The truth is we're all just looking for a job where we can do great work we love and a way to avoid eating cold beans over a sink. And to me, the brutally honest truth is what achieves a high standard of craft. It requires persistent and disciplined self-examination, self-awareness, and the ability to communicate that truth in a way that gets people and teams on your side. That's how design actually moves the needle, or at least from what I've observed so far.

I've learned that a mix of honesty, negotiation, and persistence is what gets me where I need to go, whether it's landing the projects that allow me to grow, unlearning bad habits, or improving any other aspect of my life.

There's a strange harmony between my work and my life: they are both fueled by the same cycles of trial, error, optimization, and creative thinking. They give me the perspective to solve design problems and they feed each other.

Outside of work, I have four cats, a dog, silly friends (at work too), a wonderful partner, and a habit of trying new things every few months to squeeze the most out of life. Recently, that's been running half-marathons, surfing, and cooking Indian food, but one thing that'll always be there is eating.