Thoughtful design and smart processes drive the creation of memorable products
Below is the process and thinking that ensure my design execution is consistently impactful. Good results are okay, exceptional results are the goal.
How I work
Every team and project is different. It’s important to be fluid and adaptable with processes to achieve the most effective results. Here are some of the fundamentals that provide every new challenge I face with the foundation and structure needed to consistently foster the best outcomes.
1. Research
After a problem statement is defined. Understanding more about the pain point, considering potential solutions, gather competitive analysis and learning about the customer, including any relative data from our user testing and/or analytics teams.
2. Principles
Once the objective has been determined (what we like and don’t). Crafting design principles to help guide project and experience decisions (look, feel, tone, function, behaviour, etc.), and ensure alignment amongst the team.
3. User Journey
Diving deep into the user journey and exploring user stories, personas, and user decision making.
4. Design Exploration
Exploring a wide range of possible solutions (UI, styles, tone, functionality, etc.). Testing, iterating, discussing and working through the problem with our product and dev teams.
5. Design Refinement
Refining a chosen direction and polishing visual design, preparing designs for engineering handoff and documents decisions made.
6. Handoff
Working closely with engineering and product to ensure a successful handoff and implementation process.
7. Monitor
The launch is not the end of the story. We monitor performance to discover ideas for improvement.
How I think
For every action, there is a reaction. Every element within a solution affects the overarching outcome. It’s crucial to strike the right balance between the needs of our users, our technology, our team, our processes, our scale, the business, and what’s right for the brand in every solution we build to achieve the most consistent and impactful results.
User-Centric
I prioritize user needs in my design process and work hard to understand their motivations, frustrations, and goals. This helps to create solutions that are highly useful and with an added aim to exceed expectations.
Competitive
What problem are we solving and how is our solution more effective than our competition? How are we different? What makes our product more valuable to the user?
Smart
How does our process and choice of execution effect our speed to market? What decisions are we making to get us across the finish line with the best possible outcome in the time we have?
Agile
Perfection is rare. Hurdles often arise, prompting innovation and quick thinking to reach the best solution. This agility is expected in every process.
Informed
The data collected from users helps inform and improve decision making to create the best possible solutions for the user, teams, and business.
Scalable
I design with change, growth, and flexibility in mind, making elements as adaptable as possible for future updates and additions.
Modular
I think of design systems as building with Legos: durable and flexible, regardless of how the pieces are arranged or altered.
Efficient
Appearance is as important as speed when it comes to user perception. Load times and performance are crucial to conveying quality in any product we design.
Seamless
I want users to find what they need easily, engage with content effortlessly, and to encounter as little friction as possible throughout their journey.
Excellent, Everywhere
Responsive, sleek design, performance, scalability, usability, and delight, at every device, screen size, and touchpoint of the product.
Innovative
Continually explore new technologies and apps to improve processes, stay ahead of the competition, boost efficiency, and offer the latest solutions for the business, team, audience.
Intriguing
Captivate audiences with unique designs, striking shapes, vibrant colours, and a balanced brand palette. Ensure the experience is delightful, timeless, easy to read, and useful, creating a memorable and impactful experiences.
Future-Forward
Competitions’ release is already old. Copying it will only start you behind. Leverage what works, think ahead for the audience and business, and innovate forward.
Sustainable
By prioritizing user needs and making solutions intuitive and efficient, I strive to create products that build stronger customer relationships and drive more sustainable growth for the business.
Accessible & Inclusive
I ensure digital products are accessible and inclusive for everyone, regardless of ability or background. Remove barriers and provide equal access to all features and content.
Performance and Reliability
I focus on optimizing performance and efficiency to ensure fast loading times, smooth interactions, and seamless streaming. Make the experience reliable, and earn the trust and loyalty of the users.
Balanced
I am empathetic toward possible technical constraints and adapt to provide the best possible solutions within those parameters for the team and the user.