The squiggle is a visual metaphor for the creative process. Its messy looping line illustrates the non-linear and often chaotic nature of design.
When I feel stuck, the squiggle is a helpful reminder that navigating complexity is hard, checking biases and assumptions is necessary, prototyping is about having conversations with loosely held ideas, and where others see failure is a lesson in waiting.
As a facilitator and designer, my role is to serve as your guide through the squiggle. It’s a journey that is iterative, collaborative, co-creative, and deeply rooted in the experiences of the people, communities and living systems impacted by the design process and its outcomes.
In a culture of harm espoused by “move fast, break things”, I believe in working collectively and intentionally towards sustainable, non-exploitative outcomes that prioritize the well-being of people, their communities and the planet. Meaningful change takes time and care.
Productivity does not equal worth. I honor and respect boundaries around personal time and rest - both yours and mine. When communicating with me, I encourage you to respond when you are focused and ready and I will do the same.
Over-indexing on politeness is an indicator of white-supremacy culture. I am transparent, brutally honest, always assume good intent and lead with kindness. I expect the same in return in every interaction.
You will often hear me say: “Nothing is precious”. Tackling complex social and environmental problems requires a growth mindset. My approach is method-agnostic, adaptive and ever evolving, always in service of an organization or project’s purpose. Growth includes admitting when I am wrong, being receptive to feedback and using failure and discomfort as opportunities to learn.
As a designer, I see my role as a facilitator rather than an expert. I believe everyone is an expert with unique living and lived experiences and contributions. I work to center and amplify the voices of those who are impacted by the design process and its outcomes by building / shifting / sharing power and designing with, never for.
I respect all who participate in the design process by ensuring a fair value exchange for time and expertise given. By sharing resources, tools and knowledge, I hope to build power and dismantle systems of structural inequality which I believe include unnecessary dependencies, parasitic consulting fees and extractive design practices.
Innovation doesn’t mean new. New doesn’t mean better. I seek to build on what is already working well, instead of reinventing the wheel. I believe different ways of knowing, being and doing can co-exist.
We are more than our jobs. I eschew small talk, seek authentic connections and believe in bringing my whole self to everything I do. I create safe spaces that are inclusive - where differences are celebrated, different viewpoints are encouraged, and relationships flourish, built on a foundation of mutual respect and trust.
Becoming a mom has reminded me of the joys of learning through discovery and play. By elevating curiosity and play in my work, I help organizations and people tap into their sense of wonder and (un)learn with joy.
Some of these principles have been inspired by or adapted from the Design Justice Network Principles, of which I am a signatory and member. The Design Justice Network is a community of practice that challenges the ways design and designers can harm those who are marginalized by systems of power.
Name and engage community: Invest resources and create space for relationships to flourish beyond the container of the project or engagement.
Understand context and positionality: Collectively surface power dynamics, assumptions, biases and systems at play.
Shift power and re-frame the challenge: Community defines scope, norms and expectations - including needs, goals, area of inquiry, design principles, ways of working.
Identify appropriate design methods and tools: Seek and build on what’s already working well. Curate what serves the community with curiosity, compassion, creativity and collaboration.
Rest + test, reflect + iterate, play + learn: Collectively inspect ideas for unintended consequences. Inspect and adapt as needed. Make room for cycles of rest, reflection and play alongside testing, iteration and learning.
Design for continuity: Co-design implementation strategy that shifts power, decision making and long-term ownership/stewardship by the community.
Compost my role: Design against dependency. Build capability and share resources, tools and knowledge throughout. Exit when I am no longer needed.