Rihanna Sent Everyone to Detention for Her Fenty x Puma Show

In honor of International Women's Day, we're spending the day with one of our favorite women, content creator Allison Cimo. She’s sharing her tips and tricks for building your own brand using Adobe Express. Allison spends her 9-5 and her 5-9 designing and writing content for work and her personal life. She’s a busy creative who loves her job and recently moved to Los Angeles with her husband and adorable pup.

We followed Allison for a day in her creative space, where she’s working on a few social media assets for Women’s History Month while creating beautiful invites for her best friend’s wedding. “This Women’s History Month, I’m inspired by all of the trailblazing women who came before me in history: The scientists, artists, and thinkers,” says Allison. “The changemakers who made contributions to our society, big and small.”

Check out Allison’s dreamy day-in-the-life video below and be inspired!

How does she bring her inspo to life? Adobe Express makes designing easy with thousands of beautiful templates, plus assets for social media content, logos, and more. “Adobe Express has been a complete game changer for me,” Allison says. “I love being able to pick out the templates that align with my aesthetic or a client's aesthetic. It is essentially a creative jumping off point and saves me so much time, especially on holidays like International Women's Day. It's so fun to scroll through all the templates and add in my own personal touches to celebrate the important women in my life."

Here are more ways Allison fuels her creativity, plus her tips and tricks for all the female creators out there!

Create A Morning Ritual. Start the day by getting into the mindset of being creative without actually being creative. “I always make coffee, eat breakfast (I'm a pour-a-bowl-of-cereal type of girl), and take my pup for a walk, which gets my creative brain going,” says Allison.

Set Goals, Long And Short Term. “I'm very free spirited. I pick up projects that I'm interested in and I'm really guided by my creative brain and heart,” says Allison. Setting goals didn’t come naturally to her as a creative person but she found that it helped her grow her career. “Setting goals gives you guardrails and guidance for where you want to go.” Adobe Express can help you visualize goals with its mood board creator that has professional tools and templates to make a custom mood board in minutes.

Don’t Reinvent The Wheel. “The concept of a blank canvas and starting from absolute scratch is kind of daunting,” says Allison. Adobe Express is like getting help from a trusted designer with thousands of pre-designed templates you can customize, plus the entire Adobe Stock royalty-free photo collection and a full library of Adobe Fonts. It’s an easy tool for editing images, videos, and documents too. “I just love how much you can really customize it,” says Allison, “so that when you're actually finished, it feels like something that you just totally created, even though it was born from a template.”

Get Organized Visually. Creatives are visual people so finding ways to organize in a way that is visually appealing could help you stay organized and save time. “I color code everything,” says Allison. “I have a lot of different types of tasks: brainstorming tasks, executional tasks where I'm actually copywriting or designing and scheduling, admin stuff like reporting, emailing, research. Visualizing what my week or day is going to look like helps me get into the right mindset.” Adobe Express' content scheduler tool also helps Allison stay organized so she can plan, schedule, preview, and publish social content across platforms — all from one place.

Draw Inspiration From Other Women. “I love designing and writing, but I find it so motivating to look at what other creators are dreaming up. I'm always looking to other female creators to inspire me and challenge me to see new perspectives,” notes Allison. "Right now it’s so empowering to be a female creator. I love to seek out other creatives and pay homage to the women who inspire me by visiting female-centered exhibits, reading books, and creating fun social posts on Adobe Express."

Give Yourself Grace. “I always try to be forgiving if I'm just not in the right headspace for being creative,” says Allison. “I think some of that is just being flexible and adaptable and being able to read your mood in the morning.” Sometimes that means leaning into more personal work. “My best friend is getting married this year and I’m so excited to celebrate the incredible, awesome, and inspiring woman that she is. With Adobe Express’ wedding invitation designs, I was able to create stunning invitations for her that I’m absolutely obsessed with. They feel like a true reflection of her.”

Need a creative spark to get the juices going on this International Women’s Day and beyond? Check out Adobe Express for loads of inspirational designs, templates, and tools to help unlock your creativity. Easily make anything you need, all in one place!

Video Direction & Editing by Allison Cimo.

We recently partnered with Bounty to support emerging artists and designers in a national design competition. The ask? Design a graphic for a new Brit + Co and Bounty paper towel collection themed A Clean Fresh Start, which launches this month. In this creator spotlight series, we are featuring the winners of that competition to learn more about their inspirations, their design process, and their winning Bounty design. Read on to meet…

Sherry Freyermuth | BoBerry Design Co. | @quiltingwithbobodesign | Southeastern Massachusetts

What are your design inspirations? I’ve always loved collage art from artists such as Charles Wilkin and Danielle Krysa. And I love hand-lettering from artists such as Jessica Hische and Gia Graham. I think it was seeing Lynn Giunta’s work — she’s a creative artist — that made me realize I could combine my two interests of collage and lettering.

I’ve focused a lot of my energy this past year on making designs for quilting and sewing products. That’s definitely inspired by my mom, Karen Saunders, and her love of quilting. I’ve been crafting and creating my whole life because of her, and now we collaborate on projects together. It’s been such a fun process to work with her to create products with my own art on them — 10-year-old me would be very happy!

Tell us about your design process. I create cheerful surface designs using a paper-cutting technique. I begin my designs by cutting shapes, letters, and icons out of paper. I love to use rudimentary tools, such as children's scissors and construction paper, to keep my designs loose and playful. This helps give the designs a naïve quality that works well for children’s products. I combine this with the technical process I’ve developed in my 15+ years as a graphic designer to complete the design digitally using Adobe Illustrator. I create these cheerful, modern designs for both kids and the young at heart!

How did you get into illustration? I’ve been a graphic designer for over 15 years and for the past 10 years I’ve been a design educator. I’m currently an assistant professor of studio art at Clark University in Worcester, MA. When I moved from Texas to Massachusetts to take this role in fall 2020, as you can imagine, it was a difficult time to feel creative. I didn’t have any local graphic design clients, but in January 2021, I decided to sign up for a drawing challenge on Instagram to spark my creativity again. This helped me develop a habit, and I was able to fit in a little work each day for a month. As I worked, I realized I wanted to shift from freelance graphic design to focusing on getting my illustration work onto products. Imagine my surprise when I won this contest to design for Bounty in June 2021. It was an absolute dream project!

What are three IG accounts you love? All three of these accounts are female-owned small businesses because that’s really what’s inspiring me these days.

• Puzzles of Color is co-owned by sibling duo Ericka and William and together they make puzzles featuring art by artists of color. The puzzles are beautiful and celebratory. William was actually one of my graphic design students in 2013, and now I’m looking to him for business advice!
• Elizabeth Silver is a wealth of knowledge in the surface design industry. She’s been working as a surface pattern designer for 20 years, and I basically learned all my first surface design business tips from the advice on her youtube channel and blog. She’s also a hilarious writer, and I do read every newsletter she sends my way!
• Elizabeth Chappell is a quilt pattern designer and host of the “Craft to Career” podcast. This podcast has been my road map to figuring out how to develop a business in the craft industry…fun fact, I was featured on a business coaching call episode last August. It really helped me think about narrowing my focus because I tend to want my hands in all the creative things!

How do you know when a piece of art, including your winning Bounty design, is “finished”? This is a tough question because each project is different. Sometimes I work through several ideas before completing a design, and sometimes I work through one concept from start to finish, but I might keep changing it throughout the process.

Here’s one example: I recently designed a Halloween countdown calendar, and I knew from the beginning that I wanted a coffin shape and spooky elements like ghosts, skeletons, and spiders. As I developed it, I found that the concept didn’t change, but I came to a point where it wasn’t looking quite right. I ended up taking out several elements and then it finally felt complete. My designs are often very dense, but I had to rethink it in this case because it didn’t work for the type of product I was trying to create.

Overall, it’s hard to describe, but the “finished” quality of the work is part intuitively knowing that it’s done, and part knowing that done is better than perfect!

Be sure to look out for Sherry’s winning design wherever Bounty Paper Towels are sold!

With an acting career that spans over four decades, Tom Hanks (born Thomas Jeffrey Hanks) is revered as one of the most beloved and well-respected actors in Hollywood. Whether he’s portraying a lovable man-child in Big or voicing a trustworthy cowboy sheriff doll in Toy Story, the now 68-year-old actor and filmmaker has managed to capture the hearts of audiences around the world, solidifying himself as an American cultural icon. Aside from having many prestigious awards under his belt, Hanks’ impressive acting catalog includes a movie or two that is an absolute must-watch. (Ahem, I’ve watched You’ve Got Mail more than a dozen times, but who’s counting?)

From Cast Away to Apollo 13, here’s a list of the best Tom Hanks movies everyone should watch at least once—if you haven’t already!

1. Forrest Gump

Paramount Pictures

One of the most memorable quotes from this widely-praised classic comes from Forrest Gump himself, where the titular character repeats a phrase often used by his late mother: “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”

That’s just one of the inspirational lessons you will take away throughout the film. Serving as an adaption of Winston Groom’s 1986 novel of the same title, Forrest Gump follows an Alabama man who doesn’t let his intellectual shortcomings stand in his way. From fighting on the front lines of the Vietnam War to captaining a shrimp boat, Forrest Gump is living his life to the fullest.

But he yearns to be with his childhood love, Jenny, who goes on to live a troubling life. Not only was Forrest Gump a box office success (garnering a whopping $678.2 million worldwide during its theatrical run, btw) but it was admired by critics and fans alike, earning an 8.8 out of 10 rating on IMDb and a 75 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. While this Tom Hanks movie has faced some controversy over the years, its redeeming qualities make it one of the most iconic movies of the 90s.

2. Toy Story

Disney

Woody is the true definition of best friend goals. Woody’s unwavering fearlessness and ability to go to infinity and beyond for Andy (AKA his owner) and his fellow toys is quite endearing. It’s hard to picture anyone other than Tom Hanks voicing the iconic vintage doll. From the moment Woody is first introduced on screen, Hanks brings a story of charm and je ne sais quoi to the character that can’t be replicated.

While the Toy Story movie franchise consists of four movies (with a fifth movie currently in the works, ICYMI), the first Toy Story movie will always be a fan favorite, earning an 8.3 out of 10 rating on IMDb and a perfect 100 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes.

3. Philadelphia

TriStar

Moving, poignant and unforgettable. Those are the three words that describe Hank’s phenomenal (and don’t forget Oscar-winning!) performance in 1993’s law drama Philadelphia. Meet Andrew Beckett, a lawyer working at a prestigious law firm in Philadelphia. In a desperate attempt to save his career, he keeps his HIV diagnosis and homosexuality a secret from his co-workers.

However, an employee discovers his secret, and as a result, Beckett is let go from the law firm. Angered by the firm’s decision, Beckett enlists the help of a Black lawyer named Joe Miller (played by Denzel Washington) and sues his former employer for discrimination.

From the talented ensemble cast to the film’s underlying message of social injustice and prejudice, Philadelphia is an absolute must-watch from beginning to end. And the ratings speak for themselves: Philadelphia has a 7.7/10 on IMDb and 81 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

4. ​Big

20th Century Fox

If you ask me, Big is like the big brother to 13 Going on 30 and 17 Again. Directed by Penny Marshall (who you may recognize from the TV sitcom Laverne & Shirley!), Big follows a 12-year-old boy named Josh Baskin, who wishes he was “big.”

One day, he wakes up as an adult. However, Josh longs for the days of childhood. But what makes this film so great? Hanks brings such a childlike innocence to the role that you can’t help but smile whenever he appears on screen. Whether he’s playing with toys or gleefully playing a sonnet on a life-size piano keyboard with his feet, Big makes you feel an enchanting sense of nostalgia, where you can think back to a time when life was so carefree and being a child wasn’t a distant memory. Also, it has a 7.3/10 rating on IMDb and a whopping 98 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

5. Sleepless in Seattle

TriStar

As someone who has watched Sleepless in Seattle more than once, I can’t say enough how much this timeless rom-com deserves a spot on this list. From the undeniable chemistry between Hanks and Meg Ryan to the talented ensemble cast, this is a movie I put on whenever I’m in the mood for a genuine, heartwarming romance. What’s not to love?

Following the death of his wife, Sam Baldwin and his son move to Seattle for a fresh start. One night, Jonah calls into a radio station to find his dad a new wife. While driving late at night, a journalist named Annie Reed is listening to the same radio segment and she falls for Sam, but—get this—she’s engaged.

Unable to get him off her mind, Annie takes a leap of faith and writes to Sam, asking him to meet up on top of the Empire State Building on Valentine’s Day. If that doesn’t scream romance, then I don’t know what does. Though Sleepless in Seattle received a 6.8/10 rating on IMDb and 75 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, it remains one of my fave Nora Ephron films and Tom Hanks’ swoon-worthy portrayal of Sam is chef's kiss.

6. ​Cast Away

DreamWorks

If you were questioning Tom Hanks’ range as an actor, just put on Cast Away (which has a 7.8/10 rating on IMDb and 88 percent on Rotten Tomatoes) one time and you’ll see for yourself. I mean, the man is acting alongside a volleyball named Wilson for most of the movie, for crying out loud.

Hanks is a force to be reckoned with in this film, where he plays a FedEx executive who survives a plane crash and becomes stranded on a deserted island. As he fights to survive, he dreams of one day reuniting with a person he holds near and dear to his heart: his soon-to-be fiancée.

7. ​Saving Private Ryan

DreamWorks

The first time I watched Saving Private Ryan was in Social Studies class. Middle school, to be exact. Set during WWII, Saving Private Ryan follows Captain John Miller and his regiment as they embark on a journey to locate Private James Ryan, whose three brothers have been killed in combat.

This movie will stick with you after the screen fades to black and the end credits roll. And Hanks’ ability to capture Captain John Miller’s sincerity and valiantness with so much authenticity was nothing short of spectacular. But that’s not the only reason why it deserves a spot on everyone’s watch list. While it’s certainly not an easy watch, this film tells an impactful yet inspiring story about resilience, loss, and the disastrous conditions of war. Not to mention, it has an impressive 8.6/10 rating on IMDb and 94 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Need I say more?

8. ​Catch Me If You Can

DreamWorks

What do you get when you put Tom Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio in a crime-action comedy? Catch Me If You Can, that’s what! Serving as a live adaptation of Frank Abagnale Jr.’s autobiographical book of the same name, Catch Me If You Can revolves around the young conman, who becomes the most successful bank robber in the history of the U.S. before the age of 19.

Frank has done it all: he’s worked as a doctor, a lawyer, and as a co-pilot for a major airline. In a cunning game of cat and mouse, FBI Agent Carl Hanratty (played by Hanks) tries to bring Frank to justice, only for Frank to be one step ahead. It garnered an 8.1/10 rating on IMDb and a 96 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. And don’t even get me started on Hanks and DiCaprio being the ultimate on-screen duo.

9. ​Apollo 13

Universal Pictures

“Houston, we have a problem!” If you heard this iconic phrase before, I bet you didn’t know that it came from the 1995 docu-drama Apollo 13. Aside from its stellar ensemble cast, the film was also praised for its accurate retelling of the Apollo 13 lunar mission.

The year is 1970. A crew of three astronauts boarded a NASA spacecraft in hopes of landing on the moon. When an oxygen tank explodes during their mission, the crew must find a way to survive and make it safely back to Earth. Not only is it regarded as one of the best movies of all time, but it also received praise from critics, earning a 7.7/10 rating on IMDb and a 96 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

10. Splash

Buena Vista Pictures

Last but not least: Splash. Sure, the plot may be a bit cheesy. But it has everything that makes an '80s rom-com great. Strong chemistry? Check. Quirky humor? Oh, there’s a lot of that! Splash follows a man who's reunited with a mermaid that saved him from drowning 20 years ago.

Now, as an adult, he falls in love with the mermaid after she ventures onto dry land to find him. However, their perfect love story is cut short when a scheming scientist tries to expose her secret to the world. Now, I know what you’re thinking: This movie has a 6.3/10 rating on IMDb and it somehow received a 95 percent on Rotten Tomatoes (with an audience rating of 65 percent.) But Splash is an overall good time. If you’re looking for a chuckle or two, you’ll get it with Splash. (And can I just say that Tom Hanks is so charming and funny in this film?!)

What’s your favorite Tom Hanks movie? Did we miss one on the list? If so, let us know in the comments and read up on the 10 Cringy 90s Movies That Would Never Be Made Today for more!