I’ve been in this industry for a long time. In the early days, we were all exploring this new medium to see what we could do with it and how far we could push its boundaries. There was a lot of focus on creativity but not much on usability. Now we know what works and have settled on familiar patterns, and we focus on inclusivity. The trickier part is infusing our digital products with personality.
My career in London started at a small web design agency called Clockwork Web. It was 1997; the Spice Girls dominated popular culture, and Tony Blair was elected Prime Minister. We were based in a squalid office with no windows on Newman Street, just off Oxford Street. It wasn't glamorous but it was thrilling – being paid to do something that was experimental and ahead of the curve. We were a bunch of enthusiasts trying out this new “web design” thing, and somehow managing to make a living.
Since those halcyon days I have worked at BBC Online, lastminute.com, and for many agencies permanent and freelance. I've seen the industry change dramatically; the crash of 2001, the gradual renaissance, the rise of Big Tech, increasing professionalism and then the homogenisation of the process. I've learned a lot about myself – that I'm a do-er, I like to be hands-on, but I also love to create and lead the realisation of a vision.
My present role at TotallyMoney is extremely well-suited to my skills and personality. We have a fantastic, diverse, sociable team. I lead a small UI team within the product design group, and have been given the freedom to completely overhaul the visual design of the product. We're a modern company with a forward-looking ethos and an exceptionally positive attitude.
The key to longevity in this industry is a willingness to adapt. Embrace change: to tools, devices, ways of working, strategies, people and priorities.
The apps I use most often in my workflow are Figma, Notion, Slack and Principle.