Design is never one-size-fits-all. I shape my process around the people I’m designing with and for—bringing focus and direction to the work, while also making space for voices that often go unheard. Especially when working on sensitive topics, I lead with care, accountability, and a trauma-informed lens—because how we design matters just as much as what we design.

Here’s how I typically move through the Design Thinking process:

  • Because you can’t design what you don’t understand.

    I start by listening to people. Whether it’s a one-on-one conversation or observing someone navigate a clunky system, this phase is about stepping into someone else’s world to uncover what really matters.

    Tools I love:
    🗣️ In-depth interviews
    👀 Contextual inquiry
    📝 Diary studies
    🤝 Stakeholder interviews
    🗺️ Journey mapping

  • Hint: It’s usually not the one you started with.

    After gathering stories, I zoom out. I look for patterns, pain points, and those “aha” moments. Then I work with the team to frame the right challenge—one that’s rooted in what people actually need (not just what the business thinks they need).

    Tools I love:
    🧩 Affinity mapping
    🏷️ Data tagging
    📌 Insight clustering
    💬 Insight share-outs with cross-functional teams
    🧠 Prioritization & alignment workshops

  • This is where sticky notes, wild ideas, and magic happen.

    I guide teams through structured creativity. We explore what could be—no judgment, just possibilities. Then we shape those sparks into early concepts we can actually test and build.

    Tools I love:
    💡 “How Might We” questions
    🧭 Design criteria
    🎨 Co-creation workshops
    🔮 Futures thinking
    🧠 Idea clustering & concept ranking
    🖼️ Storyboarding

  • Because it’s easier to react to something you can see.

    I bring early ideas to life—just enough to learn. Sometimes that’s a clickable flow, other times it’s a service blueprint or a scrappy role-play. The goal is to test quickly, get feedback, and keep evolving.

    Tools I love:
    📄 Service blueprints
    🎭 Storyboards
    📱 Clickable prototypes
    🧪 Concept one-pagers

  • People are the best critics—in a good way.

    I test with real humans, not just stakeholders. I want to know what’s working, what’s confusing, and what needs to go back to the whiteboard. Then I iterate until it feels right—for the people using it and the team building it.

    Tools I love:
    🔍 Usability testing
    📊 Likert scale evaluations
    📦 Concept feedback
    📌 Card sorting
    👥 Stakeholder feedback sessions

Let's Design Together

Let's Design Together

I help teams explore possibilities, navigate ambiguity, and design with intention. I bring strategic clarity—and invite the right people into the conversation to bring meaningful, human-centered ideas to life.