Assembly Required.

As soon as you open your eyes, design is everywhere. In every label, skyline, and sidewalk chalk drawing. But how often does something stick with you after you walk away?

Back in design school, I had an assignment that pushed my attention to its limits: take 500 photos of each of the following colors: magenta, yellow, green, and blue. That’s 2,000 photos in just two weeks. My camera roll was bursting. My storage was gasping for air. My finger practically lived on the shutter button.

At first, it was just about color. But the deeper I got, the more I started seeing shape, texture, and composition everywhere...the geometry of a streetlight, the rhythm of shadows, the way two mismatched signs could somehow harmonize. The project ended, but the habit never did.

Even now, I’m constantly collecting photos of ads that work, posters that catch my eye, menus that nail the typography, or signs that completely miss the mark. You never know where inspiration might hide.

This mindset keeps my creative muscles warm. It reminds me that the best designers aren’t just makers, they’re observers. At CINQ, that curiosity is what keeps our eyes open and our ideas fresh. Because design isn’t just something we create. It’s something we notice.