Intentional to Authority: Carrying the Lessons of 2025 Into What’s Next
As this year comes to a close, I’ve been spending time reflecting—not rushing past it, not minimizing it, but really sitting with what 2025 asked of me and what it gave in return.
My word for 2025 was Intentional. And looking back, that word wasn’t aspirational—it was active. It shaped how I showed up, what I said yes to, and just as importantly, what I stopped apologizing for.
This was a year of proximity. I intentionally placed myself in rooms where design was not just admired, but deeply respected. I surrounded myself with conversations, environments, and people who spoke the same language of craft, discipline, and vision.
I was honored to serve on the planning committee for The Case Collective, gaining a behind-the-scenes understanding of what it truly takes to build meaningful platforms for designers. I pushed myself creatively through my first design challenge and participated in the One Room Challenge—both of which stretched my confidence and sharpened my point of view. I joined the very first cohort of The Case Collective’s Principal Circle formerly known as the Case Mastermind, committing not just to growth, but to accountability and refinement alongside peers who were just as serious about their work.
I also had the opportunity to attend my first show house—the Southeast Show House—where seeing designers from my own circle contribute to such a large-scale, elevated project made the future feel tangible. Not distant. Possible.
Every one of these moments was intentional. None of them happened by accident.
I made a conscious choice to immerse myself in design as a practice, a business, and a discipline. I studied it. I talked about it. I observed it. I allowed myself to belong in it. And somewhere in that repetition, something shifted.
I gained confidence—not the loud kind, but the grounded kind. The kind that comes from showing up consistently, doing the work, and realizing you no longer need permission.
That confidence is what I’m carrying into 2026.
My word for 2026 is Authority.
Authority doesn’t mean knowing everything. It means trusting what you know. It means owning your experience, your perspective, and your process without shrinking it to make others comfortable. When intention builds the foundation, authority becomes the natural next step.
Intentionality taught me how to move with purpose. Authority will teach me how to stand firmly in it.
Together, those two words represent evolution—not just as a designer, but as a business owner, a creative, and a leader in this space. I’m stepping into 2026 with clarity, confidence, and a deeper understanding of my value. And that combination is powerful.
This next year isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what I already do—on purpose, and with authority
