When I was little, I used to say I wanted to be a National Geographic photographer or a fashion designer. I grew up in my grandmother's art studio and spent my teens in Florida, which brought me close to so much wild and tropical beauty. I also spent a lot of time on the computer as a tween, and all of this manifested into an interest in graphic design, fashion, art and nature photography. My formal background is in graphic design, and I was working freelance when I met Atmos’s founder Jake Sargent for coffee soon after they launched in early 2020. I joined the team that summer as Design Director, and soon after that, I moved into my role as Art Director. I think all of these curiosities intertwine into my approach that attempts to share the beauty of the planet and the incredible communities and artists we share it with.

Our founders Jake Sargent and Willow Defebaugh love to talk about theories of social change, which I always find enlightening and inspiring. While one might say the world feels very much in turmoil and turning backward, there are so many positive societal evolutions that we’ve witnessed over the past 5, 10, 30 years. Advocating for the interconnectedness of life on our planet is something we’re aiming to make the norm— no matter where you land in your community or on the political spectrum. Everyone has their own avenue for advocacy, and ours is storytelling through photography, art, fashion and culture. We hope to inspire people through striking visuals and impactful text to see things just a little differently than they did before.

I’ve actually become more aware of how little I know the deeper I’ve gotten into the climate and environmental space. There are so many stories, so many resilient communities and remarkable natural phenomena that are awe-inspiring and perspective-shifting. The more I learn, the more curious I become.

Hope is central to our values. For every story we tell, we aim to find an action item or a theme of hope to pull from. This translates to the visuals. I’m always asking myself what emotional response we want the reader to pull from the story, and how to best communicate that emotion. Sometimes that’s hope, sometimes it’s grief— often it’s a mix of the two.

I don’t think one can effectively love and care for life on this planet without taking full awareness of the grave danger it's in. Bearing witness to the terrible news bombarding our newsfeeds every day without turning away is imperative to take the steps necessary to save it. You can’t fix a problem that you don’t acknowledge is happening.

This work wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of scientists, biologists, policymakers, activists, historians, journalists and more—but I wholly stand by the premise of utilizing your best skills to make a difference, no matter how small. Creative work tells stories and can change the world, whether the stories are about love, relationships, families or history. This is simply another application of that work, which can help people see and understand the importance of protecting our planet and the living creatures that inhabit it.

Even though I spoke about bearing witness, I also believe in the importance of balance and protecting your mental health. I think when you give yourself room to process it opens up the bandwidth to hold space for others suffering as well. I regularly take social media breaks in order to manage the amount of information I’m taking in, get out in nature as much as I can, have a regular exercise practice that grounds me, as well as a consistent acupuncture practice. Creating art of any kind is also instrumental in processing, whether it’s sketching, journaling, sculpting, or even putting on a good outfit. Transmuting the extra energy that manifests as anxiety and pulling it into positive action is so healing.

Design has always been my outlet for creativity—usually, I create these pieces to process my own life. It’s a form of therapy. Whatever I need to hear at the moment finds me at the right time and inspires me to feel like I’m not as alone as I thought I was. I think that’s really what it’s all about, connecting with that oneness and the mystery of the human condition.

Don’t get overwhelmed by all of the things that can and need to be done. If you have one idea, take one step forward to make it happen. From there, the next step will reveal itself. Action begets action. Ask yourself what you want— write out the question and answer it, and use that as your north star to guide you.

The year 2024 was a challenging and busy one for me, so I’m interested in slowness, in deepening my connection to the planet, my loved ones and most importantly—myself. I don’t think all years can be marked by output. I’m excited to continue my work at Atmos and in my personal work, and I’m also excited to take in the beauty of the world around me and allow it to inspire me for next year.