Project Overview
In the 90’s, I created a project called “Design Happens.” It was a concept I always loved, but looking back at it years later, I realized I lost all the files.
I decided it was time for a remake. Not just a quick update, but a total ground-up restoration to show the concept at its full potential.
Project Scope
- Deliverables: Adobe InDesign and supporting files to include fonts and artworks
- Tools: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign
- Role: Designer, Director
Challenge
One of the biggest hurdles of this remake was that I no longer had the original project assets—no layers, no vectors, no working files. All I had was the final printed piece.
Rather than seeing this as a setback, I treated it as a “design archaeology” project. I had to analyze my own past work and rebuild every element from scratch, which allowed me to be much more intentional with the new composition.
Embracing the “Mistake”
The heart of “Design Happens” is the tactile, analog feel of the process. I focused heavily on the mis-registered print effect.
Custom Illustration: I built a brand-new illustration in Photoshop specifically to be “broken apart.”
The Technique: Instead of using a simple filter, I manually offset layers, with proper screen values and angles.
Outcome
This was a one-off passion project, but it reminded me of an important lesson: Your best work isn’t always your next project; sometimes it is a better version of an old one. Rebuilding this from scratch allowed me to revisit the past in a way a new project never could.