Projects & Initiatives

2024 marked significant milestones in my professional journey, particularly with Laws of UX. In February, I released the second edition of the book, which quickly became the #1 new release in user experience & website usability on Amazon. The book’s reach expanded globally with translations into Bulgarian, Korean, German, Thai, and Portuguese (in addition to the 10 translations of the first edition).

The Laws of UX website also experienced substantial growth with fresh content, new articles, and a French translation—making the resource accessible to a wider global audience. Also, I finally added a light mode theme! I’m excited with how the site has continued to grow and evolve, and I plan to build upon this momentum in the coming year.

I also continued growing Humane by Design with a new article on the cost of personalization and what we lose when algorithms make autonomous decisions on our behalf. The digital garden also grew with a few new ideas and the resources were updated on a continual basis.

Another significant focus this year has been a variety of Mixpanel projects, namely those related to Data Governance and the launch of Session Replay. These projects have been incredibly challenging from both a design and collaboration perspective, and I’ve learned and grown as a result. I look forward to continuing to push these projects and grow as designer, as a strategic thinking, and as a teammate.

In recent months, I’ve focused on developing personal tools using generative AI. It’s been exciting to not only explore AI’s capabilities but also to build tools that serve my specific needs. While I remain cautiously skeptical of generative AI as a universal solution, it has unlocked capabilities that would have required significantly more time and effort in the past. Stay tuned for updates on these projects!

Speaking

I’ve been making a concerted effort to invest in my storytelling and presentation skills over the years, and this dedication shone through in the various speaking engagements and workshops I conducted in 2024. The highlight of the year brought me to Budapest to present at the 10-year anniversary of Craft Conference. I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to share at such an engaging event, for the memories made in the beautiful historic city of Budapest, and for the new friendships forged along the way. Opportunities like this fill me with energy and inspire me to continue building and exploring.

It was also an honor to share with students at the University of Michigan - School of Information—not once but twice! Engaging with such bright minds and contributing to their journey in shaping the future of design was truly inspiring. It’s also a great reminder of why I love sharing with aspiring designers and always seem to leave feeling energized after those visits.

Speaking at AAF Memphis held special meaning, as it offered me the chance to return to where my journey began. I was thrilled to visit, share a topic I’m deeply passionate about, and reconnect with college friends while reminiscing about our memories at Memphis College of Art.

It was also an honor to be the inaugural speaker of the Mondo Robot Book Club. I’m always exciting to share and discuss a topic I’m so passionate about with fellow builders, and this particular visit was quite engaging. Other events include Portland Design Month, conducted workshops with MICA students, spoke with students at Code School Barcelona, and presented at several smaller online events.

Interviews

In 2024, I participated in several engaging interviews that allowed me to explore topics close to my heart. A notable highlight was my interview with Lovers Magazine. I also had a great conversation on Unfolding Innovation, where we discussed UX design principles, psychology’s role in digital products, my professional insights, design ethics, and emerging technologies like AI and spatial computing. I also enjoyed speaking with Andrés Zapata about the 2nd edition of Laws of UX and sharing my perspectives on The Inner Game of Change podcast with Ali Juma.

Writing

I didn’t write extensively this year, which I attribute to spending much of 2023 focused on the 2nd edition of Laws of UX. I was admittedly a bit burned out on writing. Nevertheless, I published several articles that I thoroughly enjoyed developing. A highlight was Journey Reflection, which explored the key projects, people, and lessons I’ve encountered along my path. Taking time to contemplate these formative experiences proved deeply cathartic.

Journey Reflection was a reflection the key projects, people and learnings that I’ve gathered along my professional journey. Visit

I also expanded Laws of UX with new articles that add depth to the website and support its psychological theories and concepts. My favorite piece, Familiar vs Novel, examines when designers should break from familiarity in favor of novelty. This article stemmed from a frequent question I receive about Jakob’s Law, and I’m glad I finally captured my thoughts on the topic.

Travel

Traveling to new places is one of my favorite things, and 2024 brought several exciting destinations. The year began with a Mixcursion in Las Vegas—Mixpanel’s annual company retreat for team building and celebration. While gambling isn’t my scene, experiencing the city for the first time was memorable. The highlights were Omega Mart by MeowWolf and Valley of Fire state park.

For Spring Break, we ventured to Arizona, horseback riding in Phoenix before exploring Sedona. Watching my daughters discover new places brings me joy—there’s something incredibly fulfilling about exploring the world together. The Grand Canyon was particularly spectacular, serving as an awe-inspiring testament to our planet’s beauty.

Some visual exploration I did following the Sedona trip, which was inspired by the Sedona’s famous vortexes. These locations are thought to be where the Earth’s energy is amplified and concentrated. Visit

Budapest, however, stood out as my favorite trip of the year. My first visit to Hungary and Central Europe exceeded all expectations. I immersed myself in the excellent Hungarian cuisine, marveled at the grand architecture and monuments, strolled along the Danube River, and explored the unique ruin bars. The city’s rich and complex history, like that of any ancient metropolis, fascinated me.

My first trip to Mexico rounded out the summer, as I traveled to Cancún for my cousin’s wedding. It was the perfect blend of family time and tropical paradise. Between the beautiful ceremony, mesmerizing waters, and perfect weather, the trip was magical—and we fortunately departed just before Hurricane Helene arrived.

While I also revisited some familiar places throughout the year, these new adventures stood out. I’m eager to maintain this exploratory momentum into 2025 and add even more destinations to my list.

Personal Development

2024 was in many ways a continuation of some good habits I’ve formed over the years. A continued focus on fitness and health, reading, research and tinkering with side projects or ideas were all weekly if not daily rituals that I’ve normalized.

I maintained my focus on fitness and health with consistent weekly weight training sessions. While I scaled back on running, I added kickboxing to my routine after installing a heavy bag in my home gym. Moving my workouts to mornings has transformed them into an essential part of my day that I genuinely look forward to. A greater emphasis on stretching has helped me stay injury-free. I plan to continue this momentum into 2025, building upon the progress I’ve made over the years.

I also made an effort to read more in 2024. While I didn’t finish as many books as I would have liked, I did cover a lot of ground. My favorite book was Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making by Tony Fadell. As a builder, I found this book incredibly fascinating and insightful in the way it blends experiences, history, anecdotes and advice. Other books that found my way on the reading list were Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Essential Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger, Universal Principles of UX: 100 Timeless Strategies to Create Positive Interactions between People and Technology, and The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking: Leading Your Organization into the Future.

Challenges

2024 brought significant challenges. Two of my closest friends lost their mothers this year, following my own mother’s passing the year before. Losing a parent is incredibly difficult and illuminates life’s finite nature, forever changing how you view the world and your time in it.

Other challenges in 2024 involved interpersonal relationships, particularly in achieving alignment and making meaningful impact. Though frustrating at times, I’ve come to see these difficulties as opportunities for growth. From this perspective, I’ve gained valuable insights and remain optimistic about the year ahead.

Looking Forward

Looking ahead to 2025, I’m ready to build on the strong momentum from this past year. My speaking engagements and workshops, professional work, and personal growth have created a solid foundation that positions me well for new opportunities. I’m energized to take on fresh challenges, deepen my expertise, and push the boundaries of what’s possible both personally and professionally.