Maybe You Need an Inspiration Purge

If many of us designers admire minimalism and simplicity in design, why do we “gather” inspiration? Inspiration as a commodity is neither finite, delicate nor valuable. Let me explain. It...

08 Jan 2016

My Proven Hacks to Starting Side Projects

Starting a side project can feel like growing a new limb for the first time and expecting perfection. Before even buying the pen to put onto paper, your unborn side...

06 Dec 2015

Storytelling 101, The Telling

A story can exist on paper, but many times we are telling the story. Whether our audience includes a new group of friends or footwear buyers, focusing on our presence...

01 Nov 2015

Storytelling 101, The Story

Storytelling liquors up the soul for ideas and possibilities. This method can convert even the toughest of cookies by weaving an idea into a compelling tale, pleasing to both their...

03 Oct 2015

Why Designers Should Reconsider Storytelling

Storytelling is nothing new to designers. We’ve been taught how to make narratives around concepts, consumers and “the problem” our product or service might provide since Project 01 in school....

17 Sep 2015

Moved Countries? 5 Professional Reasons Learning the Language is Beneficial

On the international language scale, Dutch is about as useful as being handed a spoon to cut bread. When counting the number of native speakers, Dutch ranks below languages like...

03 Sep 2015

My Philosophy

After seven years in the footwear industry, I recognized that footwear designers need a “Trend Ambassador” - someone who can contextualize trends and encourage their application within the product creation...

01 Aug 2015

Trend Versus Opportunity

So you’ve identified something that is going on, so what? When evaluating if a trend is actually an opportunity, three things are important: consumer, brand and timing. Of course all...

12 Jul 2015

Apps for New Music Journalist

As mentioned earlier, I don’t usually write at an official-looking desk and you don’t have to either! Using an iPhone to do your writing might look like you are either...

07 Jul 2015

Three Types of Materials in Sneaker Design and Footwear

It might seem like their are a hundred types of materials to choose from when designing a sneaker collections. While in reality, most fall in three basic category: leather, synthetic...

01 Jun 2015

Characteristics of a Sneakerhead

Over the last couple of years I have observed the tellings of a sneakerhead through my interactions with friends as well as current and past colleagues. Their membership in the...

15 May 2015

Fifty Words to Describe Macro Fashion Trends

When presenting macro fashion trends to a team or client, it’s not just photographs that communicate your point. Having a poignant title helps many to grasp the overall concept before...

22 Apr 2015