There are few designers who inspire me at the level Nic does. I've had the honor of working alongside him for the last few years and nothing has motivated me to improve my craft more than seeing the level of excellence he brings to the table every. single. day. He is relentless in his pursuit of quality, realistic in his approach and just a genuinely good human.
How did you get into design?
As cliché as it sounds, it really did start when I was a kid. I was always sketching parody logos or painting hand-lettered signs for school rallies without realizing I was basically training to be a designer.
I grew up into video games, skateboarding, music, streetwear, all of it. And I was weirdly obsessed with how the graphics carried a certain vibe. Like, why does this feel the way it does? How did they make it look like that?
I didn’t have a name for it until early college, when I was introduced to graphic design and it just clicked. From there, it started as wanting to create things that reflected what I was into—but over time, it shifted into something bigger. Now I’m more interested in how design actually shows up in the real world–how people experience it, interact with it, and what it does beyond just looking good.
What’s one piece of work you’re exceptionally proud of?
I’m honestly proud of everything I make. But if I’m being real, I’m usually most proud of whatever I just finished. It shows where I’ve leveled up and where I’m pushing myself next.
Right now, the Meta Llama work stands out. Getting to help design something that’s so tied to where technology is headed feels like I’ve left a small mark on something bigger.
That said, I still look back at projects like Inventions and Dimension and feel the same excitement. Pulling from Blue Note Records and reworking that influence into something more current, but still distinct. It felt like hitting that balance of timeless and evolving, which is always the goal.
What’s been the most rewarding part of being a designer?
I’ve said this a million times and it still holds true whether it’s print, branding, fashion, advertising, or digital. The best part is seeing how people actually react to the work, good or bad. That interaction is what makes it real. And honestly, nothing beats spotting your work out in the wild. It never gets old.
In your opinion, what does it mean for a design to be ‘good’?
I get into this debate with friends all the time. To me, good design is anything that leaves a lasting impression whether people love it or hate it. If it makes you stop, think, or talk about it, it’s doing something right.
A lot of the time, it starts from a pretty simple place. But as designers, we’re always trying to push it further—refining the experience, grabbing attention, and making something that sticks with people a little longer.
You clearly have a passion for music. How (if at all) has music influenced the way you think about design?
Honestly, music taught me there’s no single “right” way to interpret design. Just like a song hits everyone differently, design is subjective. It lands in its own way depending on who’s experiencing it.
That mindset really stuck with me. There aren’t strict rules or one correct perspective, just different ways of seeing and feeling something.
Where/How do you find new music?
I follow a lot of curators, blogs and youtube channels. My best advice to find new music is to be open minded and adventurous. There’s so much music out there that it’s kind of a shame to only hold yourself to the same artists and genres.
What’s been the largest challenge of your career?
Challenges keep you on your toes. They’re uncomfortable, but that’s kind of the point. In my experience, that discomfort is usually where the best growth happens.
The biggest one for me was jumping from brand design into digital. I had to learn everything on the fly, in a space that was evolving super fast during the tech boom. It constantly felt like I was behind.
But looking back, that pressure is what pushed me to get better. It’s cliché, but true, Persistence really is the price of getting anywhere.
That mindset really stuck with me. There aren’t strict rules or one correct perspective, just different ways of seeing and feeling something.
What’s one tip you’d give to someone starting out?
Like I said above, put yourself in uncomfortable situations. That’s usually where the growth is. More often than not, you come out sharper, with way more perspective and experience.
And honestly, that applies to more than just design. The more you push yourself into new territory, the more opens up.
What are you excited about right now and why?
Design-wise, I’m really curious to see how AI actually pushes things forward in a meaningful way. You can already feel it taking shape with tools like Claude and Figma Make, but the real question is how it shows up in the real world without taking away that feeling of actually creating.
Music-wise, I’m always chasing that next album, the one that somehow feels new and nostalgic at the same time.
And personally, I’m just excited to watch my daughter grow. Easily the best thing I’ve made so far.
Where can people find you? Anything you’d like to shoutout or promote?
I recently started a record and music curation Instagram: @knewnoise. It’s still early, but I’ve been loving the response so far and seeing how it’s starting to take shape. Excited to keep building it and see where it goes.
