I am sure you’ve noticed, waiting patiently for my weeknotes, that this is turning into more of a monthly notes; there is a reason for this - in fact, more than one, but work-wise reason, I am on one of those projects that I can’t really discuss openly - you know the type, needs a certain security level.
I shall share as much as I can, but without oversharing!

Challenge accepted


It’s been busy, work is super busy right now - I am the sole designer on the project, so this means I run the User research sessions, I also write up the findings, I am, of course, the designer and the dot-joiner-upper. This will then lead to fortnightly presentations from me to the wider team (100-200 ppl), often in separate meetings and differing needs and presentation requirements. AND you know what? I bloody love it, throw me into a project with a lot to do - and I couldn’t be happy, something about a pig in something, but the rest of the saying escapes me.

I have been using Figma almost exclusively for the last 5 months, inventing the producut’s Design System (leaning into Tremor UI as a framework), as well as organising MVP deliverables and Post MVP deliverables, all led from the above mentioned UR sessions, which is powering a backlog and almost fueling my early assumptions (but.. I am 15-20 years in this game now!).

Very hands-on, as you can see, as well as leadership, it’s married really well on this project, and I know from the work I’ve delivered (and how I’ve delivered), I’ve been handed the trust and got that seat all designers crave.

Updating my own portfolio


Like a pig in whatever, I’ve also been updating my own portfolio - designing it out in Figma, writing case studies again and updating all sorts (CVs, LinkedIn, etc.).

What led to this madness, you ask? My connections/messages have been very mid-level led (if not lower). Upon talking to recruiters (I have a list of trusted and faithful ones!) they let me know very quickly that I can easily do the work (and have done with their references), but maybe I’m worth a little bit more, I can certainly do in the weeds and, I am also adapt in the bid/stakeholder/lets make this work chats.

Speaking to my mentor(s), it became VERY apparent how I am showcasing work done is very senior level, it follows a very strict pattern of:
Here’s a screen grab of my prototype. Here is what I did on the prototype, but no mention of what else, and it’s the what else which makes me come to work, gets my engine ticking over.
I am yet to work on a project in the last 10 years where I can “just do design” and to be honest - I am unsure I would ever take on a project that is like that, but I am also influencing, mentoring, giving back and dare-I-say arguing for the power of design.. and then i’ll do a prototype at the end.
So keep an eye out for that, it’s well overdue but also one of those “oooh gosh, now I see it” moments!

On leave and cold


We did a little glamping getaway at Ty Llewelyn Glamping and Camping, which was so much fun. We visited the bro-in-law and survived Storm Dave, which was a bloody experience in a tent!
Turns out Wales has a lot of roads in the middle of nowhere - driving through fields of cows, to no roads at all, but its defo a road on the map. A street light wouldn’t go amiss either!

It was great, though, and I’d always recommend it, but I fancy a hotel/ Airbnb stay next time… those pesky cold showers are a little rough in the morning.

A playlist for March


Being heavily inspired by a pal of mine (Chrish), who, as far as I can remember, has done a playlist for every month, and I loved that idea… and finally got around to doing it myself! So here are my March ‘26 tunes that struck a chord, some are new, some are songs I’ve just heard but have been out for a while, or some are just bangers that have kept me going. It’s a collection of whatever-no-rules.

Roll on next week! ✌️