Cupcakes made by Zoe Montenegro-Mackenzie at Cedar Circle, 2025
Over the past year, I’ve been exploring two of my most passionate interests: baking and graphic design. Since April 2025, I’ve been working as a baker at a small bakery on an organic, sustainable farm in Vermont. At the same time, I’ve continued developing my design skills through personal projects and ongoing learning. What has surprised me is how much these two worlds overlap. Both require patience, precision, and strong attention to detail. In baking and design, there’s a process of planning and experimentation — turning an idea into something tangible.
I especially appreciate how Perrie Winter explains her process of connecting the two. She breaks it down into steps, comparing choosing aesthetics in design to selecting flavors in baking. Then, just as designing visual elements requires balance and harmony, decorating a cake demands the same careful attention to ensure everything is cohesive. Both disciplines involve creative challenges, such as hitting a mental block, where you have to experiment repeatedly until the design or recipe is in harmony and the final result — whether a cake or a design — is perfected (Winter).
This connection between design and baking becomes even clearer when examining the processes themselves. When I begin a design concept, I start by researching and creating a mood board to capture the aesthetic I’m aiming for. Similarly, when baking, I research recipes, gather ingredients, and carefully prepare each step. Both involve a balance of creativity and structure — a willingness to experiment while respecting the foundations of the craft.
Many creative professionals have found ways to merge these two worlds. For example, Holly Fox, a graphic designer, turned one of her creative hobbies into a business. She explains, “I’m at a desk all day. So it’s fun for me to create something with my hands” (Oswald). Now, she has an Instagram account with 343K followers. I found her path motivating because she combined both of her interests and discovered ways in which they connect, using her design skills to create beautiful cookie designs based on client briefs.
“I use the fundamental graphic design process in how I work with cake clients. It all starts with a design brief and all the design specifications. Like in design, you find out necessary print measurements, and with cakes, you need to know how many people the cake should serve and how much you will have to make. The background translates well because for both you are working backwards to a timeframe and deadline. You have to plan accordingly, have a backup plan, and adjust for mistakes or corrections because it will happen” (Dubois).
Beyond the technical process, creative expression and aesthetic considerations are equally important. Alison Dunlop, whose background is in fashion and sculpture, demonstrates this beautifully. Her work represents a striking understanding of space, layout, and color theory: “Inspired by architecture, textiles, print and sculpture, her creations are skilfully decorated with bold graphic prints and hand-painted patterns, towering layers of cool upon cool” (Barba-Court). Her designs show how principles of design can translate across mediums — whether on a canvas, a cake, or a digital layout.
Images from instagram under hol_fox
Baking, much like design, is an art form built on fundamentals. Learning the science behind baking has been especially fascinating — understanding ratios, temperature, and timing feels similar to mastering layout, composition, and color in design. Exploring both disciplines has helped me see how creativity is not limited to one medium; rather, the principles and mindset behind good work are universal.
I’ve chosen to pursue both paths because they allow me to express creativity in different ways. Baking lets me create with my hands, while design challenges me to think visually and conceptually. Working in both gives me a sense of balance — a mix of tactile creativity and mental imagination that keeps me constantly inspired. I am always chasing work that makes me happy and feel like I am in the right spot. Experimenting with new hobbies helps me continue discovering my passions. There are countless forms of art, and it is fascinating to see how they overlap.
Images from Alison Dunlop
References:
Barba-Court, Kala. “A R.D Bakery Is Where Cakes Meet Graphic Design.” PLAIN Magazine, 4 June 2019, https://plainmagazine.com/ard-bakery-cakes-graphic-design/
Dubois, Annie. “Alumnus Juggles Successful Graphic Design and Cake Decorating Careers.” College of Arts & Letters, Michigan State University, 16 May 2019, https://cal.msu.edu/news/alumnus-juggles-successful-graphic-design-and-cake-decorating-careers/
Oswald, Anjelica. “A Graphic Designer Uses Her Design Skills to Bake Incredible Made-to-Order Cookies.” Business Insider, 3 May 2016,www.businessinsider.com/graphic-designer-baker-2016-5.
Winter, Perrie. “Baking & Designing: The Shared Creative Process.” Little Winter Design Co., 8 Nov. 2024, https://littlewinterdesign.com/blog/baking-designing-creative-process
Images:
Dunlop, Alison. Layered Cake with Hand-Painted Patterns. 2019. PLAIN Magazine, https://plainmagazine.com/ard-bakery-cakes-graphic-design/
Fox, Holly. Cookie designs featuring colorful patterns. Instagram, n.d., https://www.instagram.com/hol_fox/.
Mark Lie offers another perspective, showing how a graphic design background can directly influence the baking process. His approach highlights how planning, structure, and problem-solving are essential in both creative disciplines.
Baked Goods by Zoe Montenegro-Mackenzie at Cedar Circle, 2025