How I work

I love working with messy, complicated design problems. I enjoy mapping out systems, and thinking about how everything fits together. That being said, I don't believe in over-complicating things that don't need to be. If I can make things simpler and more clear, then that's what I'll do.

I always strive to understand the people at the core of the process – who they are, how they feel, and what they struggle with. I like trying to make things better for them. It's what makes my work feel meaningful.

Over the course of my career, I've worked in tech companies, and in design and advertising agencies. I've worked in-house and done client-service work, in a wide variety of industries, for profit and non-profit. For me, the kind of work I do matters less than the quality of both it and of the people I work with.

I consider myself a design facilitator more than a designer. I mostly work embedded in teams of developers, and I see my role as one of helping the team work together smoothly, so everyone feels safe to contribute, and so the best ideas can bubble to the surface. Those great ideas mostly come from the team, not me. And I think that's the way it should be.

I've written a couple of blog posts about design facilitation exercises I've helped with over the years, both in-person and remote. Please check them out if you're interested; it's how I like to work! On a day-to-day basis, though, I am often asking lots of questions and trying to pull together the people and the resources that are needed to help make decisions, and to move forward.

I feel the happiest when I am working with a team of kind, smart, humble people. I've been lucky enough to have that happen several times in my career. It is one of my favorite things, feeling part of a team, who are all working together towards a shared goal.

Outside of work I am mostly trying to keep up with my daughter, who is wild and kind and wonderful. I still sneak out to go to music shows whenever I can, though I don't stay up as late, or as often, as I used to. 

If you ever want to talk about design, or music, or juggling work with parenthood, please reach out. I'd love to hear from you!