05 About
Creativity with a purpose
When I taught design, I told my students their job was part therapist: learn the client’s business, listen to their journey, understand what they’re trying to do, then give the idea a form that works. I still work that way. Design, to me, is creativity with a purpose.
Path
The experience behind the work
My path hasn’t been a straight line, and it’s where my work comes from.
- SalesCame first. It taught me to ask what someone needs to understand, decide or do next.
- TeachingI founded the web design program at PNCA and taught there for twelve years.
- NANOGAs executive director, I managed the development of a website that grew from a brochure site into a platform supporting membership, event registration, agendas, livestreaming and event communications.
- Learning systemsI built onboarding platforms that brought new employees through company policies consistently, with tests they had to pass, and a record of completion and assessment results.
- ValaAn AI startup: I designed the brand, wrote the copy, hand-built the website in Node.js, built the application interfaces and the workflow, designed the icons, and wrote and voiced the product videos. I worked with the development team on every part of the process. It was also where I first saw what AI could mean for building software.
Now
What AI changed
AI has expanded how directly I can build on that experience. I can explore more possibilities and turn ideas into something people can try. The judgment about what to make, and for whom, comes from the people and problems I’ve worked with along the way.
Outside
Outside work
A short paragraph on theater for charity, the book and the remodel goes here.