How Taking Care of Yourself Takes Care of Your Team
Join my newsletter → After hiring our 3rd designer at Northstar, I’ve been shifting a lot of my growth to learning about being a leader and mentor for my team….
Blog
Sharing and writing about my thoughts and tutorials on design, development, business, music, and personal life.
Leadership Book Recommendation, Powerful by Patty McCord
I’d like to recommend one of my favorite books I’ve ever read, Powerful by Patty McCord. Patty was a Co-Founder at Netflix and worked there for 14 years, developing the culture of the company.
One Month as Head of Design at Northstar
Recap of my first month at my new design job as Head of Design, working on product design, design systems, leadership, marketing, and more
What to Do Your First Week of a New Design Job
So it’s your first week in a new design role, what do you do? What should you have prepared? Here are 10 ways to set yourself up for success.
Practical Typography Tips to Improve in Product Design, UX, Web, and Graphic Design
Here are some basic tips to improve typography in design I’ve learned over the last 10 years. Helpful for all areas and types of design.
How to Use and Choose Text Colors in Product Design
One of my biggest struggles starting out in Product Design was the ability to make consistent color palettes. Creating typography and color palettes that worked within product constraints without sacrificing…
How to Pick the Grays in Your Design System Color Palettes for Product Design
Let’s admit it. Creating color palettes in Product Design is a tough feat to do well, and there doesn’t seem to be much of a process besides trial and error…
Apps That Make MacOS a Better Operating System to Use
Even as an Apple fanboy that loves MacOS and iOS, I know that like any software, it isn’t perfect. Not to mention the lack of customization options and (at times)…
How to Put Your Music on Streaming Services Without a Record Label
After releasing over 9 albums of music I’ve had a couple folks reach out to me about being inspired to make their own music (thanks to those that did!) and…
Why to Seek Unfamiliarity in Your Next Full-Time Job
As of when I am writing this, I am starting my first day at my new job tomorrow. I’ll be starting as a Product Designer at Dave, a financial tech company…
Finding Purpose in Life Outside of Your Work
Design, code, and the pursuit of being better at each was all I lived and breathed in college. It’s all I ever thought about, to the point of me daydreaming…
How Blogging Can Make You a Better Remote Employee
Working remotely is all the rage nowadays. Companies can hire more diverse sets of people, save money on salaries, and find the best people fit for the job. After all, 43%of…
You Don’t Lack Motivation to Get Started, You Lack Clarity
Starting a new endeavor is typically difficult. You’re excited to get started and have all kinds of ideas in mind as to how you can be successful in this, seemingly…
Knowing When and Where to Seek Feedback on Your Ideas
Sharing an idea is like passing around an ice cube in a room of people. When you first have the idea it’s a good size and it’s sturdy. It has potential…
Easy Ways to Make Your Product Design Work Better Designed
Over the 5+ years I have been working in the tech world on websites and products, I’ve come to learn that the combination of many small details come together to…
The Struggle of Having Too Many Interests
Ihave been struggling quite a bit lately coming to terms with the various interests and pursuits I have in life. Feels like a strange statement to say if I’m being…
How to Find Great New Music on Spotify
As a music lover and artist myself, I’m always looking for new music to keep me inspired and motivated whether I’m working, at the gym, or just relaxing. I switched…
Ways to Use an iPad for Product Design Work
Apple’s iPad is advertised as a stand alone device that can replace a laptop, but for many this definitely isn’t the case yet. For example, as a Product Designer, I…
How a Creative Outlet Can Benefit Your Creative Profession
If you’re someone who is lucky enough to work in the creative field, you probably know how difficult it is to work in the same vein of creative work outside…
How to Be Well Prepared for Morning Standups
Since joining MetaLab a few months ago, I’ve had to transition back into daily stand-ups after not having them since I worked at Satchel last year. While stand-ups are incredibly useful in…
Making Your Phone a Tool, Not a Distraction
While I was first transitioning back into working from home a few months ago, a bad habit I realized I had was checking my phone constantly during breaks. I use…
How to Work on Personal Projects after a Long Full-Time Job
I started a new job about two months ago. A job that requires me to be in work mode for 12 hours a day (I wake up at 5:30am, start…
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