09/01/2026
GOOD DESIGN STARTS BEFORE YOU DESIGN.
After 16+ years in creative and marketing, one thing has become pretty clear to me:
Some of the best design work I’ve done didn’t start with designing.
It started with research.
Walking stores.
Studying competitors.
Looking at what already exists.
Talking to people.
Understanding the audience.
And asking a lot of questions.
Early in my career, I thought being a great designer meant being able to make something look great.
Today, I think differently.
Design is the result.
The real work happens before you ever open the file.
Because when you understand the business, the audience, and the problem you’re trying to solve, you’re not just making something look good.
You’re making creative decisions with purpose.
That’s become a big part of how I approach every project today:
Research first.
Strategy second.
Design third.
What does your creative process start with?
