Turn Your User Into
The Hero Of Your Story
My content and UX design strategy is centered around narrative and storytelling.
Whether you're working on an app, a website, new software, a pitch deck, or anything else, wouldn't you love to have the sort of product that becomes a life-changing adventure for your users?
What I bring
to the table
Gender diversity - I'm nonbinary! That means I'm super passionate about making sure gender diverse and queer users are represented.
Mental health advocacy and harm reduction - I want to help users be healthy and thrive. I never want anything I work on to cause harm. I'm especially interested in helping make products and services that mindfully include neurodiverse users!
Playfulness and curiosity - I like to have fun, and I like to spread that fun around. I never let cute & quirky content get in the way of clarity, but I love finding little ways of making users feel delighted.
What Work
Am I open to?
I'm currently open to joining the right team full-time!
I also accept clients on a freelance basis.
My hourly rate starts at $95/hr. Discounts are available for large projects, or for projects that strongly align with my values.
Don't let cost be the reason you don't reach out! I love to hear from everyone. Even if I'm not the right fit for you, I'm happy to refer you to someone awesome.
Ask me
Anything!
Well, almost anything.
I don't know the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow. But I can google it!
UX Philosophy #1: Give The User Agency
Especially when dealing with sensitive topics, there is power behind giving the user agency over what assumptions an app makes about their needs and the content they'd like to see.
While working on this prototype of the (hopefully upcoming) Queeriod app, the one thing I kept hearing over and over again from users was that they wanted more control.
My process:
1. Interview potential users.
2. Analyze all the stuff I learned.
3. Ask myself: what's the absolute simplest version of this that gives users what they need?
4. Make that.
5. Show it to users and see what they think.
5. Refine.
UX Philosophy #2: Address The User's Internal And External Obstacles
Sometimes users need to be told that yes, you do understand what they are dealing with and yes, you've taken that into consideration when making this app for them.
In my own personal project, a website called Depressipie that has user-submitted depression meals, I don't play coy with the fact that depression is THE WORST, and that feeding yourself when you're depressed is also THE WORST.
But awful things are easier when you have support.
UX Philosophy #3: Speak To The User, Not At Them.
No one likes to be spoken about like they aren't there. Know who you're addressing (hint: it's your users) and speak directly to them in a way that makes sense and engages them.
This is your chance to really make them feel like a hero you're here to support and guide through their epic adventure. Be the Gandalf to their Frodo, the Obi-Wan to their Luke, or the Timon and Pumba to their Simba.
I used this philosophy to help freshen up a company's manifesto while working on a tone and style guide consulting project.
