Designing Change
Illustration, ideas, and inspiration for changemakers.
Welcome! This is a space for exploring how imagination can help us create meaningful change. Here, I share insights from my work as an illustrator, designer, and coach—along with creative perspectives, practical tools, and stories to help you bring your ideas to life and make a difference in the world around you.
You have a big idea… Now what?
Have a big idea but aren't sure where to start? Discover five simple, creative project planning steps to clarify your vision, focus on what matters most, and turn your ideas into reality—one step at a time.
How to Begin an Illustrated Journal Practice
Want to switch from writing your journal to illustrating it? In this post, I walk through my simple three-step process—pencil sketch, ink, and add color—so you can turn everyday moments into visual stories. I’m also sharing favorite journal pages from recent adventures and a free supplies & layout guide to help you get started.
Creating Compelling Podcast Cover Art
Ever wondered how podcast cover art comes to life? In this behind-the-scenes post, I share how I collaborated with Kelly MacLeod on “It Might Get Dark”, a podcast about grief and sobriety. From mood boards to final illustration, I combined traditional watercolor style with digital painting in Procreate to capture light, dark, and transformation—the heart of her story.
On Perfection
Is perfectionism holding you back? I share how my early experiences shaped my inner critic, what I've learned about letting go of perfection, and how embracing imperfection can help us create, lead, and make meaningful change.
Illustrating history
This is the story of how I restored this antique photograph of a 19th-century house, and turned it into a watercolor illustration that honors the family’s history.
An (Im)perfect Plan
The story about how I stopped asking myself how to get more things done and started asking a different question: Am I making time for the things that really matter to me? That shift—from productivity to purpose—continues to shape how I approach my own projects and how I work with coaching clients today.
You are creative. Really.
Think you're not creative? Think again. Creativity isn't limited to art—it's how we imagine different possibilities, solve problems, and create meaningful change. Here's why I believe everyone is creative, including you.
Watching Paint, Dry.
What it’s like being a visual artist who also has Dry Eye Disease. Starting in 2017 with LASIK surgery, my ability to use my eyes was limited to about two hours per day, broken up into 5-10 minute increments. This is the story of what impact that had on the trajectory of my life, and how it informs my work as a creative coach.
Taking Up Space
In this post, originally published in Upward Gallery Magazine, I describe how pivotal it has been to have a dedicated art space in my home, and my work to support others’ emerging creative voices.
Pink: The color everyone loves to hate
I used to hate the color pink. After I learned its history, and remembered how I loved it as a kid, I began to love it. Here's to the color that represents vulnerability, power, and love, and why that used to scare me.