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"Be Restless." This was the first piece of advice that I received from my professors when I had the opportunity to study abroad at Central Saint Martins. At first, the urge made me feel uncomfortable. Being in a restless state seemed chaotic and ill prepared, but I soon grew to understand and appreciate that demand. The thought of settling when you're on the move, can be devastating to a designer.

It's not strange or surprising to learn that I'm fascinated by interior design. Being a designer means learning how to make something out of essentially nothing. Building and investing into my home (tiny apartment) meant trying to be resourceful and practical, while still desperately holding onto the colors and textures I cherish.

Back in the saddle again. As music continues to multiply and my ears grow ever-wanting more, I present to you my top favorite albums of 2017: 

When shifting directions, new opportunities, and exciting ideas present themselves, sometimes the notion of following passion vs. working in a realm that you're "good at" collide.

As a designer, it can be too easy to settle into the idea that we are not artist, we are curators. Or in short, we are re-inventing the wheel, rather than coming up with completely ways to get the car in motion. Though I don't disagree. Some designers are more of the curators, the re-inventors. On the contrary though, we need designers who consider the new, the alternative, the unheard of.

Nejc Prah delivers a lightning bolt of design right to the iris. Layering intrigue with gradient and asymmetry. His balance and composition is found in the complexity of his craft. As a recent MFA graduate at the Yale University School of Art, Prah has the absolute best education when it comes to historic graphic design.

A real, blameless piece of work. It harkens to the emo revival vein that I shamelessly love, but wraps it into a folk-inspired get up, sifted through gut-wrenching vocals. Pinegrove was my Winter album of the year. Cardinal hurt, and simultaneously hit you right in the sweet spot. This combination really forced a perspective; fragility and realism.

I've heard it before, "design saves lives." It's a bold statement. One that promises human life and this notion of a "savior." It's a term I've grappled with and rolled around in my head for so long that it's beginning to cumulate into a great upchuck of response.