I’ve spent my career turning wild ideas into visual stories—think directing photoshoots and taking a scribble on a napkin to full-blown design concepts. That’s pretty much my everyday work. As an Art Director at ArtVersion, I tackle fresh creative puzzles all the time, fueling a passion for making visuals that speak louder than words. Since my early years messing around with film cameras, I’ve been hooked on how images can cross language barriers and hit you right in the feels. So when the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences asked me to judge the 29th annual Webby Awards, I stepped up with a keen eye and 15 years of design know-how under my belt.
My journey to this moment hasn’t been linear – it rarely is in our field. I started my career in graphic design and photography. Yes, I spent countless hours in darkrooms and layout sessions, before the digital revolution transformed our industry. Those early years taught me lessons that still influence my work today. Composition matters, the power of negative space matters, and also how colors can shape a story. At ArtVersion, I’ve been lucky to work on blending these classic design principles with digital techniques with a talented team that constantly pushes the limits of web design and development. In the same time we never want to lose sight of what human touch truly means.
I love combining classic design with digital innovation. It influences everything we do, from website refreshes to building brand identities. Being comfortable with both typography details and the latest in responsive design is a unique edge I brought to the Webbys judging panel.
I’ll be honest – it’s ironic to go from presenting my own work for feedback to judging others’. My background in fine arts and years in editorial design taught me that real innovation often happens between the lines of traditional rules. This mindset guided me through the judging process.
Beyond the Pixel-Perfect
While many focus on technical execution or user experience, my art direction background drew me to something deeper – the visual narratives woven into each submission. I found myself particularly captivated by entries that dared to challenge traditional design hierarchies. Some of the most compelling work I reviewed wasn’t necessarily the most polished, but rather those projects that took bold risks with composition, challenged color theory conventions, or reimagined traditional grid systems.
A New Visual Language Emerges
What fascinated me most was seeing how different cultures interpret and adapt global design trends. Having worked across multiple continents, I noticed subtle but significant variations in how teams approached visual storytelling:
- The emergence of dynamic typography that reflects local cultural influences while maintaining global appeal
- Innovative uses of white space that create emotional resonance without relying on obvious visual cues
- A sophisticated integration of traditional art principles in digital spaces
- The rise of what I call “responsive aesthetics” – designs that maintain their artistic integrity across any device or platform
The Photography Factor
As someone who regularly directs photoshoots and oversees visual content creation, I was particularly drawn to how submissions integrated photography and videography into their digital experiences. The best entries weren’t just using beautiful images; they were creating immersive visual ecosystems where every element – from the hero image to the smallest icon – worked in harmony to tell a cohesive story.
Breaking the Grid
You know what really got me excited? Seeing projects that completely reimagined how we use grid systems in digital design. After years of directing print layouts and editorial designs, I have a deep appreciation for structure. But some of these submissions showed me entirely new ways to think about spatial relationships in digital environments.
To every creative team pushing boundaries: your courage to experiment with new visual languages is reshaping our digital landscape. As an Art Director, I’ve always believed that great design should provoke emotion, challenge perception, and create memorable experiences. The work I reviewed didn’t just meet these criteria – it redefined them.
The View Forward
This Webby experience has profoundly influenced how I approach art direction. It’s reinforced my belief that the future of digital design lies not in following trends, but in creating authentic visual experiences that resonate on a human level. Whether I’m working on a new web design, crafting a brand identity, or reviewing design concepts, I now find myself asking different questions: Does this design feel inovative? Does it challenge conventions while remaining accessible? Does it contribute something meaningful to our visual culture?
My role as a Webby judge wasn’t just about evaluating websites – it was about witnessing the evolution of digital art and design. As someone who’s spent years behind the camera and in front of design boards, this experience has added new depth to my creative perspective. It’s reminded me that in the world of digital design, we’re not just creating interfaces – we’re crafting the visual language of tomorrow.
To every creator who submitted their work: thank you for pushing our industry forward, for daring to experiment, and for showing us that the boundaries of digital design are limited only by our imagination. Your work doesn’t just shape the web – it shapes how we see the world. That is why we design.