AJ Camara on design, inspiration, and self-made success

For AJ Camara, design has always been less about following a traditional path and more about following the impulse to build. A self-taught designer and lifelong artist, AJ’s career has spanned digital products, physical goods, and services, with a common thread being his drive to express ideas and solve problems through making.

Over the past 15 years, that instinct evolved into something larger: helping others bring their own ideas to life. “I eventually discovered that I enjoyed helping people launch their businesses just as much as building my own,” he says. That realization led him to start Digital Flagship, a creative studio focused on designing web experiences that are just as thoughtful as they are strategic.

AJ’s approach to design is grounded in empathy and clarity. Whether he’s working with a brand-new founder or an established team, he begins every project by aligning around people and goals, not pixels. “Everything starts to fall into place from there,” he explains. But when it’s time to move into the visual stage of a project, AJ knows that traditional UX practices don’t always resonate with stakeholders. Instead, he prefers a more hands-on approach, curating examples of real, live websites to show layout ideas or features, giving clients a clear sense of where things are headed. This collaborative approach isn’t just efficient; it’s inclusive. It invites clients into the process in a way that feels accessible and empowering.

That’s where Dropmark comes in. “I use Dropmark at the beginning of a project to build alignment,” AJ says. “It’s like a more functional version of moodboarding.” He collects live websites, UI details, and layout references into collaborative Dropmark collections that clients can interact with directly. It helps to get clients on the same page more quickly and supports design decisions with tangible examples. Outside of client projects, he also uses Dropmark as a personal inspiration library, organized by categories like e-commerce, editorial, and agency work, so fresh ideas are always within reach.

The inspiration for AJ and his work doesn’t just come from the web. It shows up in analog spaces, such as bookstores, packed with bold typography and innovative layouts, or through the work of young designers who aren’t afraid to take risks. “I’ve been really inspired by designers who are experimenting in ways that feel fresh and fearless,” AJ says. “I try to stay tapped into that energy when I’m starting something new.”

As for inspiring others, AJ is a mentor who spends time encouraging emerging designers to focus less on being unique and more on getting good. “I think a lot of designers avoid recreating great work because they think it’s unoriginal,” he says. “But that’s how you build your skills. You’re not copying—you’re training your eye and your hands to reach a higher standard. That’s how real growth happens.”

When asked what he’s up to right now, he said, “There’s a lot of opportunity to help e-commerce brands grow with better design and smarter strategy.” Focusing on refining his offerings for e-commerce brands, a space he’s spent years navigating, is an intentional move toward depth. It’s the kind of thoughtful, behind-the-scenes work that makes his studio and perspective stand out.

You can follow AJ’s studio and their work at digitalflagship.com and check out one of his Dropmark collections for the 50 top DTC brands on Shopify for e-commerce brands looking for best practices and general inspiration!