Had a little fun today working on a cute mint! Sometimes it’s nice to get away from work and create whatever I want. I encourage it to anyone. Especially if you are having a creative block. Making something that you enjoy personally will help you become a better designer and you will also learn new things.

Lick it on Dribbble & Forrst

I woke up to a bunch of tweets this morning saying “Congrats!” “Good job!” I was totally confused. Until I checked my email…

Thank you Designmoo for featuring me in your newsletter. I am so honored and humbled that you would think of me.

Designmoo is showing a great example of what a brand should be: Awesome people behind a name. Bringing the design community together and sharing each others gifts and talents. The brand is not the logo or the name, but the people behind Designmoo that makes it an excellent community to be apart of. 

I also submitted a new resource for Valentines Day. Enjoy!

Click here to download.

There is so much software and development tools being made currently. It’s tough keeping up with everything and also trying to figure out what program to use and what one is best for you. But in the discussion of wireframes and creating thumbnail sketches, there is a result that you can get from no other way but by sketching.

It may seem old fashioned, but it’s important not to forget the necessity of it.
The better you understand your own design, the better you’ll be able to communicate the message. Designers are experts in a language that  doesn’t use words (If we’re talking about layout, functionality and pixels).   

How I process a new project is to sketch and write in my moleskin. That way, every idea possible is on paper and tangible.

Then I start with thumbnail sketches and wireframes. I  do quick boxes and shapes to get my ideas flowing. During this process I think about the receiver of this message. How will they react, feel, and navigate through my page that I have created.

I think designers get lost in designing and forget that design is a way to communicate. We are the communicators of an invisible language. That’s why its a challenge and so important to start out with pen and paper. Authors don’t just run to the publisher and hand them a completed Word document that isn’t proofed yet. No one would want to read that novel! Same with our designs and websites. No one is going to want to navigate a through a congested website or look at design that doesn’t have balance.

More than anything this is just an encouragement to not forget about your pencils and notebooks. I am sure they miss you and so do your creative ideas. There is more creativity in you than you think and sometimes you just need the right tools to help bring it out.  

I am so glad I took a week to get used to the city (San Francisco, CA) and that I didn’t jump into work right away. I highly recommend that for anyone that is relocating for a job (If you can afford to do it).

My flights went great and the man next to me on the plane worked for Flixster. The new movie app for Android and iPhone. I thought that was pretty cool! It was a great networking opportunity and he also gave me two movie tickets.

The apartment I am living in is beautiful and two blocks from the bay. I feel so spoiled waking up and going for my run along the water. I have to watch out for the crazy tourists on their bikes. I almost got run over a few times.

It’s exciting and a bit shocking to move across the country for my career. It’s something I have always dreamed of. But, for it to finally start happening is a dream come true. One of many in my life. 

 
I really want to improve peoples lives and help people get jobs. Mainly creative people that need a booster seat for their dreams. My one day Designer Coffee Shop and my used clothing store with proceeds going towards charity. I am going to continue to dream. Because who ever said that once we reach one of our dreams, that we should stop dreaming?

The world is truly my oyster, your oyster. I won’t lie, it’s hard work, early mornings and late nights. Blood and sweat, tears and pain. But it’s worth it. I am known for being a designer, that’s great. But I want people to know me for so much more than that, I want them to know the God in me that makes all my dreams come true.

Fairytale you say?
Well, fairytales had to come from some place didn’t they?

Alright, I am not one to post anything other than design content. But I feel like it’s my duty as a friend to remind you to not text and drive. I hope that by posting this, it will saves someones life. Please, discipline yourself not to text and drive. 

Your life is worth more than just a simple text. Think about it…