The personal:
“No one left behind”
Greg Macoy, Matchstick Creative
I recently heard this phrase used by Greg Macoy of Matchstick Creative – “a purpose-driven design agency” – when talking about embedding your core values into the work that you do.
I immediately identified with it and had spine-tingles.
I was brought up with a Christian faith, and a belief that social justice is central to the human existence.
As an adult, that translated into not only a philosophical and political viewpoint, but also a pathway that led me to design – a way to use my creativity and thirst to problem-solve in a purposeful way – identifying and understanding the needs of the key user group and desiring an outcome that leaves no-one behind.
This drives my existence and continuity as a designer – always seeing a need and seeking to help where I can.
The professional:
I am a human-centred user-experience and communications designer.
I am currently working as a senior-level digital designer with a specialism in user interaction and accessibility, and am now entering my fourteenth year in commercial design.
I have always been able to see the need of a well-designed product – something that works hard to solve a problem without appearing to. As a lapsed artist, I can also the creativity in everything – whether it’s in the understanding of the initial problem or conceptualising the solution regardless of the artistic beauty or aesthetic flair.
The path this has taken me down is one of exploration and perseverance, collaboration and leadership, skill development and empowerment of others – consistently embedding myself as an honest, dedicated and invaluable member of the team.
In a single sentence – I would describe myself as a relentless and creative problem solver and a true perfectionist at heart.