This installment of +Process is about intentional observation, the democratization of design, and it's potential role in a social movement.

I've always been a visual learner. For as long as I can remember, the colors, patterns, and compositions of my neighborhood fascinated me. Before I knew what design was I was drawn to it on the storefronts, signs, and walls of Los Angeles. The multilingual letterforms, unintentional juxtapositions, and ever present graffiti provided an unorthodox introduction to traditional typographic concepts like hierarchy and layout. Growing up in areas like Koreatown, Hollywood, and Mid-City cultivated an understanding of design informed by the often handcrafted, always functional, visual language that is a reflection of the diverse communities that make the city special.