Jun 14ARG for thee and meWhen I joined a tech company after working for myself for 20 years, the corporate world had changed in many ways. One, in particular, struck me. My old jobs had existed in environments so laddish and rowdy that even I, as a man, had felt uncomfortable in them. …Self-awareness5 min readSelf-awareness5 min read
Oct 5, 2018LUCKY, HE SAID. (MY GLAMOROUS LIFE.)IN MARCH of this year, I had the honor to serve as a Juror in a civil case in the New York court system. In the months since I served, the city and state have been trying to honor me over and over again. …Design4 min readDesign4 min read
Oct 5, 2018GRATEFUL X 2NONE of us knows what today will bring. And for many of us, these are fearful times. So I wanted to take a breath, pause a moment, and share two small gifts I received this morning at the start of my workday: YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS First, Rob Ford wrote to my daughter and…Design3 min readDesign3 min read
Jun 24, 2018MY GLAMOROUS LIFE: RIDING NORTHSaturday, 23 June Woke 5:00 AM New York. Fed cats, crossed town to Penn Station. Uber software was misbehaving, so instead of Penn Station New York, it booked me in Penn Station Dallas, Texas — a three-day ride costing tens of thousands of dollars. …Travel4 min readTravel4 min read
Jun 15, 2018On RejectionRecently I had the privilege of reading a book proposal which the author shared in hopes of being published. It was a beautifully written treatise, well structured, nicely paced, logically argued, and thoroughly researched. The author had clearly poured time, thought, and years of lived experience into the text. …Publishing4 min readPublishing4 min read
Apr 30, 2018On practiceOver the decades I’ve used computers, my drawing skill has all but vanished — along with my ability to do calligraphy or even write legibly. Which is why I’ve started forcing myself to sketch again every day. Practice is the best form of hope. Originally published on zeldman.com.Work1 min readWork1 min read
Apr 22, 2018Cossack“Are you here with your child?” It’s a Sunday and my daughter is visiting her mom. I’d spent the morning lugging my daughter’s old clothes and toys to a donation bin, where they’ll be given to some of New York’s neediest kids. …My Glamorous Life4 min readMy Glamorous Life4 min read
Feb 24, 2018We need design that is faster and design that is slower.During a recent conversation with David Sleight, Design Director at ProPublica, I found myself realizing and saying “we need design that is faster and design that is slower.” Who are we and what is this thing called design? When I say “we,” I mean our whole industry, when I say “our whole industry,” I mean design, and when I say…Design7 min readDesign7 min read
Feb 19, 2018Beyond Engagement: the Content Performance QuotientRecently, Josh Clark, Gerry McGovern and I have been questioning our industry’s pursuit of “engagement.” Engagement is what all our clients want all the time. It’s the № 1 goal cited in kickoff meetings, the data point that determines if a project succeeded or sucked wind. …UX8 min readUX8 min read
Feb 7, 2018A beginning consultant brings skills, an experienced consultant brings value.A beginning consultant brings skills, an experienced consultant brings value. Early in a good career, you establish that you write the best code on your team, have the deftest touch in UI design, produce more good work more quickly than others. You’re the person who resolves disputes about which typeface…Design3 min readDesign3 min read