# Thomas McGee

> Design thinking, content strategy, and creator systems from Thomas McGee, veteran UI/UX designer and SaaS founder.

Thomas McGee is a veteran UI/UX designer, software engineer, and SaaS founder. This site publishes practical content on design thinking, content strategy, creator systems, and digital publishing.

## Pages

- [Home](https://thomasmcgee.co/): Main hub with trending content, works, and tools.
- [Latest](https://thomasmcgee.co/latest): All content in chronological order.
- [Works](https://thomasmcgee.co/works): UI/UX and product design portfolio.
- [Tools](https://thomasmcgee.co/tools): Curated tools for designers, creators, and publishers.
- [Trending](https://thomasmcgee.co/trending): Most-read content right now.
- [About](https://thomasmcgee.co/about): Background and bio.
- [Hire Me](https://thomasmcgee.co/hire): Consulting and project work.
- [Projects](https://thomasmcgee.co/projects): Products and side projects.

## Topics

- [Creators](https://thomasmcgee.co/topic/creators): Publishing, audience building, education products, and creator workflows.
- [Shenanigans](https://thomasmcgee.co/topic/shenanigans): The oddball bucket for experiments, curveballs, and things that fit nowhere else.
- [Design](https://thomasmcgee.co/topic/design): Interface craft, visual systems, messaging clarity, and layout decisions.
- [Business](https://thomasmcgee.co/topic/business): Growth strategy, positioning, lead generation, and practical business decisions.
- [Tech](https://thomasmcgee.co/topic/tech): Software, AI, infrastructure, security, and modern web tooling.

## Articles

- [Building a Dashcam iPhone App](https://thomasmcgee.co/article/building-a-dashcam-iphone-app): MightyDash started with a simple frustration: private dashcam apps were hard to use, and polished ones wanted too much data. I wanted to build something better.
- [I Built a Local News Website](https://thomasmcgee.co/article/i-built-a-local-news-website): Boise Today started as a personal experiment in local media, AI, maps, and UX. It became a way to rethink what local news can feel like when it is built around how people actually live.
- [On Using AI for Work](https://thomasmcgee.co/article/using-ai-for-work): AI is not a replacement for skill, taste, judgment, or responsibility. Used well, it is leverage for people who already know what they are doing.
- [No One Cares About Your Logo](https://thomasmcgee.co/article/no-one-cares-about-your-logo): After almost 20 years of designing logos, here's the honest advice most business owners don't want to hear: your logo is not what makes a brand good.
- [The Art of Trusting Your Designer](https://thomasmcgee.co/article/trusting-your-designer): There is a big difference between hiring someone to use design software and hiring them to solve a design problem. Most clients confuse the two.
- [TeachKit Is Now Free](https://thomasmcgee.co/article/teachkit-is-now-free): TeachKit was built to make online teaching simpler and more practical. Now creators can build free or paid courses without paying TeachKit a monthly subscription.
- [The Monetization of Spam](https://thomasmcgee.co/article/linkedin-inbox-spam): LinkedIn is selling access to your inbox with sponsored messages you can't opt out of. It's a cautionary tale for anyone building a product with real users.
- [Good Design vs. Bad Design](https://thomasmcgee.co/article/good-design-vs-bad-design): Most designers will talk to you about fonts, colors, and layouts. Few will ever tell you what design actually is — and why that misunderstanding costs everyone.

## Videos

- [How to Use Dark Mode on (Almost) Any Site](https://thomasmcgee.co/video/lbAC4VSWAx0): Get Dark Reader: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/dark-reader/eimadpbcbfnmbkopoojfekhnkhdbieeh

Create an Online Course! » https://teachkit.co 

More Resources from Me: https://thomasmcgee.co
My Favorite Mac Apps: https://tubelinks.io/thomas/c057e19
Video Gear I Use: https://tubelinks.io/thomas/41d8be5
Video Playlists: https://tubelinks.io/thomas/62b4936
- [How to Draw with Text](https://thomasmcgee.co/video/RviqRYFhOhk): Check out the ASCII Drawing Board! » https://www.delopsu.com/draw

Create an online course » https://teachkit.co

More Resources from Me: https://thomasmcgee.co
My Favorite Mac Apps: https://tubelinks.io/thomas/c057e19
Video Gear I Use: https://tubelinks.io/thomas/41d8be5
Video Playlists: https://tubelinks.io/thomas/62b4936
- [The Best Notebook for Capturing Ideas](https://thomasmcgee.co/video/YOODfyW9A0M): The tools referenced in this video: https://tubelinks.io/thomas/YOODfyW9A0M/

Check out TeachKit! » https://teachkit.co

More Resources from Me: https://thomasmcgee.co
My Favorite Mac Apps: https://tubelinks.io/thomas/c057e19
Video Gear I Use: https://tubelinks.io/thomas/41d8be5
Video Playlists: https://tubelinks.io/thomas/62b4936
- [The Top 5 Mistakes Course Creators Make](https://thomasmcgee.co/video/DyHrXaOBlWY): Most course creators make the same mistakes—and they’re probably not the ones you think.

In this video, I break down the five biggest mistakes online course creators make, and more importantly, how to avoid them. Whether you’re just starting your first course or refining one you’ve already built, this will save you time, money, and a ton of frustration.

Check out TeachKit » https://teachkit.co

More Resources from Me: https://thomasmcgee.co
My Favorite Mac Apps: https://tubelinks.io/thomas/c057e19
Video Gear I Use: https://tubelinks.io/thomas/41d8be5
Video Playlists: https://tubelinks.io/thomas/62b4936
- [How to Create an Online Course with YouTube Videos](https://thomasmcgee.co/video/2XcQew3sGV0): Check out TeachKit! » https://teachkit.co

More Resources from Me: https://thomasmcgee.co
My Favorite Mac Apps: https://tubelinks.io/thomas/c057e19
Video Gear I Use: https://tubelinks.io/thomas/41d8be5
Video Playlists: https://tubelinks.io/thomas/62b4936
- [This Turns Any Word or Phrase into an Instant Short Link](https://thomasmcgee.co/video/NVqzMxh5QiM): Try out vibe links! https://vb.lk
Check out TeachKit » https://vb.lk/teachkit

More Resources from Me: https://thomasmcgee.co
My Favorite Mac Apps: https://tubelinks.io/thomas/c057e19
Video Gear I Use: https://tubelinks.io/thomas/41d8be5
Video Playlists: https://tubelinks.io/thomas/62b4936
- [You’re Not Charging Enough for Your Online Course](https://thomasmcgee.co/video/WZfu-UXHVEM): Here’s a tough truth: most creators undervalue their courses. And it’s not because the content isn’t good—it’s because they’re using the wrong framework for pricing. In this video, I share a simple way to rethink what your course is really worth—and how to set a price that reflects the transformation you’re offering.

Check out TeachKit! » https://teachkit.co

More Resources from Me: https://thomasmcgee.co
My Favorite Mac Apps: https://tubelinks.io/thomas/c057e19
Video Gear I Use: https://tubelinks.io/thomas/41d8be5
Video Playlists: https://tubelinks.io/thomas/62b4936
- [How to Pick an Online Course Topic (That Actually Sells)](https://thomasmcgee.co/video/fcO0xICp9SA): Pick the wrong topic and you’ll spend weeks (or months) building something no one buys. Pick the right one, and suddenly everything gets easier—your content flows, your audience resonates, and sales start happening. In this video, I’ll show you how to pick (and validate) the perfect topic for your online course. 

Check out TeachKit! » https://teachkit.co

More Resources from Me: https://thomasmcgee.co
My Favorite Mac Apps: https://tubelinks.io/thomas/c057e19
Video Gear I Use: https://tubelinks.io/thomas/41d8be5
Video Playlists: https://tubelinks.io/thomas/62b4936
- [Are Subscriptions Trying to Trick You with Their Pricing?](https://thomasmcgee.co/video/i15UHrWNezY): For many years now, there’s been an increasing trend among subscription services and SaaS companies to do something a little weird with their pricing. In this video, I walk through the issue and why it seems to be so hard for companies to just be clear and honest with their pricing.

More Resources from Me: https://tubelinks.io/thomas
My Favorite Mac Apps: https://tubelinks.io/thomas/c057e19
Video Gear I Use: https://tubelinks.io/thomas/41d8be5
Video Playlists: https://tubelinks.io/thomas/62b4936
- [Why You Should Ignore Design Trends](https://thomasmcgee.co/video/rqppTu2Wc9o): Throughout the years you may have heard of the term "design trends," specifically in the realm of the web. The question is: are they helpful? Or do they merely distract from what design is all about? 

More Resources from Me: https://tubelinks.io/thomas
My Favorite Apps/Tools: https://tubelinks.io/thomas/c057e19
Video Gear I Use: https://tubelinks.io/thomas/41d8be5
Video Playlists: https://tubelinks.io/thomas/62b4936

## Optional

- [Buffer](https://thomasmcgee.co/tools): A clean social media publishing tool for scheduling and staying consistent.
- [Hover](https://thomasmcgee.co/tools): Flexible and affordable domain management.
- [Kit](https://thomasmcgee.co/tools): Everyone needs an email list. Kit is the email platform Thomas has relied on since 2016.
- [Reflect](https://thomasmcgee.co/tools): A note-taking tool that stands out for daily thinking, capture, and organization.
- [Setapp](https://thomasmcgee.co/tools): A growing collection of useful Mac apps bundled into one subscription.
- [Sprout Video](https://thomasmcgee.co/tools): A polished video hosting platform for people who want Vimeo-style hosting without the usual friction.
- [Starlink (Get 1 Month Free)](https://thomasmcgee.co/tools): A reliable internet option with a free month offer attached to this referral link.
- [Canon EOS R5](https://thomasmcgee.co/tools): My primary camera: a 45-megapixel full-frame mirrorless body that handles both polished video and still photography.
- [Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM Art](https://thomasmcgee.co/tools): My main lens: the Canon EF-mount Art prime I use with the R5 for a natural perspective and a softly separated background.
- [Canon RF85mm F1.2 L USM](https://thomasmcgee.co/tools): My B-roll lens: an exceptionally fast RF portrait prime for tight detail shots and strong background separation.
- [Canon RF15-35mm F2.8 L IS USM](https://thomasmcgee.co/tools): My versatile wide zoom: a stabilized f/2.8 RF lens for studio framing, handheld footage, and wider environmental shots.
- [Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R](https://thomasmcgee.co/tools): The standard Canon adapter that lets me use my EF-mount Sigma lens on the EOS R5’s RF mount.
- [NEEWER SL60W Video Light](https://thomasmcgee.co/tools): My main studio light: a daylight-balanced COB fixture with remote brightness control and a Bowens mount for a large softbox.
- [NEEWER 35-inch Octagonal Softbox](https://thomasmcgee.co/tools): The large Bowens-mount modifier I pair with my studio light for softer, more flattering face-to-camera lighting.
- [Impact LS-96HABI Light Stand](https://thomasmcgee.co/tools): The heavy-duty, air-cushioned 9.5-foot stand supporting my main studio light and large softbox.
- [RØDE NTG2 Shotgun Microphone](https://thomasmcgee.co/tools): My main studio microphone: a directional XLR shotgun mic positioned overhead and just outside the camera frame.
- [TASCAM Portacapture X8](https://thomasmcgee.co/tools): The portable recorder paired with my main shotgun microphone for capturing studio audio independently from the camera.
- [Sennheiser MKE 400](https://thomasmcgee.co/tools): My compact travel microphone: a directional on-camera shotgun mic for capturing cleaner audio away from the studio.
- [NOMATIC McKinnon Camera Pack 25L](https://thomasmcgee.co/tools): My everyday camera backpack: a configurable 25-liter bag for carrying the camera, lenses, laptop, and smaller production gear.