I'm a highly visual thinker and like to explain things with images whenever I can. This is how I illustrated a former team's roles as part of a hiring plan — a good example of the way my head works.
I've been working in different creative fields for more than twenty years. I got my start in print design and copywriting (yes, those used to be actual jobs), but as my clients moved on to the Web, I did as well. Interactive media — for desktop, mobile, and stand-alone devices — have been my bread and butter ever since.
Today my work falls into two realms. I still do a lot of UX design myself, coming up with concepts for interfaces, mapping out how they should function and feel, and directing the designers and developers who bring them to life.
But the more important part of my work focuses on building and directing UX teams — the best UX work comes from people who respect one another, are eager to work together, and who know that their colleagues value and will build off their work. "Collaboration" has been turned into a buzzword thrown about without much attention to its substance — but I still take it seriously.
Folks who work with and for me will tell you I'm devoted to finding ways for everyone on the team to be involved, for everyone to be heard, and for everyone to contribute to the final product. My goal is that the entire team feels ownership over the end design — even if it's not successful. Sharing victories and set-backs in equal measure brings a team together, fostering the solidarity and focus that lead to the best UX work.