Writing

The hand in question was part of a graphic announcing our latest initiative, the 'Add to Slack' button. I decided to make the hand in a promotional graphic look like my hand: brown.

On August 25th, Slack unveiled a new way for developers to connect to Slack, the 'Add to Slack' button. Today, though, I want to talk about a seemingly small detail that has been more important to me than I would have expected.

As the tools we use to build digital products evolve, so too must the role of the designer. The line between design and engineering is blurring.

Taking a page from Asimov, I propose three fundamental laws that should govern every interaction we design. These rules ensure usability, clarity, and respect for the user.

UX Designer, UI Designer, Product Designer, Interaction Designer... The list goes on. Why can't we agree on what to call ourselves?

Before you can begin the design process, you must first accept where you are and what you're working with.

Reflections on my time at Squarespace, a company known for its uncompromising focus on aesthetics and design culture.

It has been over a year since the release of iOS7. The shock of the new has worn off, and the flat design aesthetic has become the new normal.

The 'unicorn' myth is dangerous. You don't need to be an expert in everything, but bridging the gap between design and code is a superpower.

I realized that despite my insistence that people be conscientious about which words they choose, I had been lax with my labels in my last article.

Creation is a deeply personal process. The work you put out into the world represents you, and so creation is the act making yourself vulnerable.

One of the most important things you need to do as a designer is read about your craft. Reading improves your design vocabulary, and that shapes the way you deal with design problems.

Design is temporal. A great design lives at a certain moment in time and is evaluated against the backdrop of culture. The best creative solution to a problem is only ever the best one at that time and place.

After a summer at Google, I came away with 7 valuable lessons I'll remember forever.