Building Something That Lasts in Work and Marriage
In this thoughtful and deeply honest conversation, Justin and Sarah sit down with Armin Vit and Bryony Gomez-Palacio, the husband-and-wife team behind UnderConsideration and one of the most influential voices in the design world.
Originally from Mexico, Armin and Bryony share the story of building a life together while navigating immigration, entrepreneurship, creativity, marriage, and parenting. What started as two designers trying to make meaningful work slowly evolved into a globally respected platform that helped shape conversations around branding, identity design, and the creative industry itself.
They talk about leaving behind traditional career paths, taking risks before they felt fully ready, and what it was like building a business together in the early internet days while raising a family at the same time. They also reflect on the pressure that comes with running a visible creative platform, staying relevant through decades of industry change, and learning how to evolve without losing themselves in the process.
Armin and Bryony open up about balancing partnership and individuality, the tension between creative ambition and family life, and why consistency mattered more than chasing trends. There are stories about moving countries, figuring things out financially, working side-by-side for years, and the reality that even successful creative careers are often built slowly, quietly, and with a lot more uncertainty than people realize.
Together, they reflect on what they have learned about taste, criticism, resilience, and staying connected through decades of work and life together.
This episode is about creativity, reinvention, partnership, and the long road of building something meaningful one decision at a time.
Takeaways & Talking Points:
• Moving from Mexico to build a creative life in the U.S.
• Starting UnderConsideration before the design world was fully online
• Building a business as a married couple
• Raising a family while growing a creative platform
• The pressure and responsibility of public criticism in design
• Why consistency matters more than hype
• How branding and design culture have changed over time
• Staying creatively relevant through decades of change
• The difference between taste and trends
• Learning how to evolve without losing your values
Things We’re Learning (and Unlearning):
• Creative careers are usually built slower than people expect
• Reinvention often starts before you feel ready
• Long-term success requires adaptability
• Marriage and business both need space for individuality
• Taste is developed through curiosity and repetition
• Criticism is easier to give than receive
• Creative work becomes healthier when identity is not tied to performance
• You do not need to chase every trend to stay relevant
• Stability is often built quietly over time
• Meaningful work usually grows from consistency, not overnight success
Stats Worth Knowing:
• Nearly 70% of people say they struggle to balance work, relationships, and personal life in a way that feels healthy
• Couples who regularly have meaningful conversations, not just logistical ones, report significantly stronger and longer-lasting relationships
• Burnout is now one of the leading reasons people feel disconnected from their work, families, and even themselves
• Research shows that shared experiences and emotional connection create longer-lasting happiness than money, status, or achievement alone
• Most people will reinvent themselves multiple times throughout adulthood, whether through career changes, parenting, marriage, loss, or personal growth
This episode is for anyone who has ever tried to build something meaningful while still trying to stay connected to the people they love.
Whether you’re running a business, chasing a creative dream, raising kids, navigating marriage, starting over, or simply figuring out who you are becoming, this conversation is a reminder that most good things are built slowly, imperfectly, and together.
It’s about ambition and partnership. Creativity and sacrifice. Reinvention and staying grounded while life keeps changing around you.
Thanks for listening,
Justin and Sarah
Photo credit: Anna Powell Denton https://annapowelldenton.com/
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