Want me to join your team?

The types of ADHD I have make me impatient with my digital experiences. I often overlook what's meant to be obvious while somehow hyper focusing on the small things. Basically, I make a lot of 'mistakes' and catch flaws constantly because of this skill. I also get wild yet practical ideas, a lot. A lot. I've come up with so many product ideas or features that would improve my frequent experiences. A short answer is: design, tech and people.
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Being an artist in lots of mediums, creation, especially visually, is pivotal to my lifeblood. I got started with graphic design and took on tons of website redesign work in early 2010's. I've always been drawn to aesthetics in films, photography, and textiles.

I remember the first time being on my dad's computer in 1993 and being OBSESSED. I've loved all the latest 'dad-gadgets' since then. I'm ready for more people to have access to VR and I love using AI to make my Product Designing even more innovative.

What makes a person love people? To help them by listening to them, by observing their actions, by living in their experience so you can perfect it. I love people and want to help them. I need to interact with others (extrovert) and am inspired to make products that people LOVE.

Throughout every design process, from product managers and UI designers to developers and CEOs, I work with different people who are approaching every project from different angles. It’s always been important for me to appreciate and empathize with a range of perspectives of our users but also those of us behind the scenes who help them in a myriad of ways. My job is to spread the value of good design throughout the organization and get people involved in it, when possible. I always emphasize communication, efficiency, and an openness to feedback and ideas. Seriously, tell me what's on your mind and be thorough. A few real-life examples? I once took the initiative to set up monthly meetings with the CEO at my first company in order to understand his vision and at my last company, I led weekly checkins with our strategy team to get feedback on design or conduct design workshops to see/hear their ideas. Everyone can have a great design idea! I've also made it a practice to put relevant or exciting projects of mine into presentation form and show our company! This helps me discover any potential angels I missed and also keeps them up to date on my progress. I also love to present my work and this it's a vital practice for PDs.

A big reason why I've always been fascinated with and decided to enter the Product Design industry was it's promise of quick evolution. There's no rest for the weary in a field like this, and it weeds out those who just want to float by on old trends and outdated methodologies. Continuing education is deeply important to me, on a large scale and a personal one. Take fundamentals with you and allow new information to shape your approach, strategy and skillset. With the rapid adoption of AI in the last 6 months, I've been thrilled to learn how to integrate these new tools to make my life easier. I know a lot of Product Designers (and people in general) are -really- weary about AI, but there's a way to use these functions ethically and and resourcefully. Some of my favorite tools so far are: Adobe Firefly, AutoDraw, UIzard and Google Appsheet.

If I had this sum up what the mindset of a person with ADHD is in one sentence, it would be “I’m not gonna do what I don’t want to do.” The reason why this perspective is important, why i see it as a superpower as a product designer, is because I have empathy for people who are not going to do what they don’t want to do, and therefore, I have automatic empathy for people who ARE going to do what they don’t want to do , even if they don’t enjoy it.

Making designs and interactions effortless and joyful is paramount to me personally, because when I’m not at work and using products, I have a short attention span, I am easily frustrated, and I’m not going to do things that I do not want to do. Now, of course, while I am at work at a job, there are things I don’t want to do and I will do anyway. I am able to force myself to do things I don’t want to do.

But… if I am at the helm of designing a user flow or a series of interactions for a user, at the forefront of my ideation, i think, “how can this be effortless, how can we create this in a way that leads to enjoying it, and how can we make this fun?”

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