Design Philosophy
I learned systems design as a wildland firefighter near Glacier National Park in Montana. I studied graphic design with a classically trained Swiss designer. Excellent product design has its foundation in industrial design and classic graphic design. Understanding the greats like Henry Dreyfuss, Ray and Charles Eames, and Dieter Rams, along with modern technology, is a necessity for great product designers. My guiding principles are built on history and experience.
Learn daily and share your knowledge. Curiosity builds understanding, sparks creativity, and drives continuous growth. Designers get to ask "why" endlessly to unravel the true root causes behind user behaviors, business constraints, and market dynamics. Curiosity digs deeper than assumptions to inform solutions truly aligned with ecosystem realities.
Metrics can confirm a direction, but a creative solution starts with an opinion. Through research and iterations, new ideas are born.
Delight in the day-to-day. Creativity and team cohesion are built out of a fun environment. By finding the fun in our work, the fun gets infused into the product experience.
Craft is critical for product designers because the quality of details directly influences how users experience a product daily. Well-crafted interfaces feel reliable and inspire confidence.
I love to doodle. All of the philosophy doodles started with a marker and sketchbook.
Seek to notice what needs to be done and have the initiative to follow through. The research phase of the design process is guided by the idea that we are here to notice. Keen attention to nuances paired with deducing appropriate interventions represents foundational designer mindfulness sets.
Better than tools, processes, and documentation, great products are built through excellent working relationships with a diverse team.
Designers need to understand what drives the business, what drives the user, and how technology ties those together. Learning the language and becoming a subject matter expert is key to building a fantastic product.