A Look Back at My 2025

Looking back on 2025, it’s easily been one of the best years I’ve had, both professionally and personally. Not in a flashy, overnight success kind of way, but in a grounded, genuinely enjoyable way where everything moved quickly because I was loving what I was doing. It just felt right.

I learnt a lot, took a few risks, doubled down on work I actually love, grew my own side business, and still made time to enjoy life outside of work. It’s the kind of year that makes you stop for a second and think, yeah, this is exactly where I’m meant to be.

Trying Something New and Learning From It

I finished off 2024 working at Monday Media and had an unreal experience there. Great people, great projects, and work I genuinely enjoyed. At the start of 2025, I decided to step outside of that and try something new, taking on a marketing manager role elsewhere.

I actually enjoyed it a lot. The people were great and it was a valuable experience, but over time I realised it just wasn’t for me.

So I picked up the phone, called Paul from Monday Media, and asked if he needed any help back there. By the end of that same afternoon, I had a contract and a job offer on the table, and I was back shortly after. Crazy, right? Shout out to Paul.

Stepping into a design lead and AI focused role

Coming back to Monday Media wasn’t just about returning, it was about stepping up into an exciting role with more responsibility. I moved into an official design lead position, Design Lead for Brand, Web, and AI. I was back doing what I love most, being creative every day and solving real problems for clients through design.

One of the most exciting parts of the year was leaning into AI and the software we were able to build with it. This was something I was genuinely keen to tackle, and it’s become a big part of both my role and the team’s overall direction this year. We’ve learnt new systems, explored new tools, and even built super niche, one of a kind software that we never thought we’d be able to create.

That side of the work has completely changed how I think about design, efficiency, and what’s possible for businesses moving forward. It’s also what’s making 2026 look incredibly exciting. I honestly can’t wait to see what we create next.

Growing my own business alongside it all

Alongside my role at Monday Media, my own business had a strong year. I worked with a mix of new and existing clients and saw some really solid growth, not just for myself, but for the businesses I worked with too.

One shout out has to go to Nice Vibe Imagery, run by Josh, one of my first ever clients. Watching that business continue to grow and evolve has been incredibly rewarding, and it’s a great reminder of why long term client relationships matter so much.

Towards the end of the year, I also worked with Jesse from Wiser Electrical, who came in wanting everything. We covered the lot, website, logo, full branding, business setup, you name it. The end result was something I was genuinely proud of, and more importantly, Jesse was stoked with it. Those kinds of projects are always the most satisfying.

Helping small businesses grow through thoughtful branding and website design is something I don’t take lightly, and 2025 really reinforced how much I enjoy doing it.

Stepping away and doing life properly

As busy as the year was, one of the highlights had nothing to do with work. From late November through December, my partner Mia and I took a trip of a lifetime to New York City and across the US. It was unreal. Honestly, everything over there felt like it was straight out of a movie. It was insane and I couldn’t recommend it enough. The highlights had to be walking across the Brooklyn Bridge at sunrise and watching the Rangers play at MSG.

It was the perfect reset. A proper break, a full switch off, and exactly what I needed before jumping back into work refreshed and motivated.

Looking ahead to 2026

2025 was a year of clarity, growth, and momentum. I found my feet again, leaned into work I genuinely care about, and set a really solid foundation for what’s next.

Looking ahead to 2026, I’m excited. There’s momentum at Monday Media, huge potential with AI and design, and plenty of opportunities and people to help as I continue to grow this little side business alongside it.

2026 is here and it’s already moving fast, so if you’ve got questions or you’re keen to get started, get in touch.