I do not consider myself a designer who believes in Christ but rather a Believer who has chosen to design. One of the most important things that I’ve come to understand about design is the humility that pursuing a career in this field requires as a Christ follower. My main goal in practicing design is to simply be a vessel through which divine creativity flows and to share the resulting joy and beauty with those around me. In practical application, this means being vulnerable and honest by sharing hardships just as much as victories, involving community in my process as much as possible, and endeavoring to create work that makes people feel listened to and valued as people, not just consumers.

Looking back, what advice would you give yourself?

Lean into the chaos. Don't be afraid to make mistakes and get messy; a fixation on doing things perfectly can stifle creativity and the joy of the design process. There is so much freedom in allowing yourself to take risks and make mistakes.

During the first semester of this year, Professor Speaker brought his dog Roma to class in Chiquola, and our whole design cohort crowded into his office for an in-process project critique. We all sat together for the entire class period, eating homemade cinnamon rolls, sharing progress on our design projects, and taking turns holding Roma on our laps.

My favorite A+D class was History of Graphic Design! It was so engaging to learn about the movements and individuals throughout history who shaped the design field into what it is today, as well as gain a deeper understanding of the moral responsibility that comes with being a designer. 

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?

The process of writing my personal design philosophy and presenting it at Senior Symposia was instrumental in helping me establish my individual voice as a designer and understand how I can best use my abilities for God's glory.

Anything and everything! In the coming years, I want to explore and absorb as much as possible about different applications of design and the various ways that it can be used to help people. I am most excited about carrying forward my interests in branding, typography, packaging design, and all other types of print design.

To design is to emulate the creative nature of God, and my desire is to steward this ability well and use it to point others back to Him, whether in subtle or overt ways. I hope to serve others through the designs that I produce by making the user feel listened to and cared for, creating something with which they can identify and a sense of belonging.

Community has played a significant role in my growth as a designer over the past four years, so my project at the Senior Show will be a deeper exploration of the impact that intentional fellowship can have on design, in terms of both process and product.