For a young designer growing up and studying in Syracuse, New York, the only thing I found to be more barren than the region’s brutal winters was its creative culture, or what I had (wrongfully) interpreted to be a lack thereof.

Like many other young creatives yearning to make a mark on the world, I had felt the world had yet to make a mark on me. I had found the limited Design culture in my hometown endlessly frustrating and was itching to earn my BFA and see the world. Greyhound bus trips to New York City and an iPhone camera roll full of inspiration helped tide me over until I was able to move to the big city myself.