My Design Style Evolution

2014-2015

This is where it all began. The hand-lettering and watercolors launched me into the creative world, despite my plan to become an elementary school teacher or missionary. This was during my senior year of high school into my freshman year of college. I began OKM Designs and operated mainly off my little Etsy shop, which I ended up renaming Paper and Pine Designs (so much more hipster).

2016

Enter the aesthetic era. I learned how to use PicMonkey to rearrange my watercolors and lettering, which allowed me to create my first commissioned wedding stationery! During this time, I began to embrace the black and white aesthetic that took over Instagram. While you may see color here, you would never have found a spot of color on me or my Instagram feed during this period.

2017

I began to create my first packaging, logos, fonts, and illustrations during my sophomore year of college. I didn’t fully understand the programs, but things slowly began to click as I practiced in my courses and projects. I was commissioned for more stationery and continued to watercolor on the side.

2018

I graduated in 2018 and spend the summer painting in my little studio bedroom in the basement of my parent’s house. No really! It was someone’s studio and I asked my parents if I could have that room. It still holds a very dear place in my heart, as 2018 was a huge year of struggle and growth. I used painting and creating to work through difficult times I experienced.

2018 was also the year I began my MFA degree AND got an iPad. That iPad opened a whole new world to me and I had no idea how much use I would get, and still get, from it. I fell in love with illustration and was often illustrating on Procreate in my free time.

2019

The year of WEDDINGS. My wedding, wedding stationery, styled shoots, collaborations with vendors in the wedding field. Love was in the air! I fully embraced stationery, calligraphy, and flourishes during this year. I carefully studied wedding blogs like Ruffled, Style Me Pretty, and June Bug weddings to know what was in and what was out. I even designed all of my own wedding stationery and signage. This was such a creative year, especially in the summer, and I believe it helped me learn how to network before entering the workforce.

2020

Oh my, I did not see 2020 coming. Those first few months at home were challenging as I was still working on my MFA and had to take all online courses rather than my usual residential classes with friends and beloved professors. I made a little office space in our spare bedroom and developed my style through passion projects any chance I could get. Remember that iPad? Yeah, I used that thing until it was nice and warm almost every day.

I also had the pleasure of working on some of my first real client work, which included branding and print projects, as well as podcast art design.

2021

The year I graduated from my MFA in graphic design, finished my thesis, and moved to Franklin, TN to work at Ramsey Solutions. I juggled quite a bit during this time, from the school wrap-up, to packing up our home, to moving 500 miles away, to working in a corporate office for the first time, all while doing freelance work. One of my first projects at Ramsey was Questions for Humans ideation, which was a super long process but a great learning experience. At home, I was working on a 2+ year project of illustrating art for every book of the Bible for a freelance client.

2022

It might not look like much happened this year design-wise, but most of my design work was focused on Ramsey, specifically the 2023 Ramsey Goal Planner. This project was a dream one; it taught me sooooooo much and I’m grateful for the lessons it taught me. Seeing this planner on Target’s website was a memorable day for sure. I also had the joy of helping market Rachel Cruze’s slim wallets, seen below. My amazing team spent a day shooting products in Berry Farms, Franklin, TN and we loved finding creative ways to showcase the wallets and planner.

2023

This is the year I left not one but two jobs and began my business full time / moved home to Virginia / found out I was pregnant. It was a big year now that I think about it! I had the joy of getting into the nitty gritty details of the 2024 Ramsey Goal Planner, making it even better than before.

I also had the joy of working with branding clients and retainer clients as I jumpstarted my business. From hair salons to rental companies to med spas to ministries, I began to create processes for my business and clients as well as attract the audience I always dreamed of working with: female entrepreneurs.

2024

I had my son in March 2024, so this year has been a roller coaster. Below are some church projects, podcast covers, branding clients, and the like, but I still have so much to show for 2024. It’s been a beautiful challenging year in so many ways. I thought I’d lose all of my creativity in motherhood. Turns out, I am finding creative ways to be more creative with the help of my Father and God.

If you made it this far, you’re a REAL ONE. Thanks for taking this trip down memory lane with me. I hope and pray you see or read something that inspires you in your creative journey.