I love design.

I enjoy making functional, helpful experiences for people. That’s what draws me to user experience design. I like that it’s rooted in data and reason, with human behavior as a kind of “wrinkle.” 

I have a strong sense of what feels natural and appealing to users. It’s an empathetic process of putting myself in the user’s shoes. The nuances of an interaction, even seemingly simple, or the details of the visual design can affect the user’s confidence in a brand or interface. I need to assess if the user will be confused at any point, or their expectations subverted. I need to feel that they have confidence in the experience. That their needs will be met. A UX designer is an advocate for the user.

I also have a strong aesthetic sensibility, rooted in years of experience in graphic design, branding, and visual art. I’ve learned that combination is uncommon. I love crafting experiences that are aesthetically appealing and on-brand.

Finally, I’ve found that to successfully leverage design requires reaching across teams. Collaborating with business and product strategists, developers, and subject matter experts is essential. Good design doesn’t happen in a vacuum. I need to understand the business requirements, the engineering constraints and opportunities, and most importantly, the end user’s needs. Research and discovery are essential for this, as well as post-launch testing, and consistently challenging my designs and assumptions. Sometimes I have to leave the designer’s “canvas.”