My Process

As a graduate of the Westphal College of Media Arts and Design at Drexel University, the design process was always the focus of any project. Every design decision was met with “Why?” and without a strong process, answering that question could be quite difficult.

Although each project is different and filled with unique challenges, the base thinking behind how you solve those problems remains a constant. And this is the wonderful thing about design!

  • Sketch of a chronograph watch with tachymeter scale and subdials, featuring black hands and yellow accents.

    Information Gathering

    Step 1

    Asking questions and doing research are the key aspects to step 1. You must have a complete and total understanding of the project before any designing can begin.

  • Illustration of watch dial with yellow and black hands, chronograph subdials, and "Speedmaster" text.

    Concept Creation

    Step 2

    Once a firm understanding is reached, then you can start creating rough concepts and outlines for the project. This step is filled with problem solving and creating many iterations of ideas.

  • Illustration of a detailed chronograph watch with tachymeter scale, subdials, and yellow accents on hands and markers.

    Refinement

    Step 3

    Communication and asking questions come back to the forefront during this step. You want to get as many opinions as you can and work closely with the client to make sure the project is successful.

A collage of paper cutouts on a black grid mat, featuring geometric patterns, a torn blue sneaker graphic, orange circles, and a note with "Blue Rev" out now.

“Design is about solving problems, not about making things look pretty”

— Saul Bass

Key Aspects

While the steps detailed above reflect industry standards, these three aspects are more personal to me and not of lesser importance: How I like to work, how I deal with letting go of an idea I love, and how I work through “designers block.”

  • My favorite method for design is a more traditional, and less digital approach. I really value physically drawing things out, wire framing, taking notes witth a pencil. I detail this process much more in my “A Love Letter to the River Road” project which you can view here!

  • There is a true double-edged sword that happens as a designer and that is that you of course get attached to an idea because we are passionate about our projects, but we have to be completely ok with letting that idea go and seeing it from a different perspective.

    There have been many times where I was blinded by my love for an idea and lost track of the true goal for a project. Then a crit comes along and you are forced to take a step back, reevaluate, let go, and design something that you end up liking a lot more than the original idea.

  • Getting stuck happens to anyone in any creative field and it isn’t something to be fearful of. I like to combat this by stepping away from the design for awhile and focus on something else. Coming back with fresh eyes usually is all I need but if need be I’ll go back to step 1, reacquaint myself with the goal, find some inspiration, talk to a fellow designer and soon I’ll be back on track.

A collection of printed photographs and handwritten notes spread out on a table. The photos depict various outdoor scenes, including landscapes, a car, a rooster statue, and buildings like an auto parts store. Some pages contain text annotations and location names like "Maiden Rock."

Check out my shop