This personal project came from a tough place. I was furloughed, feeling forgotten and not quite good enough. At just 22, I was pretty sad. Tame Impala’s Why Won’t They Talk to Me was on repeat during my daily walks — maybe a bit dramatic, but I was a sensitive young man chasing a dream in this industry.

I decided to suck it up, get behind the computer, and escape into my pixel haven. I designed some loose, abstract UI elements to form the word ‘CNVS’ — short for canvas — an identity I’d created when I was 15. It’s about starting from nothing and painting your own life, your blank canvas.

I made the UI in Illustrator, wanting the icons to feel abstract and freeform, reflecting the idea of creating something out of almost nothing. I’d never made anything quite like this before, but it brought together the tools I use today: After Effects, Illustrator, Cinema 4D.

At the time, I was proud of it. Now, I think the bump texture scale is a bit off and there’s room for improvement, but it’s good to see how far I’ve come. It’s the oldest project on my site, but it’s got a special place in my heart — still my favourite.