Values
Less ego, more reflection.
Designers wield a lot of power that, when unchecked, can do a lot of harm. I believe as designers, especially at the beginning of projects, we must let go of some ego and ask:
How will my power as a designer perhaps create undue harm here?
What privilege do I have that might affect the ways in which I interact with the people I aim to serve?
What assumptions, biases, and blindspots do I hold?
More often than not, I am not the expert in a given problem space. The people who face the problems every day hold the key to their answers. How can I co-create with users and/or facilitate intentional, productive discussions that help us frame problems more clearly?
People-first mentality.
I value putting people first by:
Empathizing with the users I aim to serve through thoughtful research and co-design.
Collaborating with people of diverse backgrounds and perspectives so that, together, we might cultivate more inclusive ideas and design better solutions.
Aiming to be an emotionally intelligent leader for my team, and being surrounded by leaders who value the same.
Prioritizing work-life balance because quality time with loved ones is important too.
Slowing down.
In our fast-paced society and agile work environments, speed is often rewarded. Sometimes it’s worth asking: But at what cost?
At the cost of critically thinking through a problem space? At the cost of building the wrong thing, or, focusing on output over outcomes? At the cost of shipping more features over taking the time necessary to improve accessibility of existing ones? At the cost of mine or our team’s well-being? While to some extent I thrive in fast-paced environments, I also value checking in on the need for speed as it could cause more harm than good.