Principal product designer + software engineer. Currently building ConnectHV, the creative community for the Hudson Valley.https://bsky.app/profile/connecthv.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/connecthv.com/post/3lmrlo4bzpn2cI had to install Adobe Illustrator to export something for work. Haven't used a Creative Cloud app on purpose in 10 years. This is the industry standard? Are we sure?14 Apr 2025 12:44 +0000at://did:plc:lvafxs4gmlua3c3rt3up3l45/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmrlo4bzpn2chttps://bsky.app/profile/connecthv.com/post/3lklsniz6oq27Refining some macrodata (collecting paperwork for taxes)17 Mar 2025 18:42 +0000at://did:plc:lvafxs4gmlua3c3rt3up3l45/app.bsky.feed.post/3lklsniz6oq27https://bsky.app/profile/connecthv.com/post/3lklbjqq5jy22Getting organized can be a form of procrastination.17 Mar 2025 13:36 +0000at://did:plc:lvafxs4gmlua3c3rt3up3l45/app.bsky.feed.post/3lklbjqq5jy22https://bsky.app/profile/connecthv.com/post/3lklb2nvshs2yI consume so much more coffee on days that are gloomy.17 Mar 2025 13:27 +0000at://did:plc:lvafxs4gmlua3c3rt3up3l45/app.bsky.feed.post/3lklb2nvshs2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/connecthv.com/post/3lklax36tuc2cMy task for the week is to get my *systems* in order. Note-taking, task management, file management... anything that I've been neglecting that I can make run on autopilot.17 Mar 2025 13:25 +0000at://did:plc:lvafxs4gmlua3c3rt3up3l45/app.bsky.feed.post/3lklax36tuc2chttps://bsky.app/profile/connecthv.com/post/3lklawp42vs2cLast week of funemployment begins today!17 Mar 2025 13:25 +0000at://did:plc:lvafxs4gmlua3c3rt3up3l45/app.bsky.feed.post/3lklawp42vs2chttps://bsky.app/profile/connecthv.com/post/3lkbgqobzuz2tI could only hear the bassline of the music playing in this coffee shop and I was pretty sure it was Biggie Smalls. But now I'm listening and I think it's a techno remix of Neil Young?13 Mar 2025 15:43 +0000at://did:plc:lvafxs4gmlua3c3rt3up3l45/app.bsky.feed.post/3lkbgqobzuz2thttps://bsky.app/profile/connecthv.com/post/3lk7hewbxcq2sI like Feedbin as my RSS reader, for a few reasons: 🔠 Good typography 🎨 Good design in general 🎚️ Has filters, so I can knock out stuff I'm not interested in seeing ▶️ Supports YouTube & Reddit feeds too ☁️ Connects with Raindrop, my preferred bookmarking service12 Mar 2025 20:49 +0000at://did:plc:lvafxs4gmlua3c3rt3up3l45/app.bsky.feed.post/3lk7hewbxcq2shttps://bsky.app/profile/connecthv.com/post/3lk6wfg7p4e2yI cleared out my RSS reader and am trying a new approach... 👇12 Mar 2025 15:45 +0000at://did:plc:lvafxs4gmlua3c3rt3up3l45/app.bsky.feed.post/3lk6wfg7p4e2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/connecthv.com/post/3lk6mfaszqh2yIt doesn't hurt to just ask for what you want. Be direct. Directness is underrated.12 Mar 2025 12:46 +0000at://did:plc:lvafxs4gmlua3c3rt3up3l45/app.bsky.feed.post/3lk6mfaszqh2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/connecthv.com/post/3lk4wu7lpmx2tI've been thinking a lot about how to stop letting algorithms (and, by extension, corporations and other "non-me" entities) dictating what I spend time thinking about.11 Mar 2025 20:48 +0000at://did:plc:lvafxs4gmlua3c3rt3up3l45/app.bsky.feed.post/3lk4wu7lpmx2thttps://bsky.app/profile/connecthv.com/post/3lk4fumkfgf2jI want to get better at rigorous note-taking, for a few reasons: 👇11 Mar 2025 15:44 +0000at://did:plc:lvafxs4gmlua3c3rt3up3l45/app.bsky.feed.post/3lk4fumkfgf2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/connecthv.com/post/3lji3ntbxrc2eOne underrated part of funemployment is that I can do everything on one computer, using the tools I prefer. No more using Jira for work tasks and Linear for ConnectHV, or Google Docs for work notes and Obsidian for personal.03 Mar 2025 13:48 +0000at://did:plc:lvafxs4gmlua3c3rt3up3l45/app.bsky.feed.post/3lji3ntbxrc2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/connecthv.com/post/3ljh5ahjgi22oThere's a real lack of quality writing aimed at staff/principal/lead-level design ICs and "player-coach" design leaders. So here we go — a newsletter aimed at mature product designers who don't need more Figma tutorials. Check it out and subscribe for free! digitalterroir.org https://digitalterroir.org03 Mar 2025 04:43 +0000at://did:plc:lvafxs4gmlua3c3rt3up3l45/app.bsky.feed.post/3ljh5ahjgi22ohttps://bsky.app/profile/connecthv.com/post/3lik7rwcsnf2oI propose renaming “elevator pitch” to “waiting for the last person to arrive in a Zoom meeting pitch”19 Feb 2025 16:42 +0000at://did:plc:lvafxs4gmlua3c3rt3up3l45/app.bsky.feed.post/3lik7rwcsnf2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/connecthv.com/post/3lijvvgdmby2lSome decisions are easily reversible. Others? They're one-way doors. 🚪🔒 I prefer reversible ones. There’s comfort in knowing you can pivot if things don’t go as planned. But sometimes, one-way doors are necessary. No risk, no reward! So when is a decision a one-way door? 👇19 Feb 2025 13:45 +0000at://did:plc:lvafxs4gmlua3c3rt3up3l45/app.bsky.feed.post/3lijvvgdmby2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/connecthv.com/post/3liiaasrp6724The blank screen is intimidating. Without the constraints of the physical world, we’re limited only by what the browser or OS can render. This is exhilarating—but also overwhelming. With infinite possible solutions to any problem, how do we choose the right one? 👇18 Feb 2025 21:45 +0000at://did:plc:lvafxs4gmlua3c3rt3up3l45/app.bsky.feed.post/3liiaasrp6724https://bsky.app/profile/connecthv.com/post/3lihpieppph24There’s too much work to do, and too little time. Too few designers. Too little energy. You can’t singlehandedly design every interface, landing page, icon, and social post. No matter how large your team, some things will always take priority over others. 👇18 Feb 2025 16:45 +0000at://did:plc:lvafxs4gmlua3c3rt3up3l45/app.bsky.feed.post/3lihpieppph24https://bsky.app/profile/connecthv.com/post/3lihfgivqc62wThe bigger the company, the harder it is to change. So, is a design system really worth it for large enterprises with legacy products and deeply ingrained processes? Absolutely. Here’s why: 👇18 Feb 2025 13:45 +0000at://did:plc:lvafxs4gmlua3c3rt3up3l45/app.bsky.feed.post/3lihfgivqc62whttps://bsky.app/profile/connecthv.com/post/3lifprv62hb23Design systems are ultimately a political challenge, not a design/engineering challenge. Building the system isn't the hard part; it's persuading teams to adopt it. It's about the people, not the artifact.17 Feb 2025 21:45 +0000at://did:plc:lvafxs4gmlua3c3rt3up3l45/app.bsky.feed.post/3lifprv62hb23https://bsky.app/profile/connecthv.com/post/3lif6zhcfho2zThe best Product Designers have some Product Manager DNA.17 Feb 2025 16:45 +0000at://did:plc:lvafxs4gmlua3c3rt3up3l45/app.bsky.feed.post/3lif6zhcfho2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/connecthv.com/post/3lieuxlgb7p2iA design system should empower, not constrain, a team.17 Feb 2025 13:45 +0000at://did:plc:lvafxs4gmlua3c3rt3up3l45/app.bsky.feed.post/3lieuxlgb7p2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/connecthv.com/post/3lidazucaic2nI'm a software designer & engineer with 15+ years of experience at big companies, startups, and more. I post about design strategy, design engineering, and how software interacts with place ("digital terroir"). I also build ConnectHV, the creative community for the Hudson Valley. Follow along!16 Feb 2025 22:15 +0000at://did:plc:lvafxs4gmlua3c3rt3up3l45/app.bsky.feed.post/3lidazucaic2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/connecthv.com/post/3licgu4wi3724There's a real lack of quality writing for late-career IC product designers.16 Feb 2025 14:27 +0000at://did:plc:lvafxs4gmlua3c3rt3up3l45/app.bsky.feed.post/3licgu4wi3724https://bsky.app/profile/connecthv.com/post/3lhhk6tseav26I miss the days when "online" was somewhere you went, not someone you were.05 Feb 2025 21:45 +0000at://did:plc:lvafxs4gmlua3c3rt3up3l45/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhhk6tseav26https://bsky.app/profile/connecthv.com/post/3lhhk6tqlqm27"Hudson Valley" is the adjective; "The Hudson Valley" is the noun.05 Feb 2025 21:45 +0000at://did:plc:lvafxs4gmlua3c3rt3up3l45/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhhk6tqlqm27https://bsky.app/profile/connecthv.com/post/3lhgzggru232dI've been really digging this album for work lately: https://music.apple.com/us/album/due-in-color/1675870065 In the words of Pitchfork: "the dreamiest ambient music, given the massive scale and physical presence of an earthshaking club soundsystem."05 Feb 2025 16:45 +0000at://did:plc:lvafxs4gmlua3c3rt3up3l45/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhgzggru232dhttps://bsky.app/profile/connecthv.com/post/3lhgpek5myi2uI added a ton of drone footage I've taken to AWS S3 and made it available to anyone via an Unsplash-like UI on the ConnectHV website. Doing this has nearly 4X'd my monthly AWS bill ⚠️ (But it's worth it, because it was $0.07/mo and now it's like $0.30/mo.)05 Feb 2025 13:45 +0000at://did:plc:lvafxs4gmlua3c3rt3up3l45/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhgpek5myi2u