I survived XX years in Design and all I’ve got is this article.

I’ve spent 2.5 decades in the trenches of design, from grinding out graphics for print and email marketing in my early days to leading global UX strategies for Fortune 100 companies. Along the way, I’ve tackled everything from brand identity and product design to creating experiences that serve millions of users daily.

Luckily my career has taken me across industries and continents, giving me a front-row seat to the evolving relationship between technology, culture, and design. Whether it’s imagining new products and solutions or solving for global legal compliance in user experience, I’ve learned to balance creativity with the sometimes harsh realities of business and technology.

But here’s the thing: I’ve also stumbled. I’ve shipped things I wish I could have iterated on longer, and I’ve learned (the hard way) how to navigate relationships, tight deadlines, accept executive feedback, and de-escalate cross-functional tensions. I don’t have all the answers, but I do have a ton of stories, hard-won insights, and a deep passion for design as both a craft and a discipline.

If you’re someone trying to navigate a career in design — whether you’re just starting out or leading teams — maybe my experiences and thoughts can shed some light, or at least reassure you that chaos is part of the process.

So, I’ve decided to start putting my thoughts out there — whether it’s on Medium, LinkedIn, or wherever else seems right. Not because I’ve cracked some hidden design code or think I’ve got the magic formula to revolutionize the industry. Nope.

This is more of a personal project, a chance to reflect which I’m genuinely nor practiced at doing. I’m diving into my years of UX, product and graphic design, and brand strategy to see what it all really adds up to. Honestly, it’s less about handing out wisdom and more about connecting the dots for myself — and maybe for anyone else who’s walking a similar path.

I’ve worn a lot of hats over the years: design grunt, webmaster, design leader, marketer, product manager. I’ve juggled deadlines, dealt with execs throwing curveballs, integrated brand new technologies, and I’ve tried to keep the creative spark alive in the middle of it all.

Now, as I sit down to write, I’m realizing it’s time to step back and actually make sense of the chaos. This isn’t me playing the role of teacher or pretending I’ve got any answers. I’m just here to figure out how my experiences — both the wins and the screw-ups — led to real outcomes.

At the end of the day, this whole writing thing is just as much about me learning as it is about sharing. I’m trying to get clear on a bigger picture, and if that resonates with anyone else, great. If not, maybe y’all at least get a laugh out of it.