Posts

Startup Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.comSide Projects

Putin: False

June 12, 2022  •  4 min readPoster of Putin as a false idol with the word FALSE

My poster depicting Vladimir Putin as a false idol won a Gold Award in the Graphis Poster 2024 Awards. Created in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the design features a golden bust of Putin against a red backdrop with "FALSE" written in both Russian and English. The poster was printed and displayed in Kyiv, and a limited-edition screen print raised funds for Ukrainian humanitarian aid.

Startup Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.comSide Projects

Visualizing Minority Rule in the United States

May 7, 2022  •  4 min readChart showing the nine current Supreme Court justices, with column graphs displaying the popular vote for each nominating president and the population represented by their senate confirmation votes

After NPR's Mara Liasson commented on minority rule in the United States, I wanted to investigate the numbers behind Supreme Court appointments. What I found about presidential popular votes and Senate confirmations was striking enough that I needed to visualize it.

Pen Tool Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.comEssays

I Read the Newspaper Today, Oh Boy!

February 18, 2022  •  3 min readNewspaper

After decades away from print newspapers, I rediscovered the tactile joy of reading the San Francisco Chronicle over breakfast. The crisp pages, inky scent, and familiar sections brought back memories of Sunday mornings in North Beach cafes—reminding me that sometimes the medium truly is part of the message.

Pen Tool Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.comEssays

The Apple Design Process

January 19, 2022  •  6 min readCreative Selection book with Roger Wong's Apple badge

Drawing from my time at Apple and insights from Ken Kocienda's 'Creative Selection,' I share how Steve Jobs shaped Apple's legendary design process through relentless exploration and refinement. From creating hundreds of packaging mockups to weekly design reviews in the mysterious Diplomacy room, this is an insider's look at how Apple's obsession with quality came to life under Steve's ultimate creative direction.

Pen Tool Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.comEssays

The Continuing Death Spiral of American Democracy

January 6, 2022  •  3 min readPhoto of insurrectionists at the Capitol

I was feeling emotionally off today and I wasn’t quite sure until I realized that the events of January 6, 2021 deeply affected me as a patriotic American. At the time, I thought it was the culmination—the last act of a power-hungry, extremist wing of our country. Donald Trump and his deliberate peddlers of lies and misinformation had incubated and unleashed this insurrectionist mob against the Capitol, against the United States. But I was wrong.

Bookmark Book Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.comGuides

How to Put Your Stuff Together and Get a Job as a Product Designer: Part 3

December 8, 2021  •  8 min readIllustration of an interview

As a design hiring manager, I've seen what works and what doesn't in product design interviews. From nailing the screening call to acing design challenges, here's my insider perspective on how to present yourself effectively throughout the interview process.

Bookmark Book Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.comGuides

How to Put Your Stuff Together and Get a Job as a Product Designer: Part 2

December 7, 2021  •  6 min readIllustration of a portfolio

Your portfolio is often a hiring manager's first real look at your work. Learn how to create a compelling portfolio website that showcases your best projects through clear, focused case studies—while avoiding common pitfalls that can turn recruiters away.

Bookmark Book Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.comGuides

How to Put Your Stuff Together and Get a Job as a Product Designer: Part 1

December 6, 2021  •  8 min readIllustration of a resume

After decades of experience hiring designers, I've learned what makes candidates stand out. In this first part of a three-part series, I share essential tips for crafting your resume and LinkedIn profile to catch a hiring manager's attention. The key? Remember that design leaders are your users—we're busy people who need to quickly assess if you're the right fit.

Bookmark Book Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.comGuides

How to Buy a Tesla

August 22, 2021  •  11 min readTesla Model Y electric car

After dealing with frustrating CarPlay issues in my Honda CR-V, I decided to make the switch to Tesla. The buying process was unlike any car purchase I'd experienced before—both easier in some ways and more confusing in others. Here's my complete guide to help you navigate buying a Tesla, from test drive to delivery.

Circle Clock Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.comUpdates

A Year of Learning

April 18, 2021  •  4 min readGold #1

During the pandemic lockdown, I turned to learning as a way to stay occupied. What started with optimizing my work-from-home setup led to rediscovering old passions in photography, videography, and 3D animation, eventually culminating in creating art and launching a newsletter.