A: Client Work
B: Personal Projects
Email: cedrickraynak@gmail.com
Instagram: @krayon
graphic designer
PLEASE ALLOW ME...
Publication
2025
please allow me a moment to think critically:
fifteen questions every designer should ponder
Please allow me a moment to think critically is an undergraduate thesis, stemming from my personal growth as a designer. Through fifteen carefully crafted questions, this project explores design thinking not as a search for fixed answers, but as an ongoing conversation—one driven by inquiry, dialogue, and reflection. Each question is paired with a response from a diverse array of creatives, illustrating the value of self-reflection and the importance of listening to others’ perspectives. The project also considers how design can serve not only commercial goals, but also personal, cultural, and communal needs. These ideas culminate in a pocket-sized booklet intended to encourage critical thought and reflection—whether the reader is a designer or not.
The layout of the book was designed to encourage readers to contribute their own ideas or even generate new questions entirely. Each page is divided into thirds, creating three vertical columns—or six per spread. The questions span the width of the two leftmost columns, while the responses take up the two rightmost columns. The middle columns, one on each page, remain empty, providing negative space between question and response. This pause allows the reader a moment to reflect, fostering independent thought.
The colors are inspired by the Trillium— my favorite flower, native to the Pacific Northwest where I’m from. To me, the Trillium symbolizes thoughtful growth; it takes five to ten years for each plant to mature and bloom. This natural rhythm reflects the philosophy behind the book: that design, like the Trillium, deserves patience and intentionality to create beautiful, impactful solutions.
CONTRIBUTORS:
Alex Egner
Caleb X.M. Hartsfield
Corbin LaMont
David Janssen Jr.
Jade Blue
June T. Sanders
Lain Bundalian
Samantha-Lynn Martinez
Maker + Made
Naomi Likayi
Outlet PDX
PLEASE ALLOW ME...
Publication
2025