People often ask me about my design process and my creative workflow. The questions usually sound something like this: Do you sketch by hand first? What tools do you use? What’s your favorite modeling app? How long does it take to design something?

The truth is, those questions are harder to answer than you might think. Every project is different, and each one has its own path from idea to finished product. On top of that, I’m constantly learning new tools, experimenting with new techniques, and evolving the way I approach design. So the honest answer is that there isn’t just one method. My designs come together through a mix of different tactics, tools, and creative exploration.

Unfortunately, there’s no perfect recipe or secret formula for creating successful designs. In fact, sometimes you have to work through all the bad ideas before you finally uncover the good ones. That’s just part of the process.

I’ve also learned to embrace the chaos that comes with design. The challenges, the experiments, and even the mistakes are all part of what pushes us forward. As designers and makers, we’re constantly reinventing ourselves and finding new ways to improve our craft.

For this project, I wanted to focus on something simple—an everyday object that almost everyone can relate to. This design is called the Snap-Back Wallet, and it’s a great example of how my workflow evolves from an idea into something real.

I actually started this project earlier this summer, but I held off on finishing it because I wanted to machine the final version out of aircraft-grade aluminum using my brand-new CNC machine.

The overall shape of the design was inspired by something you’d find in nature—an ultra-smooth river rock. I’ve always turned to nature for inspiration. There’s something about those organic forms that feels timeless, functional, and incredibly refined.

Jason