I Hate Robots

January 8, 2020

Designing for Privacy

My recent work with a startup founded on improving privacy has left me questioning what UX designers can do to help move the needle on this important issue. Read my story on Medium

September 23, 2019

Embracing Uncertainty: How forgoing the wireframes can lead to a better design process

Let’s be honest. Most clients don’t really know what they are getting into when the hire a UX designer. Many assume that our job is to take the product requirements dictated to us and actualize them through the process of wireframing. And while that is one example of what I might do for a client,…

February 27, 2019

The Problem with Personas

My post on Medium addresses the latest criticism, lists some common pitfalls, and outlines alternatives to personas.

August 14, 2014

Do you need to know Visual Design to be a UX Designer?

This week I spoke on a panel at General Assembly titled But I’m not a Designer: The Many Paths to UX. It was an informal Q&A for people who are interested in a UX career. I’ll save the suspense and give you the short answer – no, you don’t need a background in visual design. In fact, the three panelists illustrated just that – my background is in music, and my fellow panelists came from banking and neuroscience before they made the career switch and became UX designers.

March 19, 2014

Work/Life Balance

I’m not an avid subscriber, but I always find the January issue of “Real Simple” to be a must-read for getting the new year off to a good start. This January, the issue included short blurbs from various people on what work/life balance means to them. The fact that everyone has a slightly different interpretation is a clue to how conceptual it really is. It’s a theory, which really means nothing until it’s been put into practice, and everyone’s practice is different. So I thought I’d write my own little blurb about what work/life balance means to me.

June 20, 2012

Women as Multitaskers

To really get things done requires a state of flow – uninterrupted time and an environment that promotes focus. This is when we reach goals, identify and rectify mistakes, see the progress we’re making, and generally feel satisfied about ourselves and our work. I’ve read lots of articles and books on the subject. I’ve experienced the difference that flow can make in my work, not just as a designer, but formerly as a musician, and even as a home cook. But I’ve never heard anyone say that men require a state of flow while women don’t.