Philosophy

Design Values

These are the values and approaches I strive for in my work as a designer.

  • Design is intentional.
  • Design is human-centered.
  • Design is service oriented.
  • I balance resources, constraints, and interests that often conflict.
  • I must be an advocate for the user.
  • Call it what you will–interaction design, game design, UI Design–I design an experience.
  • I use a human-centered and artifact centered design and critique process that is iterative.
  • My work is based on a postmodern stance drawing from both phenomenology and structuralism as well as whatever schools of thought are useful in that design context.
  • I believe that technology, like any tool, aligns itself to the moral intentions and philosophy of those who wield it, but as designers we embed certain values with their attendant constraints into the things we create, thereby we can wield great power.
  • I ought to wield this power intentionally and thoughtfully.
  • I must accept that ultimately what I create is not fully my own and will be used however and by whomever finds it useful, quite probably in unexpected ways.

Philosophy on Life

  • I strive for balance in all I do.
  • The unseen can be as or more powerful than the tangible.
  • I believe in the divine.
  • I believe in human dignity.
  • I believe that family is the core unit of society, and I love mine, even if they make me a little crazy sometimes.
  • I believe that we need to regularly reflect, and be willing to change our selves, our ideas, & our lives.
  • I believe that we only get stronger as we talk about issues that are important to us and those around us, even when we disagree.
  • I believe that treating our bodies well with a clean enviroment, healthy food, and proper rest will result in an increase in productivity , happiness, health, energy, and wisdom. I as a person, and the organizations I affiliate with, should promote practices that support this both within themselves and in their communities.
  • I think we need to stop marketing to our children, and bombarding them with images and messages about what they should wear, look like, etc.
  • I think that most of the time we do the best we can in the circumstances we are in.

Values: Balance, Integrity, Authenticity, Diligence, Obedience, & Service.

I’ll be the first to point out that these are not things I always am/do, but I do strive towards them in all that I do, and what I want to become.

Also see my quotes page.