What are the differences? — A digital product with a great design and intuitive interface is something most businesses strive to achieve, and for obvious reasons. However, though the concept of good design sounds simple, its practice and implementation remain challenging for many. Think for a moment of all the negative experiences you’ve had using…

The benefits and challenges at the Department of Defense — Software modernization remains a key focus area in government. Keeping up with expectations set by the private sector is a daunting task for many agencies, and the Department of Defense is no different. User expectations will continue to grow at an accelerated rate. There is no question — there are…

A high-level view of how to think about user research and its value — The role of a user researcher on corporate IT projects is growing, and for a good reason. Understanding the needs of people who use your company’s products and services is critical to helping leadership formulate a successful and competitive business strategy, especially when starting a digital transformation initiative. …

A case study on how the government leveraged Design Sprints for public safety — Design Sprints have mixed results for many reasons. Some people feel they can’t accomplish anything of value in such a short period of time or that it won’t scale on larger projects. From my experience, there is value to be gained from using Design Sprints, but like with any method…

There are three vital areas to consider before selecting an idea — I recently interviewed fifteen high-level executives to better understand how they evaluate business ideas within their organization. This was part of a consulting project where my team was responsible for creating a repeatable process for generating, validating, and launching new business ventures. It’s the type of work we’ve performed countless…

What’s common about entrepreneurs and what can we learn from them? — Business ownership can be both rewarding and daunting; however, it’s rarely boring. I’ve spoken to hundreds of entrepreneurs over the past twenty years, and most are driven by a common thread. Yes, purpose and money are high on the list, but it goes deeper than this. I can relate to…

Focus on these traits and you’ll stand out from the pack — UX has grown from 1,000 people in 1983 to over 1 million people in 2017 , and is expected to grow to 100 million by 2050 — according to Nielsen Norman Group It’s an exciting time to be in the UX field. Technology is evolving at such a rapid pace…

Lessons from a habitual goal setter — From the moment we wake up in the morning to the time we go to bed at night, many of us are absorbed with goal setting. These may be micro-goals or big, audacious goals. I have a goal to get up by seven every morning and to exercise for one…

How some of the most successful companies think about design. — Great design is more popular and necessary than ever as organizations work to modernize antiquated systems and improve customer experiences. In fact, design maturity is one of the leading indicators related to improving brand perception. Companies with more advanced design practices are more profitable than their competitors. This observation was…