Creative designer and collaborative thought-partner

With 20+ years of varying and evolving design experiences, I've spearheaded projects ranging from cutting-edge innovation workshops to in-depth product strategies to branding new products and launching startups in digital therapeutics, industrial IoT, chicken nuggets and media. My design prowess spans old-timey print to UX/UI, product and user research, design thinking, service design and brand development.

My journey began in journalism, where I sharpened my storytelling, baramoter for bullshit and creativity as a burgeoning print-news designer. My lifelong fascination with the future led me to natural champion for the digital transformation of newsrooms. I've made impactful contributions at the Chicago Tribune and held a pivotal Creative Director role at the Chicago Sun-Times during digital transformation.

With my foundational years grounded in practicality and can-do atmospheres, my newsroom roots still shape my inquisitive and collaborative approach to product design. Currently, as Principal Product Designer at a custom software consultancy, I am leading a similar charge with a working group dedicated to operationalizing generative AI within our consultancy, focusing on its transformative and potentially disruptive impacts on our business and clients.

I’ve been deeply immersed in generative AI since ChatGPT came on the stage and using it everyday since. I use it for everything, constantly experimenting and pushing its limits in my curiousity. I'm also addicted to MidJourney and spend way to much time in bed on my iPad making my dreams reality.

In 2023, I took a deep dive into mentorship to broaden my industry insights and address diverse career paths within design recruitment. My commitment to ADPList.org has led to over 50 sessions and 1500+ minutes of shared wisdom, earning recognition as a "Top 50 Mentor in Content Strategy."

Outside of work, I'm a news junkie, an avid gamer for creative R&R, and an enthusiastic follower of generative AI developments, fueling my passion for learning and innovation. Recently, I've delved into using generative AI to help my gardening dreams come true.