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Project Ideas
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Full Lesson Reference
Not sure what to build? Here's inspiration organized by difficulty and platform.
How to Use This List
- Start small — Pick something simpler than you think you need
- Solve your problem — Tools you'll use are more motivating
- Platform matters — Start with what interests you
- Don't overthink — Just pick something and begin
Beginner Projects
Quick wins to build confidence.
Web
| Project | What it does |
|---|---|
| Color converter | Convert between hex, RGB, HSL |
| Lorem generator | Generate placeholder text with options |
| Favicon checker | Preview favicons at different sizes |
| Aspect ratio calculator | Calculate dimensions for crops |
| URL shortener | Simple link shortener (no backend) |
macOS
| Project | What it does |
|---|---|
| Clipboard formatter | Clean formatting from pasted text |
| Quick note | Menu bar app for capturing thoughts |
| Color picker | Sample colors from screen |
| Focus timer | Simple Pomodoro-style timer |
| Weather glance | Current weather in menu bar |
iOS
| Project | What it does |
|---|---|
| Counter | Tap to count things |
| Color palette saver | Save colors you like |
| Daily quote | Display a random quote |
| Unit converter | Convert common units |
| Flashcard viewer | Simple flashcard app |
Intermediate Projects
More features, more learning.
Web
| Project | What it does |
|---|---|
| Portfolio site | Showcase your work |
| Design system docs | Document your components |
| Icon search | Search through icon libraries |
| Gradient generator | Create and export gradients |
| Type scale calculator | Generate typography scales |
| Brand asset library | Organize and share brand files |
| Invoice generator | Create simple invoices |
macOS
| Project | What it does |
|---|---|
| Font previewer | Preview fonts with custom text |
| Screenshot organizer | Organize screenshots by project |
| Meeting timer | Track meeting time with alerts |
| Markdown preview | Live preview of markdown files |
| App switcher | Quick project-specific app launcher |
| Snippet manager | Save and paste code/text snippets |
iOS
| Project | What it does |
|---|---|
| Expense tracker | Simple expense logging |
| Habit tracker | Track daily habits |
| Mood journal | Log mood with optional notes |
| Recipe saver | Save and organize recipes |
| Reading list | Track books to read |
| Trip packing list | Reusable packing checklists |
Advanced Projects
Deeper complexity, more capabilities.
Web
| Project | What it does |
|---|---|
| Design feedback tool | Upload designs, get comments |
| Component playground | Interactive component docs |
| Client portal | Share files and progress with clients |
| Analytics dashboard | Visualize data beautifully |
| Project estimator | Estimate project timelines |
| A/B test preview | Preview design variants side by side |
macOS
| Project | What it does |
|---|---|
| Design file organizer | Manage Figma/Sketch files |
| Time tracker | Track time per project |
| Asset exporter | Batch export with naming conventions |
| Diff viewer | Compare design versions |
| Automation runner | Run design-related scripts |
iOS
| Project | What it does |
|---|---|
| Project timer | Client-facing time tracker |
| Inspiration board | Save and organize inspiration |
| Design critique recorder | Voice notes with screenshots |
| Color accessibility checker | Check contrast on mobile |
| Client presentation | Present work from your phone |
By Interest
For typography lovers
- Font previewer
- Type scale calculator
- Font pairing suggester
- Variable font playground
For color enthusiasts
- Palette generator
- Contrast checker
- Color blindness simulator
- Brand color manager
For productivity seekers
- Time tracker
- Focus timer
- Meeting countdown
- Task manager
- Pomodoro app
For portfolio-building
- Portfolio site
- Case study template
- Process documentation
- Screenshot beautifier
For learning
- Component playground
- CSS property visualizer
- Animation timing explorer
- Layout debugger
Picking Your Project
Questions to ask:
- Will I use this? — Tools you use stay motivating
- Is it too ambitious? — Start smaller than you think
- What will I learn? — Each project teaches something
- Does the platform interest me? — Interest sustains effort
Starting advice:
- Finish something small before starting something big
- It's okay to abandon projects — you still learned
- Share what you build, even if imperfect
- Use your projects to inform the next one
Still Stuck?
Claude can help you brainstorm based on your specific situation.
terminal
I'm a [designer type] and I work on [project types].
What's a small tool I could build that I'd actually use?
Give me 3 ideas I could finish in a weekend.Exercises
- Pick one beginner project from the platform that interests you most and write a one-sentence description of what your version should do.
- Run the "Still Stuck?" brainstorm prompt with your real designer type and the kind of work you do, then choose the idea you'd genuinely use.
- Run the four "Picking Your Project" questions against your chosen idea — if it fails "Is it too ambitious?", scope it down until it passes.