It’s hard to believe that so much time has passed by.

Even crazier is the fact I’m not even 30 yet.

Yet here I am at the nexus of design, programming, user experience, and now more so entrepreneurship and business.

To sat that things have just been interesting would be a severe understatement.

No two days have been alike.

Despite the ups and downs, the apparent and subtle racism, and self doubt, I’m seriously grateful for it all.

Because if it weren’t for all of those experiences, there probably wouldn’t be an Always Upward project or Sevenality.

If it weren’t for the hurt and the pain, there would no possibility for growth.

In fact, if it weren’t for being broken time and time again until the lesson became clear, my ego probably would have grown intolerable.

But at the end of the day it really isn’t about me.

See this journey has partly been inspired by still holding on to a naive part of a really younger version of me.

The part that believed that design could connect, empower, and inspire. Something that after everything I somehow still believe.

It wasn’t until a friend reached out and asked if I would be interested in being one of the spotlight Interviews on a project of his, that I realized the distance that has been traveled.

There are a few things I’ve learned that apply to most everyone. Regardless of what that journey may look like for you. Here are a few:

• It pays to be humble. Notice I said humble, not shy, not submissive. Humble. Don’t ever let anyone lead you to believe that being a know it all or suck up is a good thing.
• Focus on you. It’s cool to have friends and whatnot but it’s even more important to work on improving who you are. Especially in the areas where you serve others, whether that’s through your work or interpersonal relationships.
• Be original. Reenactments feel weird. Life is too short to spend it trying to be like someone or something else. There’s a reason why you have or are developing the skills you have.

Other than that, trust the process. What often presents itself as an obstacle often is the thing that will help us grow the most.

Experience is your friend. Not just in where you work but also in what you expose your creative mind to.

It’s hard to paint a sunset if all you’ve seen are sunrises.

Oh and if you’re curious about what else I’ve learned over the past few years or so, then check out the interview spotlight I mentioned earlier!

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My Design Code of Ethics

Regardless of the situation, no matter what size difficulty it may be, I will display the courage to stand steadfast in doing whats right, even in the face of impossible circumstances. Honoring to heart the words of (Hans Höger):

Designers have a dual duty;

contractually to their clients and morally to the later users

and recipients of their work.

So to my fellow designers, developers, entrepreneurs. In our endeavors, let us think about the users and recipients of our work, and how we can make a difference.

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