I find that there is beauty in even the most grotesque spaces of our lives. Our brokenness only reveals the supplication of grace that has been offered up for our lives. This faith has interposed itself in my design understanding, that I must be intentional in how I choose to use my gifts. And through this deep consideration, I have found joy in servitude. What gifts I can offer are imperfect and limited, but it is beautiful to be given the chance to offer a hand to someone else. What very little you have to offer, could be to fulfill the exact need of someone else. My hopes are that I am observant to use design for the potential good of people in the ugliest of circumstances. Ultimately, will I perceive and receive my neighbors with an open heart daily?

Looking back, what advice would you give yourself?

I would say that the creative process is not linear. There is more potential than developing designs to fulfill a task. Find out how your work/efforts/designs can honorably serve the community you were meant to be rooted in.

During my study abroad in Italy with Prof Speaker and Prof Marks, there were a thousand memorable moments but one stood out when we traveled to Rome and rushed over to the "Res Gestae Divi Augusti" which marks the official autobiography of Augustus. We went far out of our way just to do wax rubbings of the inlaid typography. It was our last day, our feet were exhausted from running around the city, and we couldn't have been more giddy to admire a piece of history so easily overlooked by those passing by.

Branding with Prof Anspach was truly a class where I had a newfound joy for design. Working the entire semester on one project and being given the platform to pitch it, stirred an unexpected confidence in my abilities to produce meaningful work for communities!

What moment, project, and/or critique in your Art + Design career at AU has been pivotal to who you are as an artist or creator?

My junior year, I had a very open conversation with Prof. Speaker about my fear of not being able to achieve great things between designing and being a student-athlete. I felt that I had to suffer in my work to be "successful." He shared this quote, and I have not been able to forget it since: 


“People think focus means saying yes to the thing you've got to focus on. But that's not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully. I'm actually as proud of the things we haven't done as the things I have done. Innovation is saying no to 1,000 things.”

I am currently considering attending graduate school or beginning my professional design career soon! Regardless, I hope to advance my knowledge in serving in non-profit/charitable organizations with my systematic designs and communication experience.

I aspire that my role as a facilitator will foster growth in others' designs even more than my own. I consider it my greatest joy to serve the local youth with the resources, advice, and creative knowledge I can provide.

Currently, I am developing a creative process that describes the essence of servitude in design. It has become more of a documentation of my research through my experiences with youth ministry and how our compassion is to be applied in every avenue where we abide. Part of this process is volunteering my time to serve in the community or to simply love on the girls that I mentor. There is most likely to be printed materials, possibly a zine and/or a wall hanging.