers and students

If you’re a student or teacher, you can buy After Effects as part of a discounted All Apps plan at a much lower rate. So right now, you can get the entire Creative Cloud suite of apps, along with 100GB cloud storage, Adobe Portfolio, Adobe Fonts, and Adobe Spark, for just $15.99 / £13.15 / AU$21.99 per month for the first year, and then $29.99 / £25.28 / AU$43.99 the following year. 

How can I get started with Adobe XD?

Once you've downloaded Adobe XD, there are a ton of XD tutorials from Adobe to get you started with the software, and boost your skills and knowledge, whether you're a total novice or a seasoned pro. Head here for an introduction to the interface and basic features, and to learn more about what you can do with Adobe XD, from applying colours, borders and gradients to creating repeating elements with Repeat Grid.

Also, if you'd like to save yourself time and effort using Adobe XD, you can check out our roundup of the best Adobe XD plugins. These plugins will help enhance your workflow and speed up your processes, helping you do things such as find photos of faces for mockups, enhance the colours within your design, and make sure your prototypes are accessible.

Download Adobe XD: What you need to know

Adobe XD is a vector-based UX design tool available for macOS and Windows that supports website wireframing and creating animated, click-through prototypes. The software makes it easy to bring in existing design work from other Creative Cloud apps, such as Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator, using copy and paste. There's also a free companion app for iOS and Android that enable you to preview your designs on mobile devices: you can download this from the App Store or the Google Play store.

Note: you cannot make finished websites with Adobe XD; it's purely for prototyping and forming designs that are ready to code. If you do want a user-friendly tool for building live websites and have a Creative Cloud subscription, you can try Adobe Muse as an alternative; also check out our selection of the best website builders.

Adobe XD is continually being updated, and users can access the new features automatically. The latest features (May 2020) include the abilities to work on shared documents even when you’re not connected to the internet and to zoom in and out on designs when viewing them via shared links. 

The best alternatives to Adobe XD

The main alternative to Adobe XD is Sketch. Launched in 2010, Sketch quickly became the digital design profession's go-to tool for mockups and prototyping. Indeed, Adobe XD was essentially launched in direct competition to it, and the two tool have very similar feature sets. However, note that Sketch is Mac-only, and no longer has a free tier, although it does offer a 30-day free trial. 

There are plenty more alternatives to Adobe XD, though, including Invision, Figma, Marvel and Framer X. Each have their pros and cons depending on your needs: check out our roundup, 8 essential tools for UI prototyping, to learn more about each of these tools. 

Read more:

• Download Photoshop
• Download InDesign 
• The beginner's guide to After Effects

We've found a range of deals on a range of gaming monitors – from the super high-end to the entry level. And these monitors are not just for gamers. Yes, that's how they're marketed, but really 'gaming monitors' simply means a monitor with great connectivity, beautiful visuals and often an immersive curved display. The monitors that we've selected below are mainly curved, but also check out our recommendations for the best ultrawide monitor. 

So here are the biggest savings that we could find on brilliant quality gaming monitors, and as they're part of the Amazon Summer Sale, we know that these deals will be for a limited time only – the majority of them ending on 12 July. So get them while stocks last.

If you're still on the lookout for more deals on creative tech and gear, keep an eye on our Amazon Prime Day 2020 page, which includes the latest on when Amazon's next sale will happen. 

Great gaming monitors cheap: our pick of the best

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New Rules of Work – Pandemic Edition features 14 ‘rules’, which perfectly sum up the experience of working from home. With stunning animated typography, the infographic offers some all-too-familiar home truths in a delightfully stylish (and sometimes hypnotic) way. Take a look at our best infographics for more inspiration. 

"If the coffee sucks, it’s your own damn fault," one rule reads, while another declares: "9:30 meetings mean 9:20 wake ups". Others speak to more private (and primal) working from home urges, such as the simple instruction: "Touch your genitals, not your face".

New Rules of Work – Pandemic Edition was created by Anton Darri Pálmarsson, Rigved and Paul Hirsch of California-based agency Division of Labor. The concept is based on the agency's New Rules of Work book, which features similar tongue-in-cheek typographical rules for office-based work. 

“This is a series of new rules for the way we work today," says Division of Labor. "Together we created a collection of motion graphics, kinetic typography and classic letter press designs that bring to life the universal ideas we’re all experiencing.” The agency is also offering four of the animated rules as Zoom backgrounds (including, yes, the 'genitals' one).

You can enjoy all 14 of the Pandemic Edition's rules on the agency's Behance page. 

If these rules feel a little close to home, then perhaps (like us) you're getting a little too used to, er, home. If so, our guide to working from home more productively might help. And if you're feeling inspired by the typographical genius of Division of Labor's work, check out our roundup of the best free fonts. 

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• Iceland's football logo reveal is ludicrously exhilarating
• Mind-blowing patent shows the future of the MacBook
• Google's AR dinosaurs are ridiculously cool

The best external storage

The best external hard drives will come in handy for plenty of people working in the creative industries, who often have to store lots of large files, and will soon fill up the hard drive that comes with their Mac or PC. That's where an external hard drive can help.

The best external hard drives are fast, dependable and easy to use. They're usually affordable too, and of course, portable. When choosing the best external hard drive, your main consideration should be storage capacity: around 500GB will suit most people, though it is of course cheaper to buy smaller capacities. To be on the safe side, you can also get larger ones at 1TB or greater – particularly useful if you need to store lots of video, or large Raw files. 

Also consider speed, portability, price and connectivity – you’ll want to ensure your new external hard drive has the right connection port for your device. The first generation rectangular USB-A ports are slowly being superseded by the newer, smaller reversible USB-C ports. These are now found on all modern PCs and Macs. 

Amazon Summer Sale deals on external hard drives

The Amazon Summer Sale is currently on, and we've selected the best deals on the best external hard drives for you – starting with our favourite brand of external hard drive, Western Digital (WD). But act now, as all deals below will expire on 12 July, or while stocks last. 

Best external hard drives and SSDs for Mac and PC

01. Western Digital My Passport 4TB

Capacity: 4TB | Interface: USB 3.0

When it comes to the best external hard drives, look no further than the Western Digital My Passport range. This is the latest model to have launched, coming in sizes from 1TB to 4TB. It features cloud storage and 256-AES encryption, along with WD's own backup software. (WD My Passport also make an SSD and an Ultra version). 

It also offers top data transfer speeds. And while it doesn't quite offer a similar speed to solid state drive devices, the Western Digital My Passport range hits a brilliant balance between high storage capacities and quick file transfers without knocking the price way up.

02. Samsung Portable SSD T5

Capacity: 250GB - 2TB | Interface: USB 3.1 (Gen 2)

The Samsung T5 SSD is a great performing storage device, reaching speeds up to 550 MB/sec, making the most of the USB 3.1 specification. It plugs directly into PCs and Macs with either a newer USB-C port or USB-A, is roughly the size of a matchbox and being a flash storage device, contains no moving parts, so can survive being dropped.

External SSDs may cost considerably more than hard disks, but the extra money and faster speeds go a long way. You’ll be able to easily load edit and save 4K video directly on the T5, which can be very slow with a USB hard disk, you can install applications onto it, or even run an entire alternative operating system off it at full speed, if you’re so inclined.

The downside is the pricing. SSDs give you less capacity for more money, so we don’t recommend the T5 for backup. It’s better to have a bigger hard disk for that and use the T5 in more specialised situations that need all that lovely performance.

03. G-Technology G-RAID with Thunderbolt 3

Capacity: 8TB - 24TB | Interface: Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.1

G-Technology has long been a favourite of Mac creative professionals, and no small part of this is the clever use of silver aluminium that perfectly matches Apple's iMac casing, keeping desktop areas with a uniform appearance.

The latest incarnation of its G-RAID dual hard disk Thunderbolt product isn’t just a smart performer, capable of 440 MB/sec transfer rates in RAID 0, which is pretty incredible for hard disks, but it also gives you a few extras.

There's an HDMI 2.2 port on the back, which routes a video signal for an external display over the G-RAID’s Thunderbolt 3 cable, which has plenty of bandwidth to spare even with the hard disk going at full speed. It also has a USB-C port to connect to Macs or PCs that lack Thunderbolt.

Expect to pay a small fortune for the largest capacities, but thanks to the easy drive removal system, you could always buy a cheaper, lower capacity G-RAID and upgrade it with off-the-shelf hard disks yourself.

04. Buffalo MiniStation Thunderbolt

Capacity: 1TB, 2TB | Interface: Thunderbolt, USB 3.0

If you want to make use of your Thunderbolt port, then this Buffalo MiniStation Thunderbolt is a great option, as it provides twice the speeds of standard USB 3.0 drives. It's also not especially expensive compared to other Thunderbolt drives. This is mainly down to the fact that it's a traditional hard drive, not an SSD, which means it's not quite as fast as it could be – though it will still give you an upgrade to your transfer speeds.

Helpfully, the Buffalo MiniStation Thunderbolt also comes with a USB 3.0 port for connecting to computers that don't have a Thunderbolt port.

05. LaCie Porsche Design Mobile Drive 4TB

Capacity: 4TB | Interface: USB-C

The LaCie Porsche Design is one of the best external hard drives for Macs on sale today, and comes with both USB Type-C to Type-A and USB Type-C to Type-C connectors, making it a versatile way to expand the storage space of your Mac, regardless of what ports it has. This is also one of the most stylishly-designed external hard drives on this list, and it comes with a large 4TB capacity (with other sizes available as well), and it performs brilliantly.

• Buy LaCie 5TB Mobile Drive instead

06. Adata SD700 External SSD

Capacity: 256GB, 512GB or 1TB | Interface: USB 3.0

The Adata SD700 will suit those looking for a rugged storage device that can provide ample capacity without costing too much. It performs superbly well and remains the only SSD we’ve seen that's IP68 rated, which means it can withstand dust, dirt and sand and are water resistant for up to 30 minutes.

Thanks to the solid state drive that resides in this external hard drive, it's a lot faster than external drives that use traditional spinning hard drives – so you're getting great transfer speeds as well as rugged protection.

It also comes in capacities up to 1TB, so you don't have to worry about missing out on storage space just because it uses an SSD. This Adata drive really does hit all the right notes.

07. WD My Book Duo

Capacity: 4TB - 28TB | Interface: USB-C (Gen 1)

If you're looking for the absolute largest capacity external USB hard drive, then the WD My Book Duo Is the one to get, as it now goes all the way to a massive 28TB. 

If you don't mind sacrificing some of the ample storage space you can set the drives up in a RAID 1 array, so you have file backups of your files should one of the drives die. This is an excellent feature if you're going to use this device to back up irreplaceable data, such as your creative work, as it adds a level of protection in case things go wrong.

It provides two additional USB ports on the rear, so you can easily insert flash sticks. The device has 256-bit AES hardware encryption, and automatic backup software (WD SmartWare Pro).

It's also worth noting that the enclosure used is fully serviceable and that WD ships the drive already pre-formatted for Windows users (NTFS), so you'll want to reformat it to work with your Mac.

08. LaCie Rugged USB-C

Capacity: 1TB - 5TB | Storage Type: Hard Disk | Connector: Type-C | Interface: USB 3.1

Lacie’s rugged hard disk series is instantly recognisable from its orange casing, which is a rubber enclosure that keeps the disk safe from even medium-height drops up to 1.2m, along with your precious data.

According to Lacie it can apparently withstand the pressure of a one-ton car, and is resistant to rain. That makes it a great choice for content creation when you’re out and about, whether you’re participating in daredevil sports, travelling the world, just a bit paranoid or simply clumsy.

HDD vs SSD: which is best?

There are two types of external hard drive: hard disk drives (HDD, also known as mechanical or traditional hard drives) or solid state drives (SSD). An SSD is faster, lighter and less power-hungry, whereas an HDD drive will be cheaper and slower than an SSD. HDDs are also good for storing lots of data as they often have a high capacity. 

So, if you want to store huge amounts of data while keeping prices low, a HDD is the way to go. But if speed is your top priority – for example, if you move a lot of large files, or want to run programs off the drive – then choose an SSD. Or, you can always use a smaller SSD for files that you need to access or move around often, and then store the other data that you use less often on a higher capacity HDD.

We’ve included both in this best external hard drive roundup.  Right now, our top pick for best external hard drive is the Western Digital My Passport 4TB, which is a mechanical hard drive. We think it offers creatives the perfect balance of speed, reliability, portability and price for both Mac and PC users.

External hard drive alternatives

If you prefer your storage to be integrated, it is possible to upgrade to the internal hard drive of your desktop PC or laptop. It certainly isn’t easy though, and Apple has made sure it's pretty much impossible to replace those drives in their devices yourself. 

Cloud storage is another option, allowing you to store your files online, enabling you to access them from pretty much any internet-connected device.  

Related articles:

• The best drawing tablets in 2018
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Unlike changing your Instagram font, your options on WhatsApp are limited to a whole one extra font: monospace. But one extra font is better than none, and it's bound to cause some excitement among your friends or family for at least a few seconds. (Check out our best free fonts for more typographical inspiration.) 

In monospace fonts, each letter takes up exactly the same width and spacing. They're particularly useful for coding, with increased legibility. Perhaps more excitingly, monospace fonts are also customary for typewriters, so you can use monospace to give your WhatsApp messages a distinctly retro vibe. 

There are two ways to change your message to monospace. Firstly, you can simply place three backticks on both sides of the text (a backtick looks like a backwards apostrophe – on iOS, it can be accessed by tapping and holding the apostrophe key) before pressing send. Alternatively, instead of inserting the backticks, on either iOS or Android you can tap and hold your message before sending, and select Bold/Italic/Underline – BIU – (above) to bring up various formatting options, including monospace.

As well as monotype, WhatsApp's formatting options include bold, italic and strikethrough. Visit WhatsApp's help page to find out how to activate each of these settings. As far as font customisation goes, that's it – but thankfully, as our font design guide shows, there's a whole lot more going on in the world of typography outside of WhatsApp.

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