I knew I wanted to be a designer when I fell in love with the designs on the skateboards. I remember buying my first Birdhouse skateboard when I was 13. Besides the rhythmic sound of my wheels rolling against the pavement, I noticed that each skateboard brand had its own look and feel, expressed through the designs. Some had skulls, stencils, and even intricate geometric designs. For me, I saw endless opportunities for design on these unique canvases. My friends and I would compete—not just to see who could pull off the coolest tricks, but also for bragging rights for the best designed board. This was my first taste of graphic design.

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Maybe it was the smell of the dark room, the process, or possibly my teacher. Whatever the medium, I knew I wanted to become a designer during a photography class in college. Mainly it was my discovery of Photoshop in this class that got me immediately hooked. It was just my luck that I only became aware of the design tools towards the end of my college career.

In past jobs I’ve always had to solve problems. But in design, I actually care—passionately—about those problems and solutions. So much so, that it’s a sort of obsession engulfing any kind of life outside it. There’s a lot more to design than making things look pretty. It’s strategic and conceptual.

From all the challenges I’ve had and continue to have, the main constant is that I try and come up with a design solution that has a strong concept. This takes practice, so my current design stage right now is Student/Sponge. While attending classes at Chicago Portfolio School, I also try to soak in events, join groups, and meet/listen to as many people as I can without going completely mad.

I’ll be exploring and sharing my experiences in the transition from book to street smarts, using what I know from school and applying it—or rather, having it evolve, to my working experience with Hexanine. I hope to come out knowing the art of balancing business and design, experiencing the challenges of having to compromise while still creating quality design solutions.