Creative Process

How do you prep for a 15-minute shoot with world-class athletes? I applied the athlete mentality of "practice how you play" to turn an empty locker room into a professional set for USA Hockey. Here’s a look at the "invisible work" that made this Milan Cortina Olympic commercial a success.

Think your brand colors work everywhere? In this case study for Thrive Pilates & Fitness, I break down how I expanded a high-impact palette into a "Soft Palette" to improve readability, user flow, and on-site engagement.

Designing Sex Radical meant finding creative ways to make something out of nothing — transforming a single set into three distinct spaces through inventive, low-budget design.

Building a multi-room set on a tight budget doesn’t have to be impossible. From reusing walls and adjusting lighting, to sourcing public domain images and thrifted props, here are my top strategies for creating a full, dynamic set without spending a fortune.

Amy Poehler’s podcast Good Talk offers a refreshing look at creativity in all its messy, human glory. Each week, Amy hosts honest conversations with friends, celebrities, and creatives, covering everything from sleep and food to insecurities and menopause. The show highlights how even those who have “made it” face the same fears, while celebrating genuine support and friendship in a competitive industry. It’s a warm, uplifting creative love fest.

I recently helped create a breakaway wall for a commercial shoot—designed to break safely and dramatically on cue. While I don’t have footage of the final break, this post gives a behind-the-scenes look at the process, from foam-core prototypes and precision seams to building in the rain.

When Detroit musician Durracell asked me to create a giant inflatable heart for his live show, I had never made an inflatable before—but I said yes anyway. This post walks through how I tackled a completely new medium from scratch, from early research and visual brainstorming to trash bag prototypes, sewing tips, fan selection, and final construction. Designing into the unknown can be intimidating, but with curiosity, testing, and a little improvisation, big ideas can take sh

Detroit Theatre Collective’s recent production of Heisenberg at Matrix Theater marked a powerful return to live performance after the pandemic. From learning a new lightboard in a day to running QLab sound cues on the fly, it was a crash course in tech and trust — and a reminder of the magic that happens when theater comes together, even under pressure.

The Leuchtturm 1917 notebook is an essential tool for staying organized and inspired. With numbered pages, a built-in table of contents, and a flexible dotted layout, it allows for easy navigation across multiple projects, whether you're jotting down ideas, sketching, or brainstorming. Its durable cover and two bookmarks make it perfect for on-the-go creatives. Handwritten notes help strengthen the connection to ideas, making this notebook a trusted companion for every part o

Logo design is more than making something look good—it’s about creating a mark that captures the heart of a business and resonates with the right people. In this post, I walk through the five core steps I take when designing a logo, from digging into a brand’s identity to ensuring the final result is simple, memorable, and timeless. These are the practices that shape every design I create, no matter the client or industry.

Creative Pep Talk: Design Starts with People. Good design adapts to its audience. Whether it's a D&D adventure, a story for kids, or a logo for a nonprofit, understanding your audience is key to creating meaningful experiences. Learn how design thrives when it listens to those it’s meant for.

A reflection on the unexpected beauty of live performance through the lens of Manual Cinema — a Chicago-based collective blending shadow puppetry, film, and music to craft immersive visual stories.

Struggling with starting your next creative project or business idea? Andy Warhol's advice on getting it done and letting others decide can help you push through self-doubt. Discover how this mindset can apply to your work and business goals.

Compare two modernist sans-serif fonts—Futura and Montserrat—in this design-focused feature exploring their history, visual style, and best

Sharpie + box cutter: two simple tools I never go to set without. Affordable, reliable, endlessly useful on any creative job.

Join the Michigan Business Networking Meetup at Newlab @ Michigan Central for Coffee + Networking Detroit. Connect with local entrepreneurs,

Learn how tracing can save time in projects like stop-motion animation and help you hone your drawing skills by copying masters or your own