Tips from a senior designer that you can apply to your work. — Regardless of the UX bootcamp, university, or online course you pursue, we still very much live in a world where writing case studies is a gateway into the industry. Hiring managers review your work, you present your portfolio in interviews, and case studies serve as your storytelling launchpad to a…

If things seem overwhelming, flip onto your back. — I’m embarrassed to admit this, but I don’t know how to swim. I’m 41 years old and the water terrifies me. When I was 12 years old, I nearly drowned swimming 50 yards out in a lake. …

Baking a cake or building a product: each can teach us a lesson — The beautiful cover photo for this article… yeah… that’s not mine. I didn’t take that photo and I didn’t make that cake. That cake is beautiful, made by someone with some serious baking skills. Let me show you the cake I made:

How do you express yourself? Who helps you improve? — It’s a beautiful thing to watch others explore how they best express themselves. For some, being put on the spot and speaking is nerve-racking to their core. Give them a pen, however, and they compose a masterpiece. For others, they’d much rather speak than write a paragraph filled with jumbled…

How to effectively push yourself, take action, and get to the next step. — This isn’t going to be easy, but positive change is in your future. Whether you’re starting your design career or transitioning to another role, inevitably you’ll encounter limiting beliefs about yourself — I know I have. How often do we know exactly what we need to do, but struggle to…

7 common problem areas, how to remedy them, and steps to amplify your work. — The following areas come up frequently when reviewing UX portfolios and case studies. Please note, these observations are from one designer to another— not from a hiring manager or recruiter. These are my opinions; take them for what they’re worth. But, I share these honestly and with years of experience…

There will be time to “make it pretty”, but don’t jump to the software just yet. — Early in my UX career, I learned a powerful lesson from our then VP of digital commerce. As I walked the halls of the company, I’d often see her at a whiteboard with someone else, usually two or three others. …

Every product designer needs them, and they have nothing to do with pixels. — It’s easy to get lost in your journey to move forward in your career. The mind-boggling amount of content is enough to confuse anyone. Not to mention companies who have no established career progression framework or path to promote their designers internally. …

The principle of the Second Arrow is a beautiful, applicable lesson for the struggling designer. — How often do we bombard ourselves with negativity? What should only be a minor setback turns into a great deal of suffering and ill feelings towards ourselves. …