There are certain pieces you make that quietly change everything — even if you don’t realize it at the time.
For me, that piece was a bookmark that reads:
“Thank God for books because people are idiots.”
When I designed it, I remember hesitating. The thought felt honest, but I wasn’t sure if it was too honest. I had spent so much time trying to make things that felt safe and broadly appealing, and this one felt like a small step outside that comfort zone.
I expected mixed reactions. Maybe a few awkward comments. Maybe polite silence.
That’s not what happened.
Instead, people laughed. They connected with it immediately. They told me, “This is exactly how I feel.” It became one of those designs that people picked up and said, “Yep. This one.”
Looking back, I see now why it mattered so much.
This bookmark was the first time I trusted my own voice — not to shock, not to offend, but to be honest. It showed me that my people weren’t looking for perfection or politeness. They were looking for something that felt real.
I didn’t know it then, but this design quietly gave me permission to keep going. And for that reason alone, it will always be one of my favorites.