Defining My Work: A Designer’s Dance with Creativity

For 27 years, I’ve been asked to pin a label on what I do. Am I an architectural designer? An interior designer? A professor? An artist? The truth is, I’ve never fit neatly into one box, and I’m starting to think that’s the point. I’m a designer—a creative whose craft is too broad, too collaborative, too alive to be confined. Welcome to Colour Culture, where I’m unpacking what that means, not just for me but for anyone who’s ever struggled to define their work.In my mind, an artist is someone who hones a singular craft, repeating and perfecting it until it’s unmistakably theirs. A painter with their canvas, a sculptor with their stone. That’s not me. I’m dedicated to my craft, but it’s not a solo act. My work—spanning architecture, interior design, illustration, sculpture—thrives on many hands, not just mine. It’s shaped by clients, communities, and the context of a place. I don’t create from within alone; I listen, weave, and respond.Take a recent project: a food park my design partner, Robert Brooks, and I have been pouring years into. This isn’t just a space—it’s a tapestry woven from the chef’s vision, the community’s energy, and the historic site’s soul. The chef wanted a vibrant hub where food tells stories; the community craved connection; the site, with its weathered bricks and layered past, demanded respect. Our role? To problem-solve, to merge these voices into a design that’s uniquely its own. The result isn’t “my” work—it’s ours, a living reflection of collaboration.I love the messiness of it. I love making—whether it’s a layout that sparks joy or a quick sketch of a French market. I love thinking through challenges, like how to honor a site’s history while serving modern needs. I’m a creative, not because I fit a mold, but because I’m curious, always chasing the next idea. My craft is broad because the world is broad. It’s buildings, spaces, objects, people—all touched by the joy of solving problems together.So, no, I’m not an artist in the traditional sense. I’m a designer, a collaborator, a maker. And I’m okay with that ambiguity. Colour Culture is my space to explore this dance with creativity, to share the beauty it creates. What’s your craft? How do you define it? I’m curious—let’s talk.