My design begins with careful observation. Whether it be designing a library or painting a portrait, seeing what exists without judgement is a critical step in the process of making something new that is imbued with a sense of belonging. By looking with the eye and not the mind, we can notice things that are often overlooked; we can uncover the hidden and subtle beauty that already exists. This serves as the foundation and inspiration for something new rooted in the context.
Across all mediums, the final product must strike a balance between
established beauty and novelty. Classical priorities such as scale, proportion,
hierarchy, and balance never go out of style; they are innate to our sensibilities.
However, they are not enough on their own. Playfulness, juxtaposition, and
dynamism are important qualities to inject that help create a nuanced and
complex design. Great design effortlessly synthesizes these characteristics
into to resolute whole.