The idea of design probably first took root in my mind when I was too small to reach a desk. I remember standing on tiptoe, trying to get a glimpse at my mother's stacks of fashion sketches and books. Before I could read, I was drawing. My naive images held more allure for me than children's books and suggested a personal fantasy world. Translating thoughts onto paper trained my mind for structure, moving fluidly between the big picture and finer points. My sensitivity to visual imagery and a fascination with stories led me instinctively toward illustration.

Yet, when I began to move closer, I saw design in every curve, form, color, and shape.