Chapter 1: The Infinite Canvas Concept

Imagine having a limitless canvas for an entire month—how liberating is that!

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This month, I’m turning to my iPad as my primary planning tool. If Concepts could manage multi-page interactive PDFs, it would undoubtedly become my go-to app. Planning serves as a repository for my thoughts, worries, and ideas, offering a rough sketch of my daily agenda alongside detailed task lists. Regardless of its form, I need both the space and time to plan whenever inspiration strikes.

During my recent family visit, my planning turned into a simple list of tasks I needed to address before returning home—nothing more. Concepts has truly captured my heart.

Concepts, which operates on a freemium model, is perfect for creating illustrations for my blog posts. I find it incredibly user-friendly; the tools are unobtrusive, and its powerful grid, template, shape, and layer features streamline my work.

One of my favorite gestures in Concepts is the ability to select and move elements on a single layer or all at once with just one finger. This significantly reduces the time spent switching tools for selections!

This month, I've been utilizing Concepts’ infinite canvas as a notepad. It occurred to me: what if I combined my notes from tomorrow with today’s in the same document?

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This approach has proven effective. Sure, you could opt for alternatives like GoodNotes, Notability, or Procreate, but none of them offer the infinite canvas, diverse editing options, and vector images that Concepts provides.

Chapter 2: Embracing the Day

Years ago, I read "Attack Your Day (Before It Attacks You)" by Mark and Trapper Woods. While I’m not inclined to approach time management combatively nowadays, I appreciated their idea of a 24-hour grid for planning, likening it to a game board. I recreated a similar grid in Concepts, noting the hours in a layout that resonates with me, and saved it as a template.

This scratchpad concept is brilliant—it’s a tool available when needed, not a chore to complete.

My usage of this infinite space has been sporadic; you won’t find a neat collection of daily notes for the month. But that’s the beauty of a scratchpad—it serves as a resource when necessary, not an obligation.

I’ve compiled a small selection of grids and number lists showcased in the screenshots of my monthly planning canvas. Feel free to download them here and import them as shapes in Concepts via Dropbox or iCloud. Let me know if you need further guidance.

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As you can see, I prefer working with scratchpads that feature a dark backdrop, using layers to introduce lighter sections where I desire them.

Chapter 3: The Value of Impermanence

You might wonder, "What about plain text? What about Obsidian, backups, and Markdown?"

I’d say not everything needs to endure indefinitely.

I can convert my handwriting into text via OCR or export my Concepts notes as PDFs, though I seldom do. The essence of the process lies in the act itself, rather than the final product.

While some notes warrant preservation, I’ve learned that it’s often therapeutic to express thoughts as if writing with chalk on a sidewalk, knowing it may wash away soon. Perhaps the fleeting nature of these notes contributes to their value?

I've experimented with Excalidraw in Obsidian, but it doesn’t provide the free-flowing experience that my hand-drawn work requires. Obsidian’s Canvas feature holds immense potential for blending graphics and text, but I’m not there yet.

Currently, Concepts on my iPad offers all the features I need.

Chapter 4: Your Personal Scratchpad

I’m sharing this to document my productivity journey and inspire you to explore your creativity.

I hope the scratchpad concept encourages you to trust your instincts when planning your day while allowing for a bit of self-reflection. Much of my planning sessions feel like self-directed therapy, where I express whatever is on my mind without judgment.

Deeply personal thoughts may be encoded, sometimes never revisited, while other times they become invaluable resources for future projects.

Do you have a scratchpad where you jot down thoughts and plans in a judgment-free space before embarking on what others perceive as your "real" work?

Whether it’s a stick in the dirt, scraps of paper, or a beautifully crafted notebook, just write, doodle, or draw when inspiration strikes and see where it leads!

You can download my simple hourly planning templates here.

Chapter 5: Enhancing Creativity with Video

To further enhance your creative process, check out the following videos:

The first video, How to Create a Drawing Template Using iPad and Concepts App, offers insights on setting up your workspace for maximum productivity.

Next, explore Create Design Iterations Faster with Concepts, which demonstrates techniques to streamline your design process.

With these resources, I hope you feel inspired to unleash your creativity and make the most of your planning tools!