Christos Anesti

Spoiler Alert: I'm going to get religious whicha... If you're simply looking for perspectives on design, skip this article. If you're looking for encouragement about why we design, read on.

Last Christmas, I was admittedly irritated – not in a bah humbug sort of way – but in a “quit trying to dilute the meaning of my holiday” way. My office didn't even send a Christmas card, but instead sent a New Year's card, because from a business perspective it’s easier to send a message of hope than risk offending my Jewish brethren (many of whom are clients and dear friends), for whom I have much love and respect.

But with Easter, it’s different. I don't care what anybody else tries to say, there is only one reason to celebrate Easter. And nobody can take that from me.

It's also why I design. Many years ago I realized that from my calling to be an artist, that my purpose in life is to point people to the Truth. Plain and simple. The most effective way I can do that is through design, in compelling ways, and in mundane and common ways.

I have to come back to that thought all of the time. We all have the same struggles: cash flow, personnel, business development, deadlines and coming up with fresh design solutions, to name a few. But knowing that I’m working for a greater purpose is what gives me inspiration.

The meaning and impact of Christ on history goes to the very manner in which we measure the passage of the centuries, the two most significant holidays we celebrate in Western culture, to the thinking that informed the creation of democracy. And that’s just for starters.

I’m not afraid to say that it’s the same meaning and impact that informs my decisions on how I run my business, how I manage my relationships with my staff, my vendors and my clients. It gives me reason to hope when it feels like I’m putting out fires (so to speak), rather than creating design work that my flesh hopes will get me passing notice in one of this industry’s self-indulgent annuals.

So if over time you get tired, and wonder why you started down this path in the first place, afraid that nobody notices, be assured that Someone does notice. That in His eyes, you’re doing great work. That what you do, and how you’re doing it matters.

To me, that’s the heart and soul of design.

Christos Anesti, brothers and sisters. Celebrate your new life. Alethos anesti!