A case for sketching-first UX — As a Product/UX designer and design educator, I have noticed a few changes in the way designers and students approach thinking through screen problems especially now that we have leaned into Covid for work-from-home and using our computers as our classrooms. Although the internet, group communication tools like Zoom, Slack…

A review of the opportunities with humans, computers, and software. — Whether you are a seasoned Designer (have webmaster in your CV) or new to the world of digital software product design (UXD, UXR, UI, IxD, IA, CX, LX, VD, FE, SO, PO, ML, AI, etc) the universe in which you can apply your craft and skills are continuing to grow…

A review of Melvin Kranzberg’s tech POV. — I was reading an article about the role of body cameras in policing. See here Bodycams haven't lived up to promises of exposing police misconduct. One reason: The police decide… Police officer body cameras were supposed to provide a window into what happened when someone dies at the hands of a…apple.news As I was getting into the article, I was paused by this quote:

A primer knowledge for being a Designer. — In graduate school (2009–2010) at the Art Center College of Design for Media Design Practices, I was given a 10x10 list of things I should know before starting my first day. Think of it as a prep list for what we should know coming into graduate school. Now that I…

Building a design habit of looking around > making > sharing. — “Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working” — Pablo Picasso As a Designer (UX/UI/Product/IxD/FEDev/etc), you should be making a habit of looking around for inspiration through a diverse set of inputs: Creative industry (UX/UI/IxD/Product/Service Design/Graphic Design/Industrial Design/Architecture/etc) Media culture (Books, Music, TV/Film, Radio, Internet content, etc.)

A recap of what my UX/design writing has accomplished this year. At the beginning of 2021, I challenged myself to write 1 article per month. As this is not my full-time gig, I thought it would be a good way to give back to the design community, keep me thinking…

Ways designers and teams get stuck and the strategies for getting unstuck. — In case you have never seen the Stuck at Rabbit’s house by Winnie the Pooh episode. Watch before you continue reading. Solving problems are hard and inevitably a designer or design team can become stuck like Pooh Bear. Let’s discuss two ways…

3 prompts for infusing more user interaction as a designer — I was recently on Twitter (as you will) and saw this intriguing tweet from Scott Berkun. The insight into the nature of designers is poignant as I have experienced this insulation working from home as well as something I think every designer has to actively fight. The Problem

How a tool can go from useful to useless and nearly kill you in between Dear Reader, Our world is full of tools… and I’m not talking about human “Tools” but we all know there are too many of them as well… As human beings…