How Apple Freeform is helping me plan my vacation
26.1.2023
Translation: Veronica Bielawski
The Freeform app for iPhone, iPad and Mac was added in the December 2022 updates. It’s a visual design and planning tool – and I’m testing it on the iPad by planning my next beach vacation.
My ideas are often spontaneous and all over the place. Sometimes, I hid a dead end and can’t think of anything to add to a given topic. Apple’s Freeform app has been around since December 2022. What can I imagine using it for? To sort my thoughts and ideas – from brainstorming for the next editorial theme week, to gathering ideas for an upcoming birthday party or planning vacations with a friend.
I want to know if it really does work for holiday planning. As luck would have it, I have a trip to Mexico coming up. To me, important planning features include being able to add to or move things around and pool as much information as possible in a clear way.
Flexibility follows function
When I open a new project, a white area with a dot grid appears. At the top, I can choose between tools. Pens and erasers are displayed at the bottom. The tools include sticky notes and various icons such as food, places and people. I can also insert external elements, such as images, links, PDFs or scans and photos.
Source: Michelle Brändle
There are plenty of customisation options. I frame my title – «Mexico» – in blue and choose a font I like. Next, I paste in a Google maps screenshot and mark my planned destinations using a red pen. Next to each destination, I paste a link with the directions that I can open with one click.
Using the Apple Pencil, I jot down the most important things I want to keep in mind: language, currency and what I want to eat. I have creative options every step of the way.
Next to the language, I place an expandable text box onto a yellow area and insert a link to DeepL. For the currency, I link a calculator next to the image. And next to the food and cultural activities in Cancun, I add in travel tips and pictures so I’ll be able to recognise the attractions later.
Source: Michelle Brändle
The space I reserved turns out to be too small for all my ideas for Cancun. I’m not a fan of my initial title, either. Fortunately, I can remove it using the eraser or cutting tool. I can also free-form select whatever I want and can then move or shrink it.
Source: Michelle Brändle
If my travel buddy had an Apple device, she’d certainly create a PDF collection of restaurants, sights and activities. I could then easily add this to my planning board and even view it directly in Freeform without having to switch to a PDF reader.
Last but not least, I create a packing list. For bullet points, you can choose between dots or numbering; unfortunately, Freeform doesn’t (yet?) offer checkboxes.
Verdict: flexible and versatile, but tied to Apple
Freeform is fun to use. It’s got a short learning curve and works for everything from expandable packing lists to maps you can link directions to and scribble over. It’s a shame the app’s exclusively available on Apple products.
As an iPad user, I find Freeform useful. It’s a flexible tool for capturing random thoughts on a topic or project in the form of doodles. I can compile and organise everything and inspire myself with new ideas. In addition, the ability to move things around and add elements is handy.
The fact that I can access everything on my MacBook and iPhone makes it even more flexible. Web pages and PDFs are easier to insert on the PC; I always have my iPhone with me in case I think of something on the fly.
Header image: Michelle Brändle
In my world, Super Mario chases Stormtroopers with a unicorn and Harley Quinn mixes cocktails for Eddie and Peter at the beach bar. Wherever I can live out my creativity, my fingers tingle. Or maybe it's because nothing flows through my veins but chocolate, glitter and coffee.
