As I celebrate another trip around the sun this weekend, I’ve been reflecting on the incredible opportunities and good fortune I’ve had in both life and career. I’m deeply humbled—and immensely grateful—for the people and experiences that have shaped my path. One standout moment was crossing paths with Chicago’s own Christian Solorzano. Christian is the founder and driving force behind the Chicago Graphic Design Club (CGDC), a community-minded powerhouse who’s constantly creating space for artists to connect, grow, and be seen. We first met when I submitted a poster to his call for entries, “What Does Chicago Mean to You?” That small creative exchange turned into a fast friendship, and before long, I was asking how I could get more involved with the CGDC. Not long after, Christian invited me to join the board and become an official recurring contributor—an honor that still means a lot to me. To this day, I’m inspired, challenged, and continually educated by Christian and the amazing work he and the CGDC team are doing for our design community. So as I reflect on another year, I wanted to shine a little light on this unsung hero. Thank you, Christian, and thank you CGDC, for giving my creative spirit a fresh spark. You can learn more about Christian and the CGDC here.