design process

A collection of 40 posts

design process

The Blank Page

"There's nothing more exciting and daunting than the blank page. Oh, that's good. Maybe I'll do a book of quotes." – Principal Brown, Booksmart

photography

The Devil(ed Eggs) Are In The Details

Food photoshoots – so much time spent considering which direction the celery is pointing.

expectations

The Meh Meeting

Meh is a kind of un-feeling, and that’s why it can seem worse than a bad meeting.

mechanics of design

Managing Your Creative Time

Creative time is weird to say the least. Here are some tips.

design process

The *sigh* Creative Brief

Stop worrying about it. Ask these questions instead.

design process

Shoot Etiquette

The unwritten ground rules that will make you friends or enemies.

design process

Every Decision is a Cascade

Designers are playing chess.

feedback

The One Rule

Examining art to learn how to give better feedback.

design process

A Year of Writing About Design

Top 5 posts from the year!

exploration and research

System Collage

How a pickle recipe led me to the convergence of bad system design and collage.

mechanics of design

It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over

Approved isn't the end – it's a new beginning called Production.

presentations

How to Choose a Logo

The hardest decision is when they're all good.

ideation

Let's Get Small

Working large and small can help you iterate better or get out of a rut.

design process

Change My Mind

Why it's so hard to change minds. And should that even be the goal?

design process

All The Feels

Why is using emotion in design so damn important?

design process

Don't Get In The Weeds Too Soon

Always think big first, then small.

mechanics of design

Alphabet Soup

The moving target where AI, ML and IP converge.

design process

It's a Mood

How to build a moodboard with signifiers.

presentations

The Do's and (One) Never Ever of Presenting Work

Information from the trenches, ya'll.

exploration and research

The Data Oracle

“Nothing is easier than to accumulate facts, nothing is so hard as to use them.” – Jillian Hess

presentations

Show & Tell

The most asked questions I've seen about portfolios, especially if (but not limited to) you're just getting started in your design career.

design process

How to Write the Rules

Don't just create a reference – create a system.

it's relative

When to Break the Mold

We’re asking the wrong questions about Canva and AI.

presentations

Notes from First Round

As promised, here are my notes from watching First Round. This is a one-day conference where creatives are invited to present their first round of creative brand work as they presented it to their client. You have the opportunity to be the fly-on-the-wall in that meeting. Some of it was

design process

Here's a Pamphlet...

A case study on design for healthcare.