The Fifth Perspective
Brand strategy, creative direction, and the decisions that make or break how a business shows up. I write about brand identity, web design, working with clients, and running a creative business with ADHD. Some posts are practical. Some are personal. All of it comes from over a decade of doing the work.
No jargon, just real talk for creatives, founders and marketing leads tired of generic advice.
AI vs. Human Creativity: Why Design Still Needs People
AI can make logos and images in seconds, but speed is not strategy.
Why Every Creative Studio Needs a Dog: How Paloma Shapes Work at FifthHouse
Creative work is demanding. A good studio dog provides the small interruptions that break tension without derailing your flow.
Why ADHD Built the Career I Was Meant For
My ADHD story isn’t about limits. It’s about how I built a career, and a studio, around the way I think.
Burnout Prevention for People Who Love the Work
I used to make art as a hobby. Somewhere along the way, the thing that used to refuel me became the thing that drained me.
Scope Creep Is Just People-Pleasing in Disguise
Every creative has a scope creep story. The "quick favor" that turned into three weeks of unbilled work.
Stop Romanticizing ADHD. Start Building Systems for It.
There's a version of ADHD that gets celebrated online. The chaos that somehow becomes charming.
Too Much Creative Freedom Is a Bad Thing
The worst thing a client can say to me is "just do whatever you think is best." It's a setup for a project that goes sideways.
What You're Actually Paying for When You Commission an Illustration
When clients see an illustration invoice, they're often just seeing the final image. That finished file is the smallest part of what you're paying for.
Everyone's Wrong About the Cracker Barrel Rebrand (Well, Mostly)
Why the internet dragged their logo but missed what actually works. The internet lost its collective mind when Cracker Barrel unveiled their rebrand.
Sometimes You Just Make It Blue.
At some point in your career, a client or manager will ask you to do something you disagree with.
What "Make It Pop" Really Means (And How to Give Better Feedback)
At some point in almost every project, someone says it. It's not bad feedback. It's just incomplete.
How to Make Your Event Branding Unforgettable
Great events tell a story. And like any good story, your audience should walk away remembering how it made them feel.
How to Work with a Graphic Designer: 5 Things Clients Should Know
Most frustrating client-designer relationships share the same root cause: treating designers as execution resources instead of strategic partners. Here are five things that will help you get better work, faster timelines, and way less frustration.
What It’s Like to Work with FifthHouse
Hiring a creative partner can feel like a gamble. You don't always know what you're getting until you're in it.
From Designer to Founder: Why I Built FifthHouse
FifthHouse wasn't born from opportunity. It came from experience, frustration, and a clear idea of how creative work should actually happen.
Why Marketing Directors are Turning to Fractional Creative Support
You need senior creative leadership, but hiring full-time isn't in the budget and freelancers can't fill the gap. Fractional creative support gives you strategic direction exactly when you need it, without the overhead.
“You don't always have to know where you're going to get somewhere interesting.”
— Roxane Gay