the Journal

This is a record of the ideas and reflections that underpin my work. From initial experiments to finished pieces, these entries offer a behind-the-scenes look at a creative process where art and design constantly inform one another. It is a space for exploring the cultural components of branding and the discipline of a studio practice.

How Psychology Built Branding. From Gestalt to the Hidden Persuaders

Brand communication as we understand it today was forged in 19th-century psychology labs. Explore the "dark arts" of persuasion, from the mechanics of the human eye to the hidden levers of the subconscious and why these century-old "cheat codes" still rule our digital world.

Human-Native Creativity is the New AI Powered Advantage

From mobile phones to the emergence of AI, we are remarkably capable adaptors. But this wave requires a new choreography: the Human–AI Co-Creative Process. By using AI as a cognitive sorter rather than a creator, we remove mental friction without losing our unique human design eye.

Why Boredom Is a Necessary Luxury

In our hyper-connected world, boredom has become a scarce luxury. We fill every moment with notifications, hustle, and productivity hacks, mistaking busyness for purpose. But what if boredom, the uncomfortable space between have-tos and need-tos, isn’t wasted time at all?

Figure Drawing: Discipline as a Creative Anchor

Moving to Cape Town in 2022 felt like stepping into the unknown, a sprawling city where I had no history, no memories and no connections. Or so I thought. In 2023, on a whim, I searched for figure drawing classes and stumbled upon Life Drawing Cape Town, hosted by Roxy Spears, a name I instantly recognised from my student days.

What Is a Hybrid Studio? Blurring the Lines Between Art and Design

When I decided to launch The Journal, I wanted it to be more than a newsletter. I wanted it to be a record of the work that doesn’t fit into neat categories—the sketches, the false starts, the ideas that shape everything else.

Logos and Meaning: A Shunting Yard

For decades years, I designed logos for others while misplacing my own ‘logos’—my meaning. Inspired by Victor Frankl’s search for purpose and David Bowie’s defiance of expectations, I left my old life behind to reclaim my creative voice.

The Internal Mirror: Branding as Psycho-Cybernetics

Outer success rarely rises above the way we visualise ourselves internally. In my latest Journal entry, I look at the work of Maxwell Maltz and the concept of Psycho-Cybernetics in branding.