Describe to me your path to becoming a designer.
It started with music. Before I got into design, I was on a trajectory of wanting to become a musician/singersongwriter. So I pursued that up until mid-way in college. Then I had an opportunity to change my major, and considered it. Looked through a ridiculous list of majors to choose from. And there was this communications major. It was like a mass-comm type major that specialized in design. And I thought that was really interesting because I've been involved in just doing art growing up, but never pursued it. And I thought it would be cool to have an art/mass-communications type of combo. So I pursued that, and enjoyed the design classes that I took. From web design to graphic design principles classes. Basically stuck it out, completed the program, and was just like, "I'm going to pursue this as much as I can post graduation." And so that's kind of like how I've been evolving. Constantly diving deeper into doing design work.
Was there anyone that you knew that went in that direction?
No. I maybe had a friend that kind of did that. I really wasn't familiar with the field, or at least just the diversity of the field. I thought it was all one thing and people did the same type of work . So yeah, no one really - it wasn't a big example that drew me in. The combo-college major is what really drew me in basically showing , "how do you use these tools, like social media tools, to create whatever." Yeah, I got really into it as far as utilizing digital tools and creativity. It was really cool to see how you could apply that in whatever type of scenario you could be in.
How was creativity a part of your childhood?
I guess growing up I always was just drawing things. Not necessarily really nice artistic type stuff, but just always coloring stuff really interesting and just making things. And then I think what really anchored how I explore creativity was through music, and writing. I really enjoyed just crafting a good song and exploring how do I express my ideas through song. It's weird because you can express words, but then when you add the music element it broadens how creative you can be. And the decisions you make are really interesting. So I think that started rolling those creativity fields, and expressions as far as how I express myself or what could be expressed through my creativity.
I never thought about it that what way, but you're absolutely right. I'm just thinking of movies, and you can have a scene, and the feel of the scene can be positive or negative based on the music provided. can give you somebody can say something to music and based on those courts used.
Yeah, it is really crazy to see really similar elements within music and design. Even though they're components are different, as far as either through sound or visual. But, a lot of the ingredients when used in combination are similar as far as how a good melody is crafted, and how a design is spatially crafted. Rhythm, and all that type of stuff. It all relates as far as just how you compose something, which is really interesting.
Are your family and friends supportive of what you do?
Yes, or at least I would say they are. I haven't had big push-back. I think since design is always changing I feel like I'm having to re-explain what I do since the last time I said, "This is what I'm doing." But, yeah I have been feeling a lot of support through friends and family. As well as just a supportive aspect through small design communities that I try to be a part of locally, or through a digital realm.
It's funny you mention re-explaining because of the changes in the community. One Thanksgiving you might have been a web designer, and next Thanksgiving you were a UI/UX designer (laughs). Along this growth path, were there any mentors along the way?
I think I did. I think one early big mentor was a professor I had. He opened the door even more as far as what design looked like, and how to use it successfully. I think through that I became curious, and just kept diving into whatever I was curious about at the time that I wanted to improve on. From that, I've had a lot of "mentors", but not "personal mentors" if that makes sense. For an educational standpoint of either like a lot of designers, or just creative people that achieved a lot success through life. And produced a lot of content talking about their successes. I've tried to follow along that journey, and apply what they talk about to kind of whatever process I might be utilizing. Or, path I may be pursuing, and continually done that too where I would consider those type of people mentors. I've learned and applied, and seen results from what I've applied.
I wish I had a physical mentor. My mentors have been all digital, for the most part. Did he challenge you when you presented something to push you further? Or was it just kind of a dialogue that ya'll had? What actually motivated you?
I think it was a little bit of both. I think it was a lot of challenging. It was weird because the scenario I was in - everyone else was in the design or graphic design major, and I was a random hybrid that wasn't really involved with what they had to go through. But, I was in these classes doing the same work. So I think as he pushed them, he pushed me. In some aspects I experienced more of a challenge at first because I wasn't on those design tracks where you learn those fundamental blocks. I kind of jumped in, and learned what they're doing. I think that pushed me to really learn how to do something without feeling completely lost when designing. Usually when something was presented, either like a step in the project, or a final piece - the professor would push back in a way for us to really explain how we made the decisions. And I think that helped on top of skill building, but also the mentality that goes around how you present design. So those combinations of elements were very helpful.
So was there a point when you decided to take a big risk to move forward?
I don't know if I've taken a big risk career-wise yet, but I think there was an element of risk when it came to coming to St Louis. I'm originally from Tennessee, but when I graduated - that summer my wife and I moved to St. Louis for her to pursue graduate school. In a way that was a risk because I left potential connections I could have had through the school, and jumped into an arena with no. Nothing was lined up. I was just going to figure it out. So I think that's somewhat a risk. I wouldn't say it's a large risk. During that time there was a period where I was trying to figure out how to plug into a community, or find opportunities. That was a challenge.
Do you feel a responsibility to contribute something bigger than yourself?
I think so. I don't know what I would say if I said no (laughs). This may not be common, I would say it's common - at least in the creative field when contributing to a team - I think there is an element of working for a greater picture. The work I do, and the results that might come through it done the line. Those results might not be directly related to me, but I impacted it by being on the team. I think it's somewhat a responsibility, or a value when it comes to doing design work in the design field. I do think there is something of that nature - putting out something for a greater purpose. But I dunno, I feel like there's a lot of elements involved, and I'm a component of that work.
What kind of legacy do you hope to leave?
Whether it be in the work I do, or the relationships I make with people - I think I would appreciate the legacy to be remembered as a character/quality of always being that person who encouraged someone to do that one thing that had a positive effect on their lives. Having that relationship that really influenced someone to think about something, or pursue something, and they found something amazing from that. As well as a legacy of creativity. Whatever I do, express, or talk about - just that kind of characteristic being pursued in whatever form of daily tasks. From making dinner, to creative projects. I think that is something that I value, and reflect back on.
That's awesome to hear! We sometimes lose track of our north star so it's awesome to hear in your day to day tasks you search for that positivity.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Okay, a lighter question: your current album on repeat?
Oh, man - it's actually on right now! So, I discovered this artist this this week- his name is Bekon. If you listen to his stuff, you'll be familiar with his style because he collaborated with Kendrick Lamar on a lot of songs on Kendrick's latest project. You'll hear a lot of similarities between Kendrick and Bekon. He has only has one album, which came out this year. It's called, "Get with the Times"
Nice! I have a sense that what you're sharing is going to fill my soul.
Yeah, it's tight! It's super tight.
Okay, last question: Have you used Webflow before? If so, how did you use it in your workflow?
Oh yeah! I have used Webflow before. I am continually trying to find more opportunities to use it and propose it as a solution to when it comes to web experiences. I remember when I discovered it a couple of years ago and thought, "this is going to be a game changer." Alas, it has become such a powerful tool. When it comes to using Webflow in my workflow. I usually use it as my primary tool for building for the web. Webflow comes into my process usually in the middle parts of prototyping concepts and refining for production. Everything before that is a lot of strategizing and sketching out solutions for the desired business goals that were set between the client and I at the beginning.