I define product design as the process of identifying a market gap, clearly defining the problem(s), developing a responsive solution for that problem, and validating the solution with real users, all through the scope of empathy and pleasure.

I am excellent in cross-collaboration between teams to ensure that business requirements are being fused with strong Human-Centered design solutions. With a background in formal art, I am also good at communicating my design approach to problems so that stakeholders can better understand the context behind my design decisions.

Throughout the entirety of my adult life, I have yet to master the incredibly complicated and confusing designs of appliances, especially when it comes to toasting my bread. In the kitchen, user experience is held secondary to product vision, and it can become a fine line between breakfast and a charred tragedy. The kitchen is riddled with examples of the great disconnect between function and form.

Naohiro Matsumura's book "Shikake: The Japanese Art of Shaping Behavior Through Design" has been really shaping my personal experience of behavioral economics. The design method of shikake combines traditional Japanese aesthetics with the lessons of behavioral trends to encourage a particular behavior without revealing to the individual the primary purpose of the behavior

I've also been inspired by: Neobrutalism, album art, coffee packaging, and my dog Emaline!

Curiosity is my guiding principle when approaching new projects, and I like to gather as much information as I can. Gaining an understanding of technological limitations, user needs, and business requirements are an integral part of my process. I am of the strong conviction that design is not a formula or a linear process, which is why I work within the design odyssey framework. Traditional double diamond and design thinking processes lack room for pleasure and play, which I believe to be at the core of design's success.

With an extensive background in giving and receiving creative feedback, I am very comfortable with conducting "design integrity hand-off sessions" with developers and business analysts to communicate not only the details of the design, but also speak to the intention of how the design functions.