What are your design maxims?

A few things I have learned along the way about design and business that have stood the test of time.My design career — if I can call it that — has now spanned multiple decades. The first thing I created that I would consider a proper design was a seven-inch record for a friend’s band sometime in th..

Shinkansen: The bullet train inspired by Kingfishers

Tokaido Shinkansen launched at Tokyo Station, 1964. SourceIn the late ’90s, Japanese engineers modeled the Shinkansen bullet train after Kingfisher birds to solve one of their biggest problems… tunnel sonic booms. Tokaido Shinkansen is one of the world’s busiest high-speed rail lines. Having moved a..

The assumption of empathy: Are all designers psychotherapists now?

Empathy, empathy, empathy. It’s a term lavishly tossed about like salt at a fast-food restaurant. As designers, we have become inured to the threadbare pervasiveness that has stripped it of its essential worth. We take its meaning for granted.Munch, Edvard. “Attraction II.” 1895. Original from The A..

Why has no one made a better Goodreads

People who read often desire to read in connection with other readers. Readers have found community within the website, “Goodreads.” And while it builds community and conversation, most who use the site want a better Goodreads. Anyone who’s used it for anything repeatedly shares a number of laments...

Tips on designing inclusively for auditory/hearing disabilities

Their problems, behaviours, needs & tools, plus design guidelines for building accessible products.Photo by Franco Antonio Giovanella on UnsplashIn my article “The three levels of accessibility”, I mention the importance of designing for clarity and inclusivity. Not only to ensure everybody regardle..

How accessible are the Canadian COVID vaccination landing pages?

During my last appearance on the Now with Dave Brown morning show in March, we spoke a fair bit about the general lack of inclusion of… Continue reading on UX Collective »

The reframing of architectural practice

Architects love stories about an architect that’s found success in another profession by utilising their architectural skills. We rarely hear stories about how architect’s have used their architectural assets and skills in order to deliver better practice, better leadership or better culture. It’s t..

UI & UX micro-tips: Volume four

A collection of handy tips to help improve your designs instantly. Continue reading on UX Collective »

Why planning is hard

Behaviors & biases in planningPhoto by Hans-Peter GausterThe past few months have been pretty busy at work. We’ve started an exercise where we are evaluating a product — currently manufactured in our European & North American factories — to be manufactured in our Asian factories to serve the regiona..

Illustration Teardowns: Refactoring Old Work

We all hate to look at our old work. Yuk! Blech! But as songwriters say “it’s all in the rewrite”!Girl sketching on iPad (refactored from several years ago 🙌🏽)As I come up close to the end of my current contract I find myself in that “what’s next” place where I need to get out and promote myself som..