Uncommissioned: the work you’d make even if no one asked.
If someone could only see one moment from your story, what would it be?
I actually don’t come from a traditional design background, I studied IT, took a short course that basically just taught me software, and fell right into the deep end. My first design internship at a digital marketing agency was rough. I spent days getting extremely sad , frustrated and anxious. questioning every decision I’d made, and ended up getting let go after three months.
When I landed a spot at De Icebreaker Creative Studio after that, I thought things would instantly change, but for the first four months, I froze. I’d spend weeks on a single layout and end up executing nothing. The team must have had their doubts, but somehow, they kept believing in me when I had zero proof to offer.
Then, finally, one design actually made it out into the world. It wasn’t anything groundbreaking, but seeing it out there changed everything for me. That transition, the exact moment I realized I had potential because a team refused to give up on me, which taught me not to give up on myself, is the moment I’d want people to see. Three years and 40+ projects later (including features in Creative Gaga), that single turning point is still what keeps me grounded.
If you had to describe what you’re working on right now in a single feeling, what would it be?
Right now, it’s a mix of sheer excitement and overwhelming freedom. After years of designing for different industries and clients, I’m finally building something of my own for the very first time. Creating a brand with no boundaries, exactly the way I want it to be, feels completely different from anything I’ve done before. I’m building it alongside my brother and getting input from the team at DIB, which makes it feel really special. To be honest, as much as I can’t wait to put it out into the world, I’m loving the actual building process even more, the late nights, the trial and error, and just learning every single day.
If you had one shot to say what you actually believe, what would you say?
At the core of it, I genuinely believe in being delusionally optimistic. It’s a popular quote online these days, but for me, it isn’t just a trendy phrase, it’s how I’ve lived since I was a kid. I’ve always resisted boundaries. I never liked being told how to think, draw, write, or approach something. I just needed the freedom to figure things out on my own terms. That mindset has been everything for my growth, both as a person and as a designer. It gives me the courage to trust my instincts, take risks, and put out work that feels honest and raw, rather than safe and polished. When you refuse to set limits on what’s possible for yourself, life has a way of surprising you faster than you think.
If this feature only said one true thing about you, what should it be?
That despite how easy it is to become detached in this industry, I still choose to care deeply about every single thing I make. I used to view how emotional I am as a flaw, especially in design where you’re constantly told not to get attached to your ideas. You pour your heart into a concept, and then it gets rejected, and the natural reaction is to protect yourself on the next project. But I’ve learned to accept that my feelings are what make my work real. I’d rather face the disappointment of a rejected idea than start giving 50% just to protect my ego. I bring my whole self to every project, take the stumbles as learning, and keep putting heart into the work.