Posts

AI Hasn’t Replaced Design. It Revealed What Design Wasn't.

Mar 2026

AI enhances design workflows by producing reliable artifacts quickly, but it can't replace the critical thinking and decision-making that give design its meaning. The true value of design lies in the intent and judgment behind the work, now more visible than ever.

Building the Boundaries: Design Has Moved to Before the Prompt

Apr 2026

A concise look at how AI‑generated design excels in isolated demos but drifts when iterated, highlighting the need for explicit governance and preserved intent to keep work coherent, distinctive, and resilient across revisions.

Your Product Doesn't Need a Tour, It Needs a First Win

Apr 2026

Effective onboarding transforms user curiosity into confidence by guiding them through their first actions, showcasing meaningful results, and reinforcing purpose. It's not about explaining the product; it's about helping users see its value through small, impactful steps.

I Watched Artemis II Launch, Then Built It in CSS

Apr 2026

After witnessing the historic Artemis II launch, the author created an animated CSS art representation of the rocket using just HTML and CSS, capturing the essence of the liftoff with innovative gradient techniques and a focus on timely creativity over perfection.

Designing Trust in Financial Products

Mar 2026

Designing trust in financial products requires addressing survivorship bias and enhancing user confidence through clear, structured information. Effective design prioritizes understanding and aligns all elements to foster trust, preventing potential investors from disengaging.

Not Everything Needs To Be Built

Mar 2026

Craft-driven teams often struggle with throughput due to bespoke deliverables. Instead of lowering quality to speed up, focus on using existing tools to solve operational problems. The goal is to prioritize meaningful work that truly adds value. Not everything needs to be built.

Web Overhauls Under Real Constraints

Mar 2026

Facing tight timelines and complex systems, the author emphasizes mastering inherited platforms instead of tearing them down. By understanding HubSpot deeply, targeted improvements were made across multiple business lines, showcasing the value of working within constraints.

Experiments in Public

Mar 2026

Experiments in Public highlights the importance of side projects in personal development, showcasing how creative experiments lead to skill growth, connection, and renewed confidence, ultimately enriching professional work and fostering innovation.

Making the Most out of Mulch. Stay With Me.

Mar 2026

This weekend, I enhanced the Rockville High School Booster Club Mulch Sale website by streamlining the checkout process and improving clarity. The changes reduce manual follow-ups and make ordering easier for families, ultimately benefiting the hardworking volunteers.

20 Years of Fooldom

Jan 2026

After 20 years at The Motley Fool, I reflect on my journey from design to leadership, the teams I’ve built, and the joy of impactful work in a fast-paced marketing environment. Grateful for the experiences and people who shaped my path.

On Not Feeling Alone in the AI Transition

Jan 2026

Navigating the AI transition means redefining our roles from artifact creators to systems designers. As AI reshapes work dynamics, the focus shifts to maintaining clarity, coherence, and human intent, while managing the emotional toll of rapid change.

Margin Call Me: How I Misused AI to Deliver Cheesy Financial Pickup Lines

Feb 2025

Using AI, I revived cheesy financial pickup lines from a 2010 spreadsheet, creating a fun generator with Chad Cattle, a confident cartoon bull. The project launched just in time for Valentine's Day, blending cringe-worthy humor with finance. Visit

Building a Dynamic Word Carousel Card with Pure CSS

Jan 2025

Create a dynamic word carousel card with pure CSS, showcasing multiple roles or titles in an elegant, animated display. Perfect for portfolios, landing pages, and storytelling, this reusable component highlights the power of simple, clean design.

Not Every Day Needs to Be Seized

Mar 2024

Not every day needs to be seized; some moments are better left acknowledged. Fast-paced decisions can reinforce misunderstandings, highlighting the importance of balance between urgency and thoughtful reflection in leadership.

Are We Celebrating the Wrong UX Metrics?

Feb 2024

Rethink engagement metrics: increased clicks and time-on-site may signal confusion, not success. True UX is about clarity and trust, not just keeping users on the page. Are we celebrating the wrong indicators of a good experience?

Pure CSS Art, one HTML tag — My Divtober 2023 collection

Oct 2023

Join me on my Divtober 2023 journey, where I created a collection of CSS art using just one HTML tag each day, inspired by unique prompts. From witches to origami, explore the creativity and challenges of crafting art with minimal resources.

The Empathy Gap Between Designers and the Business

Apr 2023

Designers excel at understanding users but often lack empathy for executives, creating an "empathy gap." This article discusses the need for alignment between design and business goals, emphasizing that successful solutions require collaboration, not just adherence to design principles.

A Lifelong Saver Reads the Case Against Saving

Apr 2023

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How a Dropped Ice Cream Turned Me into a User Experience Designer

Apr 2023

A dropped ice cream bar at Disney sparked a shift from back-end development to user experience design, emphasizing the importance of turning frustrating moments into delightful ones, mirroring the magic of thoughtful interventions.

Can learning to ski teach you about User Experience Design? ChatGPT thinks so

Jan 2023

Can learning to ski enhance your skills in User Experience Design? This article explores intriguing parallels between skiing and UX design, highlighting the importance of planning, adaptability, iteration, and attention to detail in both fields.

15 Accomplishments in 15 Weeks of Sabbatical

Jan 2023

Reflecting on 15 weeks of sabbatical, the author achieved significant milestones including a Design Thinking certification, family travels, and personal development projects. A fulfilling journey that rejuvenated their perspective and skills.

22 Lessons I learned in 2022

Dec 2022

Reflecting on 2022, these 22 lessons emphasize the importance of relationships, self-worth, and personal growth, encouraging readers to cherish their time, invest in themselves, and embrace their unique paths.

Five Ways Iconography Benefits the Users and the Business

Dec 2022

Iconography enhances digital design by providing visual clarity, boosting brand recognition, improving usability, ensuring accessibility, and promoting cultural sensitivity, making it essential for user experience and business success.

Is Iconography really just Clip Art?

Dec 2022

The article delves into the distinction between iconography and clip art, emphasizing that while they may appear similar, iconography serves crucial design purposes such as enhancing usability, brand recognition, and accessibility, unlike outdated clip art.

How to get SnagIt to convert to PNG images automatically.

Nov 2022

Discover effective workarounds for converting SnagIt captures to PNG images, including using presets, Yoink for temporary storage, and batch exporting for multiple files. Simplify your image management while working with SnagIt.

31 CSS Art pieces, one HTML tag — My Divtober 2022 Collection

Oct 2022

A showcase of 31 unique CSS art pieces created during the #divtober challenge, utilizing only one HTML tag each. Featuring diverse themes and techniques, this collection highlights the artist's journey in mastering CSS while engaging with a vibrant community.

Why Your Brainstorms Don't Work

Oct 2022

Brainstorming often fails due to structural mistakes, such as not creating a space for genuine idea generation, including senior leaders, focusing on time, and lacking a facilitator. Fixing these issues can unlock creativity and lead to successful outcomes.

How to animate gradients darkening with pure CSS

Oct 2022

Learn how to animate gradients darkening using pure CSS, exploring techniques with the

How to use Codekit .kit partials on your site

Jan 2022

Learn how to effectively use Codekit .kit partials on your static site by ensuring your importing files are also .kit files. Discover the advantages of Codekit for building websites without the overhead of complex frameworks.

If You're Proving Design's Value, You've Already Lost

Sep 2021

Proving design's value often reflects a lack of trust in the design process. True partnership with stakeholders fosters innovation and shared responsibility, allowing designers to focus on creativity rather than justification. It's about building trust, not just ROI.

Technical Debt Is Buying Naked Call Options

May 2021

Ignoring technical debt is akin to writing naked call options—seemingly manageable until the risks accumulate silently. Organizations must either maintain outdated systems or respectfully retire them to avoid staggering costs when issues arise.

My kids convinced me we should invest in Roblox (RBLX)

Mar 2021

A parent shares their decision to invest in Roblox (RBLX) for their daughters, highlighting the platform's engaging nature, safety features, and the financial benefits for game designers. They reflect on the growing popularity of Roblox among kids and its long-term investment potential.

How the Super Bowl can help us understand Hedge Funds

Feb 2021

Understanding hedge funds through the lens of the Super Bowl, this piece explores different investment funds, the concept of hedging, and the aggressive strategies used by hedge funds, all while drawing amusing parallels with sports betting.

What is happening with GameStop (for non-financial people)

Jan 2021

A straightforward explanation of the GameStop stock situation, detailing how hedge funds short-sold the stock, the role of Reddit investors in driving up prices through call options, and the subsequent market chaos involving brokerages like Robinhood.

365 Days of Culture (That No One Asked For)

Oct 2020

A leadership initiative to create a desk calendar of company culture statements reveals the pitfalls of prioritizing visibility over impact. Despite good intentions, the project taught lessons about alignment, adoption, and the difference between proving worth and serving the mission.

Setting your Annual Goals based on your Age

Aug 2019

Set annual goals based on age by reflecting on past achievements and prioritizing new objectives. Break goals into categories like health, finances, travel, and personal growth, and review them regularly to ensure progress and adapt to changing priorities.

The complexities of building a stock table using International data

Sep 2018

Building a stock table with international data involves complexities such as handling multiple currencies, varying dividend structures, and discrepancies in market cap representation, along with challenges posed by different exchange formats and numeric tickers.

How to set internal border lines on a CSS Grid layout

Aug 2018

Learn how to create a CSS Grid layout with internal border lines using

5 Practical Takeaways for Improving Your Code’s Accessibility

Aug 2018

Five practical tips for enhancing code accessibility include using

Simplifying the Hiring Process with CodePen

May 2018

Streamline the hiring process for design and front-end roles by utilizing CodePen for open-ended projects. The Page Layout Challenge fosters discussions about design choices and thought processes, eliminating common hiring friction.

Jumping into CSS Grid

Mar 2018

Learn how to leverage CSS Grid to create responsive layouts with ease. This article details a project transforming a family Christmas card insert into a web page, showcasing practical steps, challenges faced, and valuable lessons learned along the way.

Five Recommendations for the Graduating Designer

May 2015

Five recommendations for graduating designers: tackle your debt, engage with the community, volunteer for causes you care about, pursue your dreams, and stop talking—start building your ideas. Embrace the journey and enjoy the ride!

Walling off the Garden: Balancing Security with Usability

Apr 2015

Balancing security with usability in gardening, the author reflects on the importance of not overcomplicating experiences with unnecessary barriers, emphasizing that a secure environment should also foster enjoyment and accessibility.

When AI Says No