Before starting a new design, I spend a few minutes doing nothing.
No Photoshop. No references. No Pinterest.
Just thinking about the message first.
Sometimes the best design decision happens before the software is opened.
Ever notice how some ads make you stop scrolling without even realizing it?
That's not luck.
It's visual hierarchy, contrast, timing, and curiosity working together.
The fun part of graphic design is creating the first concept.
The difficult part?
Knowing which 20% of the concept deserves to survive the next 5 rounds of refinement.