What Vegas Taught Me About Creativity, Connection, and Becoming a Better Designer
Introduction: The Journey Begins
Sometimes, the creative reset we need doesn’t come from a business retreat or an online course—it comes from packing a bag, booking the ticket, and letting real life surprise us. A few weeks ago, I flew out to Las Vegas to celebrate one of my closest friends—someone I’ve known for nearly a decade—as she tied the knot. It wasn’t just a break from routine; it was a chance to reconnect with joy, play, and inspiration. I didn’t know what I’d come back with, but I was hoping for more than just fun. I wanted to feel like myself again—refreshed, creatively charged, and a little more grounded.
This trip gave me that and more. Through immersive art, flavorful meals, vibrant city chaos, and deep moments of connection, I rediscovered what it means to live—and create—with intention. The best design work doesn’t come from staring at a screen; it comes from feeling something deeply and transforming that into something others can connect with. Here’s what Vegas taught me about creativity, community, and the kind of magic you can only find by stepping away from the usual.
Art That Feels Like Play: Visiting Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart
Before I jumped on my flight, I did a little digging into the cool immersive installations that had popped up around the city. I stumbled upon this place called Area 15, which is basically a hotspot for installations known for their trippy architecture and vibe. One spot my best friend (the bride) insisted I had to check out was Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart exhibit. It had this crazy mix of sensory overload and wild world-building all in one. They suggested booking tickets online to really soak it all in. I even signed up for this fun scavenger hunt and got my own exclusive holographic badge and pin as keepsakes. The questions had us climbing all over the exhibit, diving deep into the lore while exploring storefronts, employee stations, and the corporate side of things.
As I moved through the space, I felt a bit like a kid seeing the world for the first time. The colors and sounds were way more vivid than I'm used to. There were several spots where visitors could mess around with tools and devices to learn more about this new place. The fake products were all glitchy, bending and breaking in ways I didn’t expect. I could have easily wandered around the whole area for hours. The speakers blared music that made my body buzz, and the dark rooms flashed with greens, reds, and blues, creating a bit of disorientation. I felt like I was floating between dimensions, which really fit the whole theme of the store’s origins. I won’t spoil the entire experience because I really want you to see it for yourself, but every detail the creators put into this art piece was totally worth it.
Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart helped me tap back into that playful spirit. Honestly, I think after a certain age, rediscovering a sense of wonder and whimsy is trickier than we like to admit. Being an artist is all about accessing that inner child and using my years of training to help my clients with the more technical stuff of art, like strategy. But at the end of the day, the core of branding is all about emotional storytelling—the ability to connect and have so much fun that it inspires others to engage with you.
I didn’t realize the impact the exhibition had on me until I got home feeling pumped about creating something wild. I was itching to get back to my roots and just start a new project because that’s what I do, not what I have to do. Creative freedom invites curiosity—and curiosity is at the heart of great design. Give yourself permission to play. Your best ideas come from wonder, not from pressure.
The Strip & Downtown: A Study in Contrast and Chaos
There's honestly nothing quite like cruising down the Las Vegas Strip late at night with all the lights shining bright. I used to think of Vegas just from those early 2000s Hollywood movies that made it seem like it was all about adult fun. Sure, there are still some grown-up vibes, but these days, the place has done an awesome job of rebranding itself to be more family-friendly, with digital billboards advertising malls, movies, and events at popular hotels.
If I had to pick one word to describe the Strip, I'd say maximalist. Some people might call it chaotic, but I prefer to see it as having that vibe of “no empty space is unspoken.” When the sun goes down, the city really starts buzzing. Foot traffic keeps rolling as the night bars open for dinner and shows.
My best friend had her ceremony at the “Chapel of Love,” which was a bit off the main Vegas Strip. It was a nice spot to take a breather from the crazy energy of the “newer” Strip with all those flashy hotels and malls around. These quieter areas felt like being whisked away to “Old Hollywood” with vintage signs and liquor bottles from the 1950s. They even had a prop car for the newlyweds to snap some pics in front of after they said their “I do’s.”
As the dry heat settled against my skin, I breathed in the cigar smoke wafting over from the next wedding party walking down the street to meet their appointment at the chapel. The duality of Vegas was a reminder to me that beautiful things can be polarizing. In fact, most beautiful things tend to be. Sometimes we love those things for it, and other times we can’t stand them, but that’s totally okay.
Humanity’s mood towards one idea can be a bit finicky. Sometimes it just takes a little patience for appreciation to settle. Even chaos has rhythm—strong design can thrive in unexpected places. Pay attention to the margins—sometimes the most inspiring work is off the beaten path.
Taste as a Creative Catalyst: Trying New Foods
It’s never been a secret that I’ve always loved good food. I grew up in Central Louisiana where Cajun cooking was a must-have for a lot of families just trying to get by. Honestly, I was kinda skeptical about Vegas food at first since I’m used to specific spices and meal prep styles. Luckily, my best friend has always had great taste in everything—food, found family, friends. She picked out a few spots for the wedding party to check out for the rehearsal dinner, the after-party, and then a farewell brunch.
My fave by far was this diner called Peppermill & Fireside Lounge. They had an awesome bar in the back where you could kick back while waiting for your table. The vibe was super chill and cozy, which was a nice change from Vegas’ crazy high-energy nightlife. The restaurant served breakfast stuff but also classic meals like steaks, burgers, and chicken. Some of us had snacks before we got there, so we went for appetizers and then dessert. Everything was what I call “The Vegas portion,” meaning huge-sized. Your plate would be around $25-$30, but you could share it with a few people — pretty awesome.
We did our best to tackle the mozzarella sticks (which I called cheese logs) and chicken fingers that were nearly as big as chicken breasts. I tried creme brulee for the first time, though a friend who’s had it plenty of times said it wasn’t the real deal. The custard didn’t have enough flavor for me, but I liked the texture overall. The grand finale was two insanely HUGE ice cream desserts — one was the house’s brownie, and the other was strawberry cheesecake. The table was blown away by how they looked. We all thought it was just a regular dessert, but Peppermill definitely has a reputation to keep.
We sat around laughing as we shared the desserts for everyone, while the maid of honor helped people put on temporary tattoos. The whole vibe made me feel like this is what your 20s are all about—full of fun little slips that are totally okay. When something doesn’t go quite right, you just shrug it off and go for it. The food was not only tasty but I felt like the plate didn’t weigh me down after eating. I was more exhausted from chuckling than from trying to find room for one more scoop of ice cream. The drinks weren’t overly sweet and the dim lighting helped create a relaxed, chill atmosphere.
Great design, like good food, is all about balance, texture, and taking some risks. Creativity lives outside your comfort zone—start feeding it in unexpected ways.
The Power of People – Being Surrounded by Love & Community
The wedding was scheduled for a Friday afternoon at the Chapel of Love downtown Vegas. The weather was pretty much perfect – sunny with just a little breeze. My best friend, the bride, of course, asked her girl squad to walk with her to the chapel so she could make sure everything was just how she wanted. That meant setting up her tiny section of seats, signing some last-minute paperwork that needed a witness, and getting the lowdown from the venue manager on how the hour would go for the couple. Everything had to be timed just right since they had other plans that day. We hung around where needed until it was time to pick up the wedding party from the party bus (oh yeah, my best is that cool that she rented a party bus).
The rest of the family and friends arrived, took their seats, and the ceremony began. As my best friend stood at the altar exchanging vows, I was lucky enough to be close to the couple’s amazing energy. Watching and sharing in that pride and happiness as they became one was honestly overwhelming—hard to put into words. I’ve been lucky enough to see this relationship grow and thrive for over 8 years. They’re the kind of couple that shows how healthy conflict, good communication, and real compromise work as they built their life together outside of college as young adults.
Now they’re here, ready to show the world they’re committed to fighting for their relationship every single day. My best friend is the kind of woman who’s been through a lot in her own life, which has made her resilient. She’s always moving and pushing down walls to build something better. But this relationship she and her now husband have built creates a peaceful space where they can both enjoy each other’s company as best friends. No matter what, she’s always been kind, compassionate, and loving. This wedding is one part of the happily ever after she deserves, and I hope as she moves forward she keeps making amazing memories and good things that she’s worked so hard to get.
You can’t create art without tapping into the important relationships in your life that heavily influence your values, ambitions, and perspective. That’s why it’s so crucial that, as a person and a creative person, you don’t miss out on events like birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, or even just casual hangouts with people who love you. Community fuels creativity. While we can improve ourselves in small ways, large growth spurts come from surrounding ourselves with a loving community that gives us access to different perspectives. Creativity thrives when it’s surrounded by love, support, and real connection.
Conclusion: Why This Trip Changed Me
Before I boarded that plane to Vegas, I was second-guessing everything. I hadn’t solo-traveled before, and the idea of navigating a city known for sensory overload had my nerves buzzing. But sometimes, you’ve got to push past your fear to find the freedom waiting on the other side. What started as a weekend wedding trip turned into a full-on creative recharge. I left behind my comfort zone and returned with new energy, new ideas, and a fresh appreciation for how life and art are always intertwined.
Design isn’t just about what we create—it’s about how we live. The textures of the city, the playfulness of immersive art, the taste of new food, and the energy of people who show up for each other—it all reminded me that great branding, like great living, is rooted in feeling. This trip reminded me that exploration is essential to creativity. So, whether it’s hopping on a plane or trying a new café in your neighborhood, go out and find what lights you up.
Give yourself permission to play. To rest. To wonder. Because your next great idea? It’s probably hiding in your next great adventure.
