When I left for a month-long escape in Europe this spring, I was recovering from the stress of taking on too much freelance to distract myself from the worst of COVID. “Get it done and sleep” became my daily reality, with far too little time for self-care and absolutely zero time to feel inspired.
Living abroad for a month, with some of the people I love the most, was the exact reset I needed. I visited all the places I’m from natively, Scotland to England, Netherlands to Denmark, each providing their own beauty and challenges. I was even able to continue working very part-time for VGSNY, which has become a group of friends more than colleagues. Returning from this trip brought me back to a place that felt familiar, but new—I saw the city for the possibilities it holds, not just for where I’d been previously. It was like a creative switch was flipped in my head. I wanted to experience joy again, like before I committed to overcommitting. No longer entrenched in “the grind” to make as much money as possible, I gave myself permission to be thoughtful about what I’m doing with my life, and why I chose to be a designer in the first place.
During my first month back, I focused on posting photos, honing in my illustration, and seeing friends for a while. This process helped me realize that I needed to revisit the core of what represents me as a designer, my book. I have never devoted the time to properly showcase my work in a way that tells complete stories of the projects I’ve worked on, and how I’ve grown over the years, in a coherent, clean way. I spent over two and a half months pouring my energy into this new experience, and I have never been more proud to of a project I’ve worked on.
Today, I launch my new portfolio, a brand-new blog, and an archive of the work that got me here today, primarily created in my former years in Minneapolis. This also marks the beginning of my most exciting and flourishing period of growth in New York City. Please enjoy, and share with your colleagues and friends.
Most importantly, thank you to my community for constantly supporting me throughout this process. I can’t express how much encouragement I’ve received, Facetime calls I’ve had, freelance projects I’ve partnered on, shared glasses of wine, and coffee dates that have kept me sane. I couldn’t have done it alone. Amazing things are coming from here, my friends. Keep an eye out, and know that I appreciate every one of you. 🌞