THE WEEK AT A GLANCE
Click any day to expand. Each session is 45–75 min. You can do these whenever — just try to finish by the end of the week so your pitch is fresh.
Why did the teenager redesign his bedroom? Because he wanted to take his style to the next level. (His room was on the second floor. Get it? ...You'll get it when you're older.)
1
~60 min
Setup
▼
Before you ask AI to help you redesign anything, you need actual measurements. You can't just tell it your room is "pretty big." That's not a unit of measurement, Bryce. That's a vibe.
Measure & Map Your Room
20 min
Grab a tape measure and document your room like a pro. This is the real-world data that makes everything else possible — AI can't help you if it doesn't know what it's working with.
1
Measure length, width, and ceiling height in feet and inches2
Sketch a rough floor plan — mark every door, window, and outlet3
Photograph each wall and every piece of furniture4
List everything currently in the room with rough dimensionsOutput
Room data sheet + photo logFirst AI Session: Write Your Design Brief
25 min
This is your first real AI conversation. Before you start, check the Pick Your AI tab with your dad and decide which tool you're using — they all work with the same prompts. Your goal here: give the AI enough context that it could describe your room to a stranger. Use the Session 1 starter prompt in the Prompts tab — fill in every blank. The more you give, the more you get back.
1
Open your AI tool of choice and start a new conversation2
Use the "Design Brief Kickoff" prompt — fill in your real measurements, budget ($350), and vibe3
Ask your AI to write the brief as a formatted one-page document you can save4
Copy it into a Google Doc — you'll reference this all weekOutput
Your official Design BriefFun Experiment: The Bad Prompt Test
15 min
This might be the most important 15 minutes of the whole week. You're going to deliberately give your AI a terrible prompt, then compare it to a good one. The difference will actually surprise you — and it works the same way in every AI tool.
1
Type exactly this: "redesign my room" — screenshot the response2
Now paste your full design brief and ask the same question3
Write down 3 specific differences between the two answersLesson
Garbage in = garbage out. This applies to AI, school essays, and life.2
~75 min
Design
▼
Today you're going to argue with an AI. Good news: it won't get offended. It won't tell you you're wrong. It won't bring it up at dinner later. It's basically the perfect conversation partner — unlike some people's dads.
Generate 3 Totally Different Layouts
30 min
Ask your AI for three layouts that are genuinely different — not just the same room with the bed on a slightly different wall. Force it to think creatively. Then pick the least obvious one to explore further.
1
Use the "Generate 3 Layouts" prompt from the Prompts tab2
For each layout, ask: "What are the 2 best things and the 1 worst thing about this?"3
Pick your favorite and write down exactly what you'd change about itOutput
1 chosen layout conceptThe Push-Back Game
20 min
Great AI users don't just accept the first answer — they push back, redirect, and keep going until they get what they actually want. Practice this now. Be specific about what you don't like and why.
1
Find at least 2 things in your chosen layout you'd change2
Tell your AI specifically why — not "I don't like it" but "I don't like this because..."3
Keep iterating until the layout actually feels like yours, not AI's generic idea of a roomLesson
You're the designer. AI is just your very fast assistant.Bonus: Mock It Up in a Room Planner
25 min
Make your layout real by building it in a free online room planner. Ask your AI to translate its description into step-by-step placement instructions you can follow in the tool.
1
Go to roomstyler.com or planner5d.com (both free, no download)2
Ask your AI: "Give me step-by-step instructions for placing my furniture in a room planner, starting with room dimensions"3
Screenshot the finished layout — you'll use this in your pitchOutput
Room layout screenshot for the pitch3
~70 min
Money Skills
▼
You have $350. That sounds like a lot until you look at furniture prices. Why did the teenager go broke buying a desk? Because he didn't have a plan — unlike his very wise, very handsome father who set a budget. (You're welcome.)
Learn How Budgets Actually Work
20 min
Before you spend a single imaginary dollar, ask your AI to teach you budgeting basics. This is a real skill that most adults wish someone had taught them at 15.
1
Use the "Budget Basics" prompt from the Prompts tab2
Ask your AI: "What's the most common money mistake 15-year-olds make when they get their first real budget?"3
Set up your $350 budget in the Budget Tracker tab — and add a 10% contingency line ($35) immediatelyLesson
$350 budget means $315 to spend. Always keep a buffer.AI-Assisted Shopping Research
30 min
Use your AI to generate options for each item you need — but here's the catch: you must verify every single price yourself. AI prices can be outdated or just plain wrong. Don't trust it blindly.
1
For each major item, ask your AI for 3 options at different price points: budget, mid-range, premium2
Look up every suggestion on Amazon, IKEA, Target, or Wayfair to get the real price3
Only add verified prices to your Budget TrackerOutput
Verified shopping list with real pricesThe Needs vs. Wants Showdown
20 min
This is where $350 gets real. Every item on your list has to earn its spot. Separate what you actually need from what you just want — and cut or downgrade until you're under budget.
1
Label every item: Need, Want, or Nice-to-Have2
Use the "Worth It? Test" prompt to ask your AI for cheaper alternatives to your wants3
Cut or swap anything that pushes you over $315 (remember that buffer!)Lesson
Needs get funded first. Wants get funded if anything's left.4
~60 min
Creative
▼
Today is about figuring out your style. And no, "I don't know, just make it look cool" is not a design brief — that's a cry for help. Even your dad has a style. (It's called "whatever was on sale in 2009," but still. It's a style.)
Discover Your Design Style
20 min
Most people don't know what design style they actually like until they see it. Use AI to walk you through options, then pick what actually sounds like you — not what you think sounds cool.
1
Use the "Find Your Style" prompt — ask your AI to describe 5 teenage bedroom styles with real detail2
Pick the 1-2 that sound most like you, then ask your AI to blend them into one3
Ask your AI to suggest a 3-color palette for your room and explain why each color worksOutput
Style name + 3-color paletteThe Pinterest + AI Combo
25 min
Find real visual inspiration, then use your AI to decode what makes it work and how to get a similar look on a $350 budget. This is how designers actually work.
1
Browse Pinterest or Google Images for "bedroom inspo" — save 3 images you genuinely like (not what you think you should like)2
Describe each image to your AI: "Here's what I see — [describe it]. What design principles make this work?"3
Ask: "How do I get this same feeling in my room for under $350 total?"Output
Inspiration reference + budget translationLighting 101 — The Underrated Move
15 min
Here's a secret: lighting is the most impactful thing you can change in a room for the least money. Most people blow their whole budget on furniture and forget that a $25 lamp can completely transform a space.
1
Use the "Lighting Breakdown" prompt — learn ambient, task, and accent lighting2
Ask your AI for 3 lighting ideas under $40 each that match your style3
Verify prices and add your favorites to the Budget TrackerLesson
Great lighting > expensive furniture. Every time.5
~60 min
Real World
▼
Today you learn the art of not paying full price. Why did the smart shopper bring a ladder to the store? To reach the high savings. Okay that one was bad. But the lesson is real — buying everything new at retail is the most expensive way to do this.
New vs. Used vs. DIY: Know Your Options
25 min
At $350, buying everything brand new is going to hurt. Learn the three strategies smart shoppers use — and which ones make the most sense for your list.
1
Ask your AI: "What are the pros and cons of buying bedroom furniture new, secondhand (Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp), and DIY or upcycled? Give me real examples."2
Pick 2 items from your list — search Facebook Marketplace for used versions near Atlanta3
Calculate your savings vs. buying new — what else could you buy with that difference?Lesson
Secondhand can cut costs 50–70%. That's real money.Build a Real Comparison Table
25 min
For your biggest planned purchase, build a proper comparison before deciding. This is exactly how adults (should) make buying decisions — but most don't bother. You will.
1
Pick your most expensive item (probably a bed frame, desk, or shelf unit)2
Ask your AI to create a comparison table: price, dimensions, where to buy, style, durability, value rating3
Fill in real verified prices — then make your final decision and write down whyOutput
Final purchase decision + documented reasoningThe "When to Buy" Hack
10 min
Furniture goes on sale at predictable times every year. A little patience can save you $50–$100 — which on a $350 budget is a huge deal.
1
Ask your AI: "What are the best times of year to buy furniture and home goods on sale?"2
Note which upcoming sales events align with your timeline (Labor Day, Black Friday, etc.)3
Decide which items to buy now vs. wait for a sale — and put it in your pitchLesson
Patience is a financial strategy. No, really.6
~75 min
Presentation
▼
You've done all this work. Now you have to sell it. Why did the teenager ace his pitch? Because he prepared. And because his dad had a $350 budget he'd already committed to. The hard part was already done. (That's called setting yourself up for success. You're welcome, again.)
Know Your Objections in Advance
20 min
A pitch isn't just a presentation — it's a negotiation. You need to know the tough questions before they're asked, and have real answers ready. Use AI to stress-test your own plan.
1
Use the "Objection Prep" prompt — ask your AI for the top 5 questions a skeptical parent would ask about a $350 room redesign2
Write a real, honest answer to each one — don't dodge the hard ones3
Also prepare a "Phase 1" version of your plan in case the answer is "not all at once"Lesson
If you can answer every objection before it's raised, you win the pitch.Build the 5-Slide Pitch
35 min
Use your AI to help you write each slide — but don't let Claude write it for you word for word. Give Claude your ideas and let it help you say them more clearly. Your voice should still be in there.
1
Slide 1 — The Vision: What you want and why, in your own words2
Slide 2 — The Layout: Your design + room planner screenshot3
Slide 3 — The Shopping List: Every item, where to buy it, verified prices4
Slide 4 — The Budget: Full breakdown, $35 contingency included, total = $3505
Slide 5 — The Ask: Exactly what you need (money, help moving furniture, a trip to IKEA, etc.)Output
Complete 5-slide pitch deckPractice Round: Claude as Skeptical Dad
20 min
Run a full practice pitch before the real thing. Ask your AI to role-play as a skeptical parent — someone who loves you but is not just going to hand over money without being convinced.
1
Use the "Practice Pitch" prompt — tell Claude to act like a skeptical but fair parent2
Walk through each slide out loud, like you're really presenting3
After each tough question, ask Claude: "Was my answer convincing? What could I say better?"Lesson
Rehearsing once is worth more than preparing for an extra hour.7
~45 min
Final Boss
▼
This is it. Everything this week led to this moment. Why are we confident you'll do great? Because you've done the work, verified your prices, prepared for objections, and practiced. Also $350 was already the plan. So really you just have to not blow it. No pressure. (Some pressure. But you've got this.)
Morning Prep
15 min
One final check before you go live. Don't change anything big — just verify and get your head right.
1
Re-read your pitch deck top to bottom2
Confirm every price is verified and your total is at or under $3503
Ask your AI one last thing: "What's the single most important point I should make in my pitch?"The Real Pitch
20 min
Walk your parents through the deck. You've done the work — trust your prep. Be confident, be honest about tradeoffs, and be ready to negotiate if they push back on something specific.
1
Present each slide — don't just read it, explain your thinking behind it2
When they push back, use the objections you already prepared3
If they say no to the full plan, offer your Phase 1 version — show you've thought about itGoal
Get a "yes" — or at minimum a "let's talk more"Debrief with Claude
10 min
Whatever happened — win, lose, or negotiate — debrief. This is how you actually learn. Most people skip this step. Don't.
1
Tell your AI how the pitch went and what questions were asked2
Ask: "Based on what happened, what should I do differently next time I pitch something?"3
Write down 3 things you learned this week — not about rooms, but about AI, money, and how to get what you wantOutput
3 real lessons learned — keep thesePICK YOUR AI TOOL
All the prompts in this guide work with any AI. Pick one with your dad before Day 1 — or try a couple and see which you like better. There's no wrong answer.
Choosing an AI is like choosing a sandwich. They all do basically the same job, they each have a slightly different personality, and your dad will probably have a strong opinion about which one is correct. Talk it through. Then go with Claude. (Just kidding. Mostly.)
Built This Guide
🟠
Claude
by Anthropic · claude.ai
Known for thoughtful, nuanced answers and really good at longer conversations where context builds up over time. Great at writing, explaining complex things clearly, and following detailed instructions.
Best for this project
✓ Writing the design brief
✓ Multi-day project conversations
✓ Pitch prep & role-play
🔵
Microsoft Copilot
by Microsoft · copilot.microsoft.com
Powered by the same technology as ChatGPT but built into Microsoft's ecosystem. Huge advantage: it can search the web in real time, so it can look up current furniture prices, products, and availability without you having to verify separately.
Best for this project
✓ Real-time product price research
✓ Looking up what's in stock now
✓ Easiest if you use a Microsoft account
🟢
ChatGPT
by OpenAI · chatgpt.com
The most widely used AI in the world — chances are you've already used it. Excellent all-around tool, widely documented online so it's easy to find tips. The free tier is solid, and upgrading unlocks image generation of room concepts.
Best for this project
✓ Most familiar to most people
✓ Image generation (paid tier)
✓ Tons of tutorials and help online
🔴
Gemini
by Google · gemini.google.com
Google's AI, and the easiest to access if you already have a Google account (you probably do). Integrates natively with Google Docs, which makes saving your work each session extremely easy.
Best for this project
✓ Easiest if you have a Google account
✓ Works natively with Google Docs
✓ No new account needed
QUICK COMPARISON
| Feature | Claude | Copilot | ChatGPT | Gemini |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free to use | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Searches web for prices | ⚡ Sometimes | ✅ Always | ⚡ Sometimes | ⚡ Sometimes |
| Remembers context mid-convo | ✅ Strong | ✅ Good | ✅ Good | ✅ Good |
| Google Docs integration | Manual copy | Manual copy | Manual copy | ✅ Native |
| Can generate room images | Limited | ✅ Yes | Paid tier | ✅ Yes |
| Needs new account | Yes | Microsoft | Yes | No (Google) |
💡 THE DAD RECOMMENDATION
Here's a genuinely useful take: use two tools. Use Copilot or Gemini for Day 3 shopping research (since they can look up real prices live), and use Claude or ChatGPT for everything else (design, writing, pitch prep, role-play). That way you get the best of both worlds — and you learn that different AI tools are better at different jobs. Which is actually a real, useful thing to know.
And honestly — the prompts in this guide work with all of them. Try one, and if you don't like it, switch. It's not a marriage.
And honestly — the prompts in this guide work with all of them. Try one, and if you don't like it, switch. It's not a marriage.
STARTER PROMPTS
Click any prompt to copy it. Fill in the brackets and paste into whichever AI tool you picked. These are starting points — keep the conversation going after the first answer. That's where the good stuff is.
Pro tip: After every response, try asking "Is there anything important I didn't think to ask about?" You'll be surprised what your AI surfaces that you missed. These prompts work word-for-word in Claude, Copilot, ChatGPT, and Gemini.
🟢 Day 1 — Getting Started
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Design Brief Kickoff
I want to redesign my bedroom and I want you to be my design consultant for the next week. Here's what I'm working with: my room is [X ft × Y ft], ceiling height is [height]. Currently in the room: [list everything]. My total budget is $350. Things that MUST stay: [anything that can't move or be replaced]. The vibe I want is [describe — gaming / minimal / cozy / dark / etc.]. Help me write a one-page design brief I can use as our reference document all week. Be specific, not generic.
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The Bad Prompt Experiment
I want to learn why context matters in AI prompting. First, answer this with zero extra information: "redesign my room." Then I'm going to give you my full design brief and ask the same thing. I want to compare both answers and understand exactly why one is better than the other.
🔵 Day 2 — Layout Design
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Generate 3 Layouts
Based on my design brief, give me 3 completely different layout options for my room. I mean genuinely different — not just small variations. For each one: describe exactly where the bed, desk, storage, and seating go. Then give me 2 things that make this layout work well and 1 real downside I should know before choosing it.
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Push Back on a Layout
I like layout #[number] overall but I want to change: [describe exactly what you don't like and why]. Can you redesign just that part while keeping everything else? Show me the updated version and explain specifically how your change fixes the problem I described.
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Room Planner Translation
I'm using [Roomstyler / Planner 5D] to mock up my room layout. Based on the layout we just designed, give me step-by-step placement instructions I can follow in the tool — starting from entering the room dimensions and going through each piece of furniture in the right order.
🟡 Day 3 — Budget & Shopping
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Budget Basics
Explain budgeting to me like I'm a smart 15-year-old doing this for the first time with $350. Cover: needs vs. wants, what a contingency fund is and why $35 of my $350 should be untouchable, how to prioritize when I can't afford everything, and the single biggest mistake first-time budgeters make.
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Product Research
I need a [bed frame / desk / shelving unit / lamp]. Space available: [dimensions]. My budget for just this item is [$___]. Style: [describe]. Give me 3 options — budget, mid-range, and one slightly over budget worth considering. For each: estimated price range, where to find it (IKEA / Amazon / Target / Wayfair), dimensions, and a quick pros vs cons. Note: I'll verify all real prices myself before trusting them.
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The Worth It? Test
Here's my current shopping list with estimated prices: [paste your list]. My real budget is $315 (keeping $35 as contingency). For each item: is it a need or want? And what's a smarter alternative that costs less without killing the vibe? Help me get under $315 by cutting or swapping things that don't earn their price tag.
🟠 Day 4 — Style
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Find Your Style
Describe 5 bedroom design styles that work well for a 15-year-old. For each: the name, a specific 3-color palette (actual color names, not vague descriptions like "earth tones"), the key furniture pieces that define it, the type of lighting it uses, and a one-sentence vibe description. Be specific enough that I can actually picture each one.
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Lighting 101
Teach me about bedroom lighting from a design perspective. Explain ambient, task, and accent lighting and what each one actually does to a room. Then suggest 3 specific, affordable lighting options (under $40 each) that would work for a [your style] bedroom. Tell me what mood each one creates and where in the room it should go.
🔴 Days 6–7 — The Pitch
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Objection Prep
I'm pitching a $350 bedroom redesign to my parents. What are the 5 toughest, most skeptical questions they're likely to ask? For each one, help me write a smart, honest response — one that actually addresses their concern head-on rather than dodging it. Also help me prepare a scaled-back "Phase 1" version in case they say the full plan is too much at once.
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Skeptical Dad Role-Play
I want to practice my pitch before I do it for real. Play the role of a skeptical-but-fair parent who cares about value and isn't just handing over money. Ask me one tough question at a time — pause between each one so I can answer. After my answer, tell me honestly: was that convincing? What would have landed better? Don't go easy on me.
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Post-Pitch Debrief
I just pitched my bedroom redesign to my parents. Here's what happened: [describe how it went — what they said, what questions they asked, what the outcome was, anything that surprised you]. What did I do well? What should I have done differently? Give me 3 specific lessons from this that I could apply to any future pitch, negotiation, or presentation — not just bedroom stuff.
SKILLS YOU'LL BUILD
Six AI skills and five life skills. All real. All useful long after this room is done.
Why did the dad make his kid do a bedroom redesign project? Because knowing how to prompt an AI, build a budget, and pitch an idea is worth more than any class you'll take this year. Also the room needed new shelves. Two birds, one stone. Classic dad move.
🎯
Day 1
Context-Giving
The #1 AI skill. AI is only as good as what you tell it. You'll prove this yourself on Day 1 with the Bad Prompt Test — the difference is genuinely shocking.
Used on: Design BriefBad Prompt Test
🔁
Day 2
Iterative Prompting
The first answer is never final. Real AI power users treat every response as a starting point — they push back, redirect, and refine until the output is actually theirs.
Used on: Layout OptionsPush-Back Game
🔍
Day 3
Verify Before Trusting
AI makes stuff up with total confidence. It's called "hallucination" and it's a real thing. Always verify prices, facts, and specs from a real source before trusting them.
Used on: Shopping ResearchPrice Hunt
💬
Day 4
Format Control
Tell AI exactly how you want its output — tables, bullet points, numbered steps, one-page docs. Asking for a specific format makes responses 10x more usable.
Used on: Style ResearchComparison Tables
🎭
Day 6
Role-Play Prompting
Give Claude a character to play — "act like a skeptical parent," "be a tough design critic" — and it adjusts accordingly. Powerful for practice, brainstorming, and stress-testing ideas.
Used on: Pitch PracticeObjection Prep
🧠
Day 7
AI as Thought Partner
The most advanced use of AI: not asking it for answers, but using it to think better — challenge your own assumptions, find the holes in your logic, and extract lessons from what happened.
Used on: Pitch DebriefLessons Learned
LIFE SKILLS UNLOCKED THIS WEEK
💰 BudgetingNeeds vs. wants, contingency, priorities
🛒 Smart ShoppingCompare, verify, time your purchase
🎤 PitchingAnticipate objections, persuade clearly
📐 Spatial PlanningMeasure, map, and plan a real space
🔁 Decision-MakingCompare options, make real tradeoffs
BUDGET TRACKER
Your total budget is $350. The first thing you should do is add a "Contingency Buffer" line for $35 — then work with the remaining $315. Only enter prices you've personally verified on a real store's website.
A budget without a contingency is like a road trip without a spare tire. Everything's fine until it suddenly, very much isn't. Add the $35 buffer. Trust the process.
Bryce's Room Budget
$350 total · Only verified prices allowed · Add contingency first
Remaining
$350
No items yet. Add your contingency buffer first, then start building your list.
💡 The $350 Rules:
1. Add a $35 contingency line before anything else — something always costs more than expected.
2. That means your real shopping budget is $315.
3. Label each item Need or Want — Needs get funded first.
4. Never enter a price until you've verified it yourself on a real store website. AI prices can be wrong.
1. Add a $35 contingency line before anything else — something always costs more than expected.
2. That means your real shopping budget is $315.
3. Label each item Need or Want — Needs get funded first.
4. Never enter a price until you've verified it yourself on a real store website. AI prices can be wrong.
BEFORE YOU START
Complete these before Day 1. Don't skip the physical ones — they're not optional busywork, they're the foundation for everything else.
Why did the teenager not measure his room first? He didn't. He just guessed. The AI gave him a beautiful design for a room that was 4 feet too small and had a window in the wrong wall. Don't be that guy. Measure the room.
📐 Physical Prep (Get Off the Phone for This One)
Measure room length and width
Feet AND inches. Tape measure only — phone apps aren't accurate enough.
Measure ceiling height
Matters if you're considering a loft bed, bunk, or tall shelving.
Note all window and door locations
Which wall? How wide? Which way does the door swing open?
Find all electrical outlets
Outlets determine where desks and entertainment setups can realistically go.
Photograph each wall
From the corners of the room. You'll reference these photos all week.
Sketch a rough floor plan on paper
Bird's-eye view. Doesn't have to be perfect — just accurate.
💬 Conversations to Have First
Confirm the $350 budget is real and agreed on
You know the number. Confirm there are no surprises before you plan around it.
List what's staying vs. what can be replaced or moved
Some furniture may be off limits. Know before you design around it.
Ask about any rules (paint, holes in walls, etc.)
Know your constraints before you build a design that depends on painting the walls.
🧠 Personal Prep (5 Minutes, Actually Worth It)
Write down 3 words that describe your dream room
Be honest. Not what sounds cool — what you actually want to wake up in every day.
List the 3 things that bug you most about your current room
These become your design goals. Specific problems = specific solutions.
Find 3 rooms online you genuinely like the look of
Pinterest, Google Images, Reddit r/malelivingspace. Save the links before Day 1.
💻 Tech Setup (Actually Easy)
Pick your AI tool (see "Pick Your AI" tab) and get access
Claude, Copilot, and ChatGPT are all free to start. See the Pick Your AI tab to choose.
Create a Google Doc to save your work
Copy your brief, layouts, and shopping list in here after each session.
Bookmark roomstyler.com or planner5d.com for Day 2
Both free. You'll use one of these to visualize your layout.