Apr 22, 2020Running Product Design Workshops for older/non-tech groupsLast year I worked with an older, non-technical group to create a web application. I ran several Product Design Workshops and it was a learning experience for myself and the group. There were many things that were different compared to working with an IT team. I’ll share: the basics of…Product Designer11 min readProduct Designer11 min read
Aug 17, 2019Why is writing still a problem?I communicate all day. I’m sure you do too. So why is written communication so difficult? Back in my school days, I did really well at English. I enjoyed writing and spent a considerable amount of time creating fictional stories. In fact, I was so uninterested in high school work…Writing3 min readWriting3 min read
Dec 31, 2018Ignoring unsolicited advice & opinions is one of the healthiest decisions you can make.Late last year I reread my journals spanning twelve years(1993–2005), before finally throwing them away. Reading everything in 2017 was really insightful and put many things in perspective. I enjoyed reading the arc of so many lives. It was satisfying, with lots of ironies. …Life Lessons10 min readLife Lessons10 min read
Dec 19, 2018There’s nothing wrong with their “highlight reel”“Don’t compare your behind-the-scenes to someone else’s highlight reel.” Anyone else notice how often people posted this quote on social media during 2017 and 2018? It was supposed to be motivating or helpful but I found it incredibly annoying and I wish it would go away. The Facts of Life Some people really do…Social Media5 min readSocial Media5 min read
Dec 10, 2018Demand more when you’re levelling upSpend more time considering options and possibilities. A few months ago an IT company contacted me about updating their corporate identity. The requirements were minimal, yet it was an important piece of branding collateral. But our telephonic discussion raised a few red flags. I quoted for the work and it…Design5 min readDesign5 min read
Nov 22, 2018I’d rather shop offline for clothingBack in 2008 I cautiously bought something online and since then, I steadily gained confidence until it became a non-issue. I’d even say I really enjoyed online shopping for a period of time. The Good I loved browsing. I loved the variety. I loved the convenience. …Ecommerce5 min readEcommerce5 min read
Published inNYC Design·Sep 6, 2018Fixing the Mess Caused by Addictive SoftwareIt grabs your attention, entertains you for anything up to 7 minutes and then keeps you coming back for more. At the same time, it adds little value to your life. Think about the last time you were too tired to read the book on your nightstand but you ended…User Experience5 min readUser Experience5 min read
Feb 26, 2018How my whole life improved while working from homeFor most of 2016 and 2017 I enjoyed a lifestyle that suited my personality and helped me get back on track, where I had previously let things slide. — It all started in 2016 when my work circumstances changed and I had to work between home and our regional office in Cape Town. My job security wasn’t guaranteed and I also had to move house around the same time. I was anxious to say the least. Little did I…Productivity7 min readProductivity7 min read
Published inThe Startup·Dec 16, 2017Does your audience have enough confidence in you to buy?You may have caught their attention with great marketing, and provided all the necessary information to make a decision to buy, but how do you get them to choose you amongst everyone else? I’ve been thinking about… What entices users to “buy” and then buy again? How do you get…User Experience4 min readUser Experience4 min read
Dec 16, 2017Inspiration Overload Kills CreativityThere is so much to be inspired by online. I could spend a whole day admiring posts on Instagram and Pinterest alone. While it’s great that we have these sites to refer to, it shouldn’t become a heavily weighted task whenever we start a new project. The process of copying…Design3 min readDesign3 min read
