I've Always Been Fascinated By The Unusual And Conceptual, And These Product Designs I Created Are A Reflection Of How I Perceive The World (24 Pics)

I'm from Toronto, Canada. I went to school for photography but always found myself more interested in ideas rather than aesthetics. For work, I'm an Art Director in advertising, but I'm always creating various projects even when I'm not working. I'm obsessed with always having at least one creative project to work on at all times, and I especially like refreshing ideas that are new and original. In a world where more than half of the entire planet has access to the internet, people are sharing more and more ideas every day, so it's even more challenging and exciting to try to create something that isn't out on the web yet!

When I first started Wask, I wanted to start with a mix of stationery + simple + conceptual. I started brainstorming what I could do with a paper clip! And that's how the Unbreak My Heart paper clips were born. They're simple - they look like broken hearts - but there's that little gimmick of them turning into whole hearts again once you use them on paper.

There are different ways I come up with ideas: sometimes they randomly come from my mind drifting off (like when you're falling asleep), but the majority just come from brainstorming sessions! I usually brainstorm in bursts of 1 - 2 hours on a specific topic or theme. It includes hunting all of Google to see what's already been done out there for inspiration. I get burnt out if I'm overworked or too stressed out, and then I'll take a break! But I never stop forever. I want to keep making creative things for the rest of my life.

There are so many different reactions to my work, but that doesn't bother me! Sometimes it sparks fun and entertaining conversations. Even before I created Wask, I had a lot of mixed reactions on many of my previous projects. There's that saying that people always say, "any press is good press," andI have realized that it's quite true. What are the people that hate my work going to do? Nothing. But what are the people that love my artwork going to do? They might connect with me, support me, purchase an item, send me an opportunity, follow me, etc. The best part of sharing your work on the web is having like-minded people find you!

The parts of the creative process I enjoy the most are the finished product, which sometimes can take years, and creative problem-solving. Brainstorming ideas can be great fun! Although, it comes with many feelings of disappointment, especially when it turns out 90% of the ideas have been made already. I am still working on growing Wask, and there are a few new items in the process of making. My goal for the future would be to collaborate with brands in the future!