How To Stay Creative in the Chaos

My youngest spilled applesauce on my sketchbook this morning. Right before a client call. I just wiped it off and pitched a concept using crayon marks as “textural contrast.” They bought it.

Patterson Design Co. wasn’t built in a quiet studio. It was born in the margins of bedtime, naptime, and the 6:30 AM wakeup call from a toddler with yogurt breath.

Here’s how I stay focused:

1. Night Owl Mode: My best creative window is 8 PM to 1 AM. No distractions. Just flow.

2. One Project, One Tab: Multitasking is a myth. I use Notion to track daily goals per client.

3. Inspiration Comes From Life: A family hike becomes a color palette. A kid’s drawing gives me a logo idea. Nothing is wasted.

4. Momentum Over Perfection: I never wait for a perfect block of time. I start scrappy and polish later.

Closing Thought:

Creativity isn’t some perfect condition. It’s showing up in the mess and making something anyway. That’s the heart of PDCo. That’s what I bring to the brands I serve.