```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FZxoQrfgcMiUWXJqR8pleS5ElnXs2%2FGn7YW592WcNOmBmnuhlC%2Fe23606e3-4a94-47fc-8bc0-f93755b7adf5.jpg?alt=media&token=4bfc2b4b-7fa1-44a4-8d3f-4dc0beea102c","id":"e23606e3-4a94-47fc-8bc0-f93755b7adf5","width":3000,"height":3000,"filename":"hands.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false}]}
```

## **Home essential products that smell good, look good and feel good.**

**It’s human nature to seek what pleases the senses. To take action to improve our lives. To connect with where we feel we belong. And to find joy along the way.**

**It’s our nature to achieve this with Bloop.**

---

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FZxoQrfgcMiUWXJqR8pleS5ElnXs2%2FGn7YW592WcNOmBmnuhlC%2F4ffc49f3-8a12-4e98-b0b1-779472c9d252.jpg?alt=media&token=0b5af1b2-2e25-429c-a4d3-47124fab0a74","id":"4ffc49f3-8a12-4e98-b0b1-779472c9d252","width":1920,"height":1080,"filename":"suds.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false}]}
```

We break through what’s been done before, for those who want to freshen up their home essentials game. Taking conventional products for the home and bringing them to you in an unconventional, enjoyable way.

Crafted scents you actually want to smell like, natural ingredients safe for your household and a fresh aesthetic that vibes up any room. We aim to please all of your senses.

We smell good, we look good, we feel good.

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FZxoQrfgcMiUWXJqR8pleS5ElnXs2%2FGn7YW592WcNOmBmnuhlC%2Fd1be7056-2a55-43fd-892d-f67b211f890e.jpg?alt=media&token=a936eae4-cbb5-477b-b0a3-18bc7038cec2","id":"d1be7056-2a55-43fd-892d-f67b211f890e","width":2314,"height":1341,"filename":"posters.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FZxoQrfgcMiUWXJqR8pleS5ElnXs2%2FGn7YW592WcNOmBmnuhlC%2F4038f1db-8bd6-4706-a18c-93962ca6aaf1.jpg?alt=media&token=de37ee83-4d78-49c7-a69e-90948c2d1f4a","id":"4038f1db-8bd6-4706-a18c-93962ca6aaf1","width":1920,"height":2880,"filename":"phone.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FZxoQrfgcMiUWXJqR8pleS5ElnXs2%2Fbloop%2F8f308f79-11b2-4b2d-9d26-0c71b29ac2b8.jpg?alt=media&token=013f8ddd-92b6-4d3e-a920-8500c5b860bf","id":"8f308f79-11b2-4b2d-9d26-0c71b29ac2b8","width":2842,"height":1688,"filename":"makegoodsense.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false}]}
```

Smell good, look good, feel good.

I don’t remember a time when I didn’t feel like I do now. I’ve always felt the need to create… something. I was always the one in the group who could make the poster, or draw the symbol, or make the t-shirt. Growing up as the son of a graphic designer sure helped, and it’s through this lineage that I first discovered the real value of graphic design.

It’d be easy enough to say that having a father who made a living as a graphic designer instilled in me the true commercial value of design. But the reality is that it didn’t really click. By all accounts my mother was the breadwinner of the family and while I gravitated unequivocally to what my dad was doing, I can’t say that I really understood how that spark of creativity generated compensation. I guess there was always that other “business” part that I just didn’t really understand.

That is, until the time I was around 12 years old or so and I logged my very first *paid* freelance design gig.

---

I always tinkered. I would play around with my dad’s Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator software the same as I would play Legend of Zelda on NES. I remember I was once “caught” trying to make myself a driver’s license. Not to try and do anything illegal, but just because I realized I could. (“Please don’t do that” was how I was calmly scolded. Not until later did I realize why that was likely a baffling parental moment for a graphic designer dad.)

Way back when the latest feature update to Illustrator was *radial gradients* I started to tinker with making an orb. Just a simple circle shape with a radial gradient with just the right level of highlight and shadow, creating a smooth, blue, 3D orb out of 2D space on a beige Apple Quadra tower computer. A proud dad must’ve brought it into work to share and a designer that worked with him saw it and inquired. Apparently the orb would be a good option to present a client as a potential logo mark. Dad asked if I’d like to “sell” the design to be used for a cool $100. And thus, my first paying gig.

My older brother, furious that I received a check for $100 (well more than even *months* of allowance combined), filed a grievance on grounds if it being absolutely unfair. That moment informed us both that we could create something of value and turn it into income.

---

Since then I haven’t stopped trying to recreate that moment. It’s taken many different forms and taken me to many different places in my career. A few times (now being one of them, as a matter of fact) I’ve found myself *chasing the orb*. The constant search for that pure transaction. Unadulterated creative exploration and an output that is identified as valuable. Trading creativity for money.

Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life, right? I love what I do, don’t get me wrong. But there’s a purity that I’ve lost over the years that I’m constantly trying to recapture. In the worst of times I fear that I lost the clarity of my dream years (decades?) ago. In the best of times, I feel the wave and try and catch it. The constant is the desire to just work on designs that I love and be compensated for it. Just enough to live my life as I like it. Nothing more, nothing less. That’s not a small ask, I know. And the more you gather the more you desire. The curse of capitalism, I suppose. I’m still fighting the good fight. Hopefully it’s never too late to recapture that purity.

Chasing The Orb

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FZxoQrfgcMiUWXJqR8pleS5ElnXs2%2Fcanary%2F08cb5266-0baa-463f-bd02-a6bd91e6b189.png?alt=media&token=3397b6c7-7b89-4111-a74b-948e3fbca4f6","id":"08cb5266-0baa-463f-bd02-a6bd91e6b189","width":3000,"height":3000,"filename":"canary-04.png","type":"image/png","caption":"","border":false}]}
```

## With no desire to join the green-washed eco-friendly aesthetic, Canary approached Radsmth with the challenge of bringing the company's more subversive, punk-rock ethos to the world of plastic-free, sustainable personal & home care products.

---

## The Challenge

In a space that is becoming more and more saturated with brands ranging from the clinical to the self-righteous, how can a brand plant a flag as the irreverent and confident challenger without betraying the empathetic mission?

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FZxoQrfgcMiUWXJqR8pleS5ElnXs2%2Fcanary%2Fd8f3afaa-fc77-4d68-a012-9732c7541a33.jpg?alt=media&token=554c5f75-1f18-409c-b93c-b52216eb83bb","id":"d8f3afaa-fc77-4d68-a012-9732c7541a33","width":2000,"height":1160,"filename":"purge.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false}]}
```

---

## The visual identity

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FZxoQrfgcMiUWXJqR8pleS5ElnXs2%2Fcanary%2F3f50a6cf-0edf-428c-90ee-f0b0d15a9af9.jpg?alt=media&token=4b288b2b-055f-486f-ab7a-d35cd10e3fb9","id":"3f50a6cf-0edf-428c-90ee-f0b0d15a9af9","width":2000,"height":1333,"filename":"logo.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FZxoQrfgcMiUWXJqR8pleS5ElnXs2%2Fcanary%2F0ec47e44-510a-4334-b267-962d779f153c.jpg?alt=media&token=080fdeba-059a-481a-a948-1d18cb964c25","id":"0ec47e44-510a-4334-b267-962d779f153c","width":2000,"height":2000,"filename":"canary-02.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FZxoQrfgcMiUWXJqR8pleS5ElnXs2%2Fcanary%2Fa813b404-d88c-4779-b43a-2e820a492314.jpg?alt=media&token=3f9c2e35-9253-4660-92cb-79b509c49eb7","id":"a813b404-d88c-4779-b43a-2e820a492314","width":3529,"height":2000,"filename":"canary-00.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FZxoQrfgcMiUWXJqR8pleS5ElnXs2%2Fcanary%2F8bafffd0-2fb2-4ca2-9e8c-0adb1d869255.jpg?alt=media&token=16d2696a-3f33-44f0-ad4a-4ae3e9fcb9a7","id":"8bafffd0-2fb2-4ca2-9e8c-0adb1d869255","width":2000,"height":2000,"filename":"canary-05.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FZxoQrfgcMiUWXJqR8pleS5ElnXs2%2Fcanary%2F41a59c3c-4328-437f-b2dd-9b998b22fbcc.jpg?alt=media&token=c3c16a71-f26d-447f-965d-d6cd4dc7aeee","id":"41a59c3c-4328-437f-b2dd-9b998b22fbcc","width":2000,"height":2000,"filename":"canary-01.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false}]}
```

---

## Application

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FZxoQrfgcMiUWXJqR8pleS5ElnXs2%2Fcanary%2F61c960a7-5231-4f1e-832d-5619059aa040.jpg?alt=media&token=0641f9fe-1019-401c-ae34-e4c25bc56003","id":"61c960a7-5231-4f1e-832d-5619059aa040","width":2000,"height":1200,"filename":"scout-bottle-01.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"Apothecary jar mockup","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FZxoQrfgcMiUWXJqR8pleS5ElnXs2%2Fcanary%2Fe0a069ee-1357-42d3-a561-fc04f4d7ed5c.jpg?alt=media&token=69a046d1-d427-4be6-b052-6ada95e48a02","id":"e0a069ee-1357-42d3-a561-fc04f4d7ed5c","width":2000,"height":1200,"filename":"scout-jar-01.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"Stout jar mockup","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FZxoQrfgcMiUWXJqR8pleS5ElnXs2%2Fcanary%2Fe5948fd3-0ea5-4740-b408-1a30f994ae65.jpg?alt=media&token=6810201e-a67b-428a-ae31-bf79c5589b58","id":"e5948fd3-0ea5-4740-b408-1a30f994ae65","width":2000,"height":1200,"filename":"scout-bottle-02.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"Kids packaging mockup","border":false}]}
```

---

## Concept sketches

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FZxoQrfgcMiUWXJqR8pleS5ElnXs2%2Fcanary%2Fb508fc4a-184e-4473-a41e-6245768a46ef.jpg?alt=media&token=f5b6c804-0b3e-417a-b292-0ed7c2385f60","id":"b508fc4a-184e-4473-a41e-6245768a46ef","width":2000,"height":1400,"filename":"sketches.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"Unused friends","border":false}]}
```

---

Follow along [@canarycleanco](https://instagram.com/canarycleanco) →

Provoke the Purge of Plastics

## When my client acquired the rights to the Dusty Times brand, they weren't entirely sure what to do with it just yet. They knew it had historical equity in the off-road racing community, but its original form's time had come and gone.

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FZxoQrfgcMiUWXJqR8pleS5ElnXs2%2Fdusty-times%2Ff02ce22c-4fd0-4c05-9025-b5ae297c56c4.jpg?alt=media&token=2ed06eca-3d7c-42f0-b5ee-60822012d46e","id":"f02ce22c-4fd0-4c05-9025-b5ae297c56c4","width":2000,"height":1333,"filename":"5-stack.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"First 5 issues of the new Dusty Times","border":false}]}
```

## Legacy reborn

An industry institution, the original Dusty Times fell victim to digital age and the internet. Race results, classifieds and after-market part ads were packed into each newsprint rag zine passed out and race events. But the print form couldn't sustain the advent of the 24 hour digital news cycle nor the explosion of large-scale peer-to-peer and direct-to-consumer marketplaces like Craigslist and eBay. The publication faded and the brand became stagnant.

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FZxoQrfgcMiUWXJqR8pleS5ElnXs2%2Fdusty-times%2Fcafc3f84-d11d-4823-a98b-11cb0b83be89.jpg?alt=media&token=e21dfa8d-d80a-4365-a885-25a52e1072ce","id":"cafc3f84-d11d-4823-a98b-11cb0b83be89","width":1610,"height":1686,"filename":"legacy.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"Volume 1 Number 1 (1983)","border":false}]}
```

Custom Wheel House acquired the rights to the brand when they became available and branched out to see who could envision an evolution of the platform. Under the creative direction of Boyd Jaynes (photographer and off-road racer) and my design direction, the new Dusty Times was conceived and reborn as an annual lifestyle journal. Meticulously authored and designed, thoughtfully printed and published as roughly 120 pages of bespoke content.

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FZxoQrfgcMiUWXJqR8pleS5ElnXs2%2Fdusty-times%2Fdf5f5aca-1527-45f0-a2e4-fe81a661d5be.jpg?alt=media&token=b1c10459-f215-4ef6-b2ad-b27deac83499","id":"df5f5aca-1527-45f0-a2e4-fe81a661d5be","width":3840,"height":2160,"filename":"dt-gallery-01.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FZxoQrfgcMiUWXJqR8pleS5ElnXs2%2Fdusty-times%2F9d72cf60-8bc3-430b-b7ef-307f6e102973.jpg?alt=media&token=5606a454-1598-4c94-a6bd-88b4ca6e0b20","id":"9d72cf60-8bc3-430b-b7ef-307f6e102973","width":3840,"height":2160,"filename":"dt-gallery-02.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FZxoQrfgcMiUWXJqR8pleS5ElnXs2%2Fdusty-times%2Fcd28eb53-cbcd-4bd1-b9bf-f73961262d03.jpg?alt=media&token=9b42ad1b-720b-4118-99e8-8b949823006f","id":"cd28eb53-cbcd-4bd1-b9bf-f73961262d03","width":2000,"height":1333,"filename":"dt-gallery-03.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FZxoQrfgcMiUWXJqR8pleS5ElnXs2%2Fdusty-times%2F00b9b0c1-2b7f-42cd-bf8f-13c84e2a58a9.jpg?alt=media&token=7066cad3-e593-4363-8460-f5125d2929a1","id":"00b9b0c1-2b7f-42cd-bf8f-13c84e2a58a9","width":3276,"height":2160,"filename":"dt-gallery-04.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FZxoQrfgcMiUWXJqR8pleS5ElnXs2%2Fdusty-times%2F38ac4e6e-c723-40ef-ac93-ff17c7f8dbba.jpg?alt=media&token=272d201f-b17c-4a1a-9e0c-0ce52eb2c8b1","id":"38ac4e6e-c723-40ef-ac93-ff17c7f8dbba","width":3840,"height":2160,"filename":"dt-gallery-05.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false}]}
```

## The creative vision

Each issue brings with it a specific theme and art direction to match. This overarching theme serves as a compass, directing not only the content of the features but also the visual style employed to convey the idea across the book and collateral materials.

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FZxoQrfgcMiUWXJqR8pleS5ElnXs2%2Fdusty-times%2Fd021dd07-1aa7-47c5-890b-1417ae4bb3f9.jpg?alt=media&token=176f3b66-a7b3-45b5-af57-691bcb6add9c","id":"d021dd07-1aa7-47c5-890b-1417ae4bb3f9","width":2000,"height":1334,"filename":"topdeadcenter.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false}]}
```

This thematic idea is carried through to the publications coveted **VIP box** delivered as a meaningful gift to Custom Wheel House's partners and friends at year's end.

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FZxoQrfgcMiUWXJqR8pleS5ElnXs2%2Fdusty-times%2F50f92974-739e-414a-9c54-412cfaec08db.jpg?alt=media&token=7e211baa-ee5b-4c6a-b237-2ddf146b0c7e","id":"50f92974-739e-414a-9c54-412cfaec08db","width":2000,"height":1333,"filename":"vip-01.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FZxoQrfgcMiUWXJqR8pleS5ElnXs2%2Fdusty-times%2F9a1a1298-5e83-449f-b19b-a003697ac4e8.jpg?alt=media&token=4d3fca5c-5805-4498-85ef-93f9f113045f","id":"9a1a1298-5e83-449f-b19b-a003697ac4e8","width":2000,"height":1333,"filename":"vip-04.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FZxoQrfgcMiUWXJqR8pleS5ElnXs2%2Fdusty-times%2F5a897ccd-0f4c-4d78-af28-8d0e35f66dd5.jpg?alt=media&token=f122b9fb-29d9-46f5-9bd2-a5a1c4d006a0","id":"5a897ccd-0f4c-4d78-af28-8d0e35f66dd5","width":1500,"height":2000,"filename":"vip-03.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FZxoQrfgcMiUWXJqR8pleS5ElnXs2%2Fdusty-times%2Fa844a879-6b2e-4c06-ad50-c3943457e12d.jpg?alt=media&token=23238709-ea92-47fd-b416-03948bbc380f","id":"a844a879-6b2e-4c06-ad50-c3943457e12d","width":2000,"height":1500,"filename":"vip-02.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FZxoQrfgcMiUWXJqR8pleS5ElnXs2%2Fdusty-times%2Fbeb9c6e4-3051-4436-98cc-7ca3c64a3565.jpg?alt=media&token=04c905c5-5c74-417d-8423-9cbb86fd1988","id":"beb9c6e4-3051-4436-98cc-7ca3c64a3565","width":1170,"height":1416,"filename":"vip-05.jpg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false}]}
```

## A love letter to lifestyle

The Dusty Times annual book and VIP box is a carefully curated and exclusive marketing initiative meant to honor and strengthen relationships with key stakeholders and enthusiasts, providing a memorable experience that goes beyond a newsstand periodical.

It is a celebration of the culture and the lifestyle it documents. Priding ourselves on "pointing the camera the other way," we strive to shine a light on the fringe stories just outside the spotlight. Instead of the louder, better, faster or digital mediums, we focus on the thoughtful, introspective, and timeless craft of storytelling in print.

---

Follow along at [dustytimes.com](https://www.dustytimes.com) →

Dusty Times

I'm obsessed with how more and more design can be pulled off on a mobile device. I started designing iOS interfaces and product ideas using tools like Play and DetailsPro. I was moving screenshots from my phone onto my Macbook Pro to get them into device mockups then back to my phone to post. I figured there had to be a quicker path to posting.

```cv
gallery
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```

What came of it was a basic utility app that allows you to drop in a screenshot, control status bar display, zoom and framing. What I just can never stop playing with is the smooth trackpad shadow controls that feel so natural and smooth.

Once your mockup is ready to do, pick a background color and instantly share to social media or save to your device for later.

---

**Future feature plans:**

* Gradient and image backgrounds

* Saving work-in-progress files

* Add video for UI animation mockups

---

[Get the app](https://moks.app) →

Moks app

### ...or the ongoing journey of embracing being a generalist.

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FZxoQrfgcMiUWXJqR8pleS5ElnXs2%2FnuOUlYksnupE4vLUj7R1%2F0dc5443a-73b6-495e-a1f0-b53d74e5fbc2.jpg?alt=media&token=e410d71d-755a-4f31-a652-bcbfdbc7b705","id":"0dc5443a-73b6-495e-a1f0-b53d74e5fbc2","width":3000,"height":3000,"filename":"IMG_2651.jpeg","type":"image/jpeg","caption":"","border":false}]}
```

For decades I’ve been unsure of how to define myself as a designer. Or as a creative… an artist? I’ve gone rounds of “specializing”—branding, motion graphics, web design, product design, even audio engineer. It’s become something of an insecurity now. After all, “generalist” is a fancy way of saying “jack of all trades, master of none” … right?

The more items on the restaurant menu, the more likely none of it is good. The more titles on the business card, the more likely none of them are executed at a high quality.

The more types of designer I am, the more likely that I haven’t done the work to deep dive into any discipline and therefore can’t be good at any of them and am an imposter and won’t succeed at anything. *I’m a failure*.

---

At least that’s sometimes the narrative trap I find myself in.

Intellectually, I know that is not true of me. But philosophically, I struggle. In my soul, I can be confused.

But here’s the thing: life doesn’t fit neatly into boxes, and neither do I. The world we live in values adaptability and breadth as much as depth. Design, like any creative field, is fluid and constantly evolving. It’s not linear. The lines between disciplines blur more than ever today. The ability to pull from a variety of experiences and skills can lead to solutions that are richer and more nuanced.

Being a generalist is about curiosity—about exploring creative outlets wherever they may lead and drawing inspiration from unexpected places. I’ve found that the best ideas often come from outside the discipline I’m working in. A pattern in architecture might influence a design system. A piece of music might unlock the flow of a brand story. Great design isn’t about mastering a single toolset; it’s about staying open to everything around you, tuning in to whatever sparks creativity, no matter where it comes from.

I’m constantly absorbing, interpreting, and translating. That’s where the strength lies—being willing to experiment and connect the dots across different fields, different cultures, different forms of art. It’s not about spreading myself thin; it’s about staying versatile, staying curious, and trusting that, in the end, it all feeds back into the work.

In embracing this mindset, I’ve realized that being a generalist is less about defining myself by one label and more about trusting the process of exploration. The fear of being “master of none” gives way to the excitement of discovery. Whether through design, music, or art, I’m constantly tuned in, listening, ready for inspiration to strike from anywhere