What Does 8 Years at a Company Feel Like?

This is a question that keeps coming up as the number of years has increased during my time at Check. I have what I think is the answer to this, finally, and it's simple.

The Unexpected Beginning

Starting out in 2017 as a graphic designer fresh out of school, joining Check felt almost serendipitous. My recruitment story began with a single act of liking and retweeting a changelog update from Medium's App. Such a small gesture, yet it caught the attention of one of Check's founders, who recognized something deeper: someone who genuinely appreciated the craft behind thoughtful product updates. That simple interaction sparked our first conversation about joining Check, transforming what seemed like an insignificant social media moment into the beginning of my journey.

But this wasn't just a coincidence. What appeared to be chance was actually revealing something fundamental about Check's culture: thinking beyond the norm, seeing opportunities where others see ordinary moments, and recognizing potential in the smallest expressions of appreciation for good design.

This moment perfectly encapsulated what I would come to understand as Check's essence—a company that doesn't just follow conventional paths but actively seeks to forge new ones.

The Business Card That Changed Everything

My first working week, eight years ago, I found myself "stuck" redesigning a business card for a brand we were working on. For two weeks straight, I came in every single day, 9-5, designing iteration after iteration of what seemed like a simple business card. Each design was met with the same response: it wasn't quite "it" yet.

At first, this felt frustrating. Two weeks on a business card? But as the process continued, I began to understand something profound about Check's approach to work. We weren't just designing a business card, we were establishing the foundation for an entire brand's visual identity. Every curve, every color choice, every typographic decision mattered because it would ripple across every touchpoint the brand would ever have.

Eventually, I did crack it. That singular business card design became the bedrock of the brand's expression across all touchpoints: from digital interfaces to physical spaces, from marketing materials to product packaging. This experience reinforced what I now recognize as Check's unofficial mantra: Push it Further, or in more corporate speak, Rethink Everything!

Growth Through Evolution

Having grown within my capacity at Check, I've witnessed my own transformation from graphic designer to leading the motion team. This journey has been anything but linear. Along the way, I've had the privilege of lending my expertise and knowledge to several organizations like Kuda, TransferGo, and most recently, TripleDart: experiences that have enriched my perspective and brought new insights back to my work at Check.

Eight years feels like evolution in its truest form. It feels like gradual improvement, expansion, and the natural shedding of skins that no longer serve your growth. It reminds me of watching a tree grow, the roots solidifying and deepening before the branches extend and the flowers finally bloom. You can't rush the process, but you can trust it.

The Constant of Change

Check has evolved dramatically over the years I've been here and will continue to do so. Markets shift, technologies advance, client needs become more complex, and we adapt accordingly. But one thing that has remained constant throughout this transformation is Check's commitment to challenging the status quo.

Check has consistently pushed me to unlearn outdated approaches, relearn with fresh perspectives, rethink established processes, and redo work until it reaches its full potential. This isn't about perfectionism—it's about purposeful iteration and meaningful growth.

At its heart, Check is about building and designing solutions to problems using design in unconventional ways. We don't just make things look beautiful, we make them work better, communicate clearer, and solve problems more elegantly than anyone thought possible.

Eight years at Check—a different kind of company—feels like sustained growth married with clear purpose. It's about witnessing how consistent efforts and deliberate actions compound over time, achieving new sets of goals each year, every two years, every five years, all speaking to the singular core mission that drives everything we do.

Looking Forward

As I reflect on these eight years, I'm struck not just by how much I've grown, but by how much growth is still possible. Eight years ago, I was stressing over perfecting a business card design. Today, I find myself stressing over animation curves and easing values, leading a team, and contributing to business growth. In some ways, not much has changed: I'm still obsessing over the details that matter, still pushing for that perfect solution. But the scope of impact has expanded tremendously.

The foundation is strong, the roots run deep, and there's so much more blooming to come.

To anyone considering their own journey of sustained growth at a company that challenges them daily: it's not always easy, but it's always worth it. Find a place that pushes you to rethink everything, and then commit to the process of becoming who you're meant to be.

Here's to eight years of evolution, and to all the growth still ahead.