From Corporate Design to Creative Freedom: Lessons from the Luxury Fashion World

The Post-University Dream

When I first stepped into the corporate brand & fashion design world, it felt like a dream come true. After winning a CFDA Design competition, I landed a design role at Kenneth Cole in NYC – an achievement that made my twenty-something designer heart soar. I couldn’t wait to share my fresh-out-of-school ideas with my first major fashion brand. The opportunity felt surreal, especially for a young designer originally from across the country in Oregon. Everything happened quite fast.

I found out I was moving to NY after receiving the award email from the CFDA. They flew me from San Francisco, where I attended university, to NY for the 2017 CFDA Fashion Awards. Having my name tag at the awards amongst the best designers was a pinch-me moment I’ll never forget. I’m sentimental like that – I kept the name tag and CFDA pamphlet, which I recently rediscovered in a keepsake box. After just two days in NY, I flew back to Oregon to spend time with my parents before making the big move a couple of months later.

The Corporate Reality Check

Once I landed in NY, I settled into a Brooklyn apartment that was built like a house of cards, and was over an hour train ride away to work (each way). I could not wait to get to work at Kenneth. The first few weeks were so exciting, yet completely exhausting- with meeting each team, having regular check-ins with Kenneth and trying to bring my A game of design to each meeting. After a few more weeks, I realized that the “real design world” wasn’t quite what I had imagined and I had to learn some of the the unwritten rules.

Behind the glamorous facade of corporate design, I discovered a complex web of politics, competing opinions, strict budgets (that didn’t care about sustainability), and conflicting strategies. While I knew good design required careful planning and strategic thinking, I wasn’t prepared for how office politics and fear of upsetting colleagues would impact the creative process. I was brought into Kenneth Cole specifically to bring fresh ideas about sustainability and sustainable design/production, yet when the time came to make changes, the company showed little interest.

Finding My Way Through the Fashion World

When Kenneth Cole initially offered me a position to stay on the team, I was thrilled – finding a job in NY is almost as daunting as finding a decent apartment. However, the offer was soon retracted due to “budgets,” despite my director making eight times my salary. Not long after, someone from Kate Spade reached out through LinkedIn, and I jumped at the opportunity to learn more. At Kate Spade, I found more of what I thought I was looking for.

I got to join a tight-knit team of five that felt like family, led by a boss who became one of my closest friends. She always brought perspective to stressful situations, reminding us that we were talking about clothes, prints, and objects at the end of the day – none of which was worth sacrificing our wellbeing for. This grounding perspective stayed with me, especially as I observed how many stressful situations stemmed not from creative necessity but from C-suite egos needing the final say on already-solid designs.

My journey then led me to Ralph Lauren, where I worked under someone who could have inspired Miranda Priestly. Instead of designing, I organized inspiration closets, fetched coffee, delivered packages, and scheduled meetings – all while being treated like a servant. I lasted 3.5 months and put my notice in and was out in 4. Yes it sounds like a jail sentence story because that is really how it felt. My parents sent me a bouquet of flowers after leaving – they knew how much I needed to get out.

Looking back at my CFDA Design award-winning project, what stands out isn’t the perfection of design. The silhouettes weren’t flawless, the illustrations had room for improvement, and the technical CAD drawings were far from perfect. What won the award, in a nationwide competition among top design schools, was the story and awareness that was crafted. The ideas were solid, even if they weren’t fully refined, and the journey from concept to completion resonated with the judges.

The Power of Authenticity Discovering My True ‘Why’

After testing out several companies, I started to dig deep and ask myself why I was in this industry and why I was tolerating work environments like I was. I realized it wasn’t about achieving perfection in every design – it was about the journey. I love the holistic process of starting with just a few ideas and watching them grow into tangible concepts. The story of how we get somewhere often has as much value and relatability as the end result. Today, this translates into how I approach brand building with my clients.

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What I Learned from Corporate (And What I Left Behind)

The corporate world taught me invaluable lessons about brand building, collection curation, and maintaining sanity amidst chaos. I gained strategic thinking skills, understanding of market positioning, knowledge of production processes, and the ability to manage complex projects. But I also learned what practices to leave behind: unnecessary bureaucracy, fear-based decision making, ego-driven revisions, and burnout culture. I discovered that while multiple stakeholders reviewing every decision might seem thorough, it often led to diluted designs and stifled creativity.

My Approach to Brand Building Today

I bring a unique blend of corporate expertise and entrepreneurial understanding to each project. I focus on:

• Strategy First, Always
  • Beginning with clear objectives
  • Understanding the target audience
  • Defining unique market positioning
• Authentic Storytelling
  • Uncovering the genuine brand story
  • Creating emotional connections
  • Building memorable brand experiences
• Streamlined Process
  • Focusing on what truly matters
  • Eliminating unnecessary complexity
  • Making decisions with confidence

Where I am Today

As a designer-turned-entrepreneur, I bring more than just design expertise to my clients. I guide them through brand launches and revamps, helping them understand what’s crucial, what can wait, and what’s not worth spending time on. I transform overwhelm into clarity, reminding them that while building a brand has many steps, it should be an exciting journey – not a solitary struggle.

Take a look at our project services here

The Takeaway

The most valuable lesson from my corporate years? Perfect design isn’t everything – it’s the stories we tell and the connections we make along the way that create lasting impressions. Looking back, I don’t recall every best-selling product I designed, but what left an indelible mark were the incredible people I met and collaborated with along the way – you know who you are. Those relationships and shared experiences shaped not just my career, but who I am as a designer today. That’s what I bring to every client project: not just design expertise from luxury brands, but the knowledge of what truly matters in building a purposeful and authentic brand.

Ready to build your brand with someone who understands both the corporate and entrepreneurial sides of design? Let’s create something authentic together. Inquire with us!