We need a little more color in our lives: ...... Then you'll love Anna Brettschneider's designs. This multidisciplinary artist has a strong interest in textiles, especially bold prints and unusual color combinations. For me," she says, "I've always been drawn to these designs. 'Color is so much fun, and people shouldn't be afraid to use it.'

And while most of Anna's days are a creative dream, walking around her Brooklyn neighborhood with her camera to take photos for inspiration, much of her work is rooted in digital tools. She says, "I couldn't do what I do without the many high-tech things I use every day." Anna shares her secrets on how she blends technology and creativity in her life and how she stays organized and inspired.

I live in Park Slope, Brooklyn with my boyfriend. I put a lot more effort into this one than my other living spaces, especially now that I'm working from home. I usually have a lot of fresh flowers on display for color and inspiration.

Believe it or not, I work on the computer almost every day! Sometimes I have creative days where I draw pictures for clients or develop different ideas. Even then, organizing my ideas in Microsoft Excel (opens in a new tab) gives me a hub for all of my ideas, and I can eventually go back and run through all of them.

I have always loved how playing with colors, prints, and patterns can transform a space. After school, I started working for a luxury rug company in New York City. We primarily collaborate with interior designers to create custom pieces, so communication and organization are central to my job.

Working closely with clients means I have to be familiar with all aspects of a project, so I use more technology than people expect in the creative field. In order to create a physical project, I need a digital reference. I am basically creating a guide for weavers. So I rely on things like Microsoft Excel to fully plan the project at every step. I can track the details of the piece, like materials, techniques, when to send it to the factory, etc. It's a really cool way to create designs that get made all over the world. This would not be possible without technology and the Microsoft 365 (opens in new tab) app.

I also work on projects for private clients, so I need to be even more organized outside of the office. For independent projects, I am constantly using Microsoft PowerPoint (opens in new tab) for presentations. It is motivating to have a project that is completely my own.

As a designer, it is really important to have a place to share your work and interact with creative people outside of your usual circle. I love using social media to share my creative projects, and I especially find LinkedIn (opens in new tab) to be a great place to post ideas and connect with new clients. Recently, my apartment was featured in an interior design magazine and I shared the article on LinkedIn. The platform allows me to showcase my work to a relevant audience and then helps me connect with others in the industry to work together.LinkedIn has been helpful for communication and organization in most creative fields. Creatives may seem to work only with their hands, but in reality, it's all about balance.

To learn more about how Microsoft products can help you advance your career, click here (opens in new tab).