It's hard to imagine a profession more gratifying—and more grueling—than design. For all the momentary joy of fraternizing with peers at conferences or the glamorous roll-out of a new product at trade shows, there are countless meetings, number-crunchings, and other similarly soul-crushing occupational hazards that can dampen one's enthusiasm for the job. Designers work as much for The Man as the muse, and staying motivated and creative takes a major amount of energy and discipline.
I'm remembering Andy Wells, vice president of design and trends for MasterBrand cabinets, as a person who was able to see the business of design as an adventure, and he welcomed any and all to join him in the process. His charming and incisive observations—quintessentially British—made every encounter I had with him memorable. Today, he is missed by many.
