A look at the hidden forces that shape every layout—negative space, cropping, vibration, mental models, and the subtle cues our eyes register before our minds catch up. This piece explores why the most interesting parts of design are sometimes the ones we never consciously notice.
The part of the process most companies skip—and why it matters. The first question I ask before designing any identity has nothing to do with logos, colors, or typography. It’s much simpler—and far more revealing. I want to understand the one thing about a company that is undeniably true, the thing that can be elevated, extended, and built into something lasting. Every strong identity starts there. Not with trends. Not with templates. With the most authentic part of the compa
What makes a brand identity stick — and the one thing that brings it all together. The strongest brand identities always look simple. They feel clean, intentional, and almost obvious — as if they were always meant to exist. But that simplicity is never accidental. Behind every identity that “sticks” is a layer of decisive work: decisions about tone, structure, hierarchy, and restraint. The real craft isn’t in adding more elements, but in building a system that’s clear enough
Lessons (and Laughs) from the Web 2.0 Era Agency life in 2008 had its own flavor of chaos. Flash was everywhere, “Web 2.0” was the buzzword of the year, and clients still asked whether things would “work on AOL.” It was a transitional moment in digital — exciting, messy, and occasionally held together with ActionScript and hope. In the middle of all that, I was the interactive lead at Wunderman (RTCRM) in Georgetown. Our team was pitching AARP on a bold idea: a full online ca
A look at the strategic test you can’t skip when choosing a brand name. Naming looks simple from the outside — a few words on a page, a shortlist, a final pick. But anyone who’s ever tried to name a brand knows it’s one of the hardest creative decisions a company will make. The reasons are many, but the biggest is this: naming is often more of a political process than a creative one. Much of it happens through committee. However, even with all the opinions and internal alignm
