One year in middle school, undoubtedly sick of being riddled by brothers, I decided to recognize “weird” as a high compliment. From then on, I did everything to stand out; to be different. Whether that included asking every question on my mind or wearing a ski helmet and goggles to the grocery store, I began the long journey of developing who Madeline Cesarz is. Admittedly, a whole chunk of the journey was learning to appreciate the mane of curls stuck to my head. 

The journey is nowhere near finished, yet the foundation is secure. At the heart of it, I am reliant on my prominence. Questioning everything while continuously grinding has established a strong work ethic that pulls design from the world I’ve absorbed thus far. Just like a curl, I thrive in a space that pushes me to bounce back and choose a unique direction. I aim for all of my work to exude confidence and reject conformity. 

Nothing in my life has progressed in a straight line, instead twisting and spiraling in many different directions and out of several comfort zones, leaving me with more than one horrible (hair) day. Even when curls in life throw me from one path, I walk out the door a designer focused on growth and curiosity, unafraid to tackle my big ideas.