Design Orthodoxy
Design as Theology, Craft as Calling.
“Design is never neutral. It shapes the world—but more importantly, it reveals the world we believe in.”
Every line drawn, every structure built, every object crafted carries meaning. Design is more than aesthetics or function—it is theology made visible. It tells a story, whether we recognize it or not. The question is: whose story is it telling?
Design Orthodoxy exists to explore that question.
This platform is dedicated to examining the broad field of design through a conservative, Reformed theological lens, engaging deeply with the ways in which design reflects, distorts, or submits to the authority of Christ. From architecture to typography, from timekeeping to city planning, every act of creation reveals something about the order, beauty, and meaning woven into the fabric of the world by its Creator.
This is not a platform for vague spirituality or sentimental takes on creativity. Here, we dig deep into design history, theology, craftsmanship, culture making, and more to uncover how the Gospel gives meaning to everything we make. We hold fast to the belief that beauty is not arbitrary, order is not a human invention, and form follows more than function—it follows purpose. True design is not a human construct; it is a reflection of God’s own wisdom and order in creation.
The goal of Design Orthodoxy is to equip designers, thinkers, and culture-shapers with a robust theological framework for their creative work, helping them to see the world—and their craft—through the lens of Christ’s Lordship. Because design isn’t just a craft—it’s a calling.
Articles + Podcast
Design Orthodoxy is both a journal and a (soon-to-be) podcast, working together to explore the inescapable reality that design has always been theological. Every object, system, and space reflects a worldview, and our discussions use design by way of its history, its makers, and its artifacts as lenses through which to see God, Christianity, and Kingdom living more clearly. Design either moves us closer to Christ or farther away, but it is never neutral.
The blog provides deeper, written explorations of these ideas through historical insights, theological reflections, and cultural analysis. The podcast will expand on these ideas, engaging with larger human questions, discussing the struggles and aspirations that shape civilizations, and drawing connections between designed things and the greater truths they reveal. The goal is not just to analyze design but to understand how it informs the human experience and points us toward the Creator. The goal is to see that the design that surrounds us is always acting on us and telling the truth about what we love.
About the Author
I’ve spent 20 years teaching design, collecting visual culture like some people collect books (okay, I also collect books), and wrestling with the reality that I cannot not create. Design Orthodoxy is the natural overflow of all of that: a place where theology and design meet, not as two separate things, but as one inescapable reality.
My interest with design isn’t just about objects or aesthetics (though I do overly appreciate well-crafted design). It’s about how design has always shaped the human experience—how it reveals what cultures value, how it reflects deep theological truths, and how it ultimately should point to the One who spoke the world into being through His perfect wisdom.
This collection of writing exists because I can’t stop asking questions of all sorts: about history, about creativity, about why people design what they do and what that tells us about their loves, fears, and longings. If any of that interests you, welcome. You’re among friends, or at least among people who also overanalyze fonts and city planning for fun.