Designers Don’t Ask
This is the original article that became “Design Can’t be an Afterthought” on Women 2.0. I’ve left the original title, too. I was told no one would get the reference, to Women Don’t Ask so here, now you will. Historically, designers in technology companies often…
Tell Me a Little Bit About Yourself
Everyone should know how to introduce themselves to a prospect. You can be a designer on an interview, a start-up CEO on a pitch meeting, or a consultant at a mixer meeting people who could be clients: it doesn’t matter. You need…
A Letter to the Newly Minted Designer
”The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing” Archilochus You just graduated. Or maybe you have a job, but you are thinking of change. And you see me at some conference and you ask me for advice “Should I…
Compassionate Design
Designers have all had the mantra of user-centeredness beaten into them. But how many apply that same understanding to their business and engineering partners? I’m beginning to suspect too few. I hear startling amounts of complaints about product managers: “They…
Why You Should Speak
At conferences and meet-ups, I spend a lot of time with young practitioners. And every time I chat with them, I try to talk them into speaking at a conference and/or writing an article. But why? They have a millions…
Three Points of View to Get You Through the Day
My job is one of the most challenging (and most fun) I’ve had in a long time.  A turnaround is a lot like a startup,very fast paced, very risky, and occasionally terrifying. There are times when it seems like too much. When I feel a little overwhelmed,…
How to Hire a Designer
A few days ago, I read an article with the same title as this post. Oh, maybe it was How to Hire a User Experience Professional, or Interaction Designer or Information Architect, or whatever. I don’t recall. There isn’t so much difference anyhow. I…
Give Up Your Resolutions
For the last five-some years, I’ve given up making New Year’s Resolutions. Instead I have what I call the New Year’s Project. Each year I pick a large topic, and spend my time on and off throughout the year teaching…
Talking About Stuff