If there's one thing that I've learned about design this past year, it's that the most important thing you can do in the design field is telling a story.

Take Nike for example. While I've never been a fan of their running shoes (that's another story for another article!), I do have to admit that they have some really great branding. From the second you slip on a pair of Free Runs or some Nike Pros, you feel invincible. You feel like a fitness monster that has the ability to conquer any workout, no matter how tough.

Now, let's compare Nike's branding with that of Lululemon, another giant in the athletic clothing field. From the second you slip into those mesh-inserts-adorned Lululemon leggings, you feel posh and sexy. You feel as though you could casually buy a $13 acai bowl after your influencer-filled barre Pilates class without a problem.

People in the marketing and design field have to stick to brand identity whenever creating new products or marketing contents. Why? Because they need their stories to be compelling and cohesive. Anything that strays away from an overall brand message comes across as not-so-genuine and fake, and that can be really detrimental.

But, what does that mean for the majority of the population that doesn't have a marketing or design career? It means to always be true to yourself in everything that you do. As much as it sucks, we, as humans, are very judgmental beings and we make assumptions about people in a matter of seconds.

Attributing this to interviews, sitting next to a new person in class, first dates, anything -- it's extremely important to portray ourselves in a way that is natural and true to ourselves. Every action we complete is ultimately part of our own story.

With that said, I ask that whatever you choose to pursue in life - whoever you hang out with, the choices you make - has a reason and add to your own story.