PinnedMember-onlyWant better ideas? Get better inspiration.Great ideas are rarely ever 100% truly original. All ideas are an evolution of something existing from before. Everything is a remix. And to craft a quality remix, you need good material. In other words, tasteful inspiration. If you want to generate great ideas and create exceptional design, you must…Ideas2 min readIdeas2 min read
Pinned5 Things I Wish I Did in Art & Design SchoolUndergrad at the University of Southern California (USC) was one of the most defining times in my life because I got to try almost everything. Things I never knew existed, like real ramen instead of instant ramen (Thanks, Little Tokyo in Los Angeles). Things I realized I actually hate, like…Design7 min readDesign7 min read
Aug 18, 2021Natasha Jen Has 2020 Vision51SVA MA Design Research, Writing and CriticismSuch an honor to get to write this profile! 🙏 Thank you for an incredible intensive.Such an honor to get to write this profile! 🙏 Thank you for an incredible intensive.1 min read1 min read
Published in UX Collective·Jul 7, 2021Member-onlyCook with your senses & design with your intuition“I believe cooking is about using all of your senses,” Alice Waters opens her Masterclass on The Art of Home Cooking. As the founder of Chez Panisse and pioneer of the farm-to-table movement, Waters is a legendary cooking icon. In her first-ever online cooking class, she begins with a walk…Design5 min readDesign5 min read
May 13, 2021Member-onlyThe Three Hats of the Design ProcessProcess can be a dirty word to some creative types. For designers, whose job is to turn amorphous ideas into physical existence, the process can be an artistic one. But even artists must admit, there is a method to the madness. In A Technique for Producing Ideas, James Webb Young…Design Process7 min readDesign Process7 min read
May 30, 2020Member-only5 Parts to Make your First-Round Design Presentation CompellingDesign school taught me how to ideate like a badass, but it never taught me how to sell my ideas. Starting my graphic design career at Bluewolf, I had to learn this first-hand when trying to articulate my design decisions to my team and colleagues beyond our creative group —…Design10 min readDesign10 min read
Published in UX Collective·Apr 24, 2020Member-onlyA type revival story: lessons from Type WestLast Fall, I began the Type West program at the Letterform Archive in San Francisco. For those of you who don’t know, the Letterform Archive is creative heaven — a type nerd’s letter art collection turned graphic design museum. I had been considering applying to this type design program for…Typography8 min readTypography8 min read
Aug 6, 2019Member-onlyThe Four Dimensions of Brand Storytelling: A Framework to Generate Story IdeasIn our competitive world, good products and services have become the standard. One day, I could be buying Ikea bookshelves, the next I may fall in love with Article’s new storage collection. As innovative companies continue to emerge, customer loyalty will waver. In this environment, how does one keep customers…Marketing4 min readMarketing4 min read
Aug 6, 2019Member-only7 Lessons from Dribbble’s Hang Time Design ConferenceSince the start of my career, I’ve made a goal to attend a design conference at least once a year. Bluewolf, where I was working at the time, had set aside a budget for education. So being the avid learner and resourceful person that I am, I set my eyes…Design6 min readDesign6 min read
Published in Modus·Aug 6, 2019Member-onlyWhen Tech Brands Get Illustration RightTech brands have gotten on the illustration bandwagon, and the result is a stronger brand presence — Think of all the places you’ve encountered illustration. Images of graphic New Yorker covers, whimsical children’s books, or artisanal liquor labels might come to mind. In recent years, you may have noticed that technology brands have joined the game, adopting illustration as part of their visual identity.Design5 min readDesign5 min read
