Revision Path

We're headed back to the Caribbean this week and talking with designer and creative director Tanya Marie. Tanya is the creator of Designer Island, an online publication that curates the modern Caribbean aesthetic.

We talked about why Tanya started Designer Island, and from there explored a bit about the Caribbean design aesthetic and what it means. She also shared how she first got into design, the new journey of entrepreneurship, and gave some context on what designers should know about about the Caribbean design community. Tanya's mission is about changing the way people view "made in the Caribbean", and I think you'll come away from this interview with a new and fresh perspective. Thanks Tanya!

We're closing out the month out with a conversation with Facebook product designer Jacklyn Laryea. Jacklyn's relatively new at Facebook, but her background includes work at PBS, The Atlantic, and AOL.

Although we started off talking about what Jacklyn does at Facebook, we ended up discussing a lot of different topics, including how Jacklyn's Ghanaian roots influence her work, what she wants to see from the design community, and her advice for up and coming designers. But the interview's not all serious -- we end up having a few laughs too!

John Angelo is a product design lead for Facebook News. He uses his specialty with emotive psychology and interaction design to make sure users are not just easily using the service, but that they're happy while doing it.

John started off telling me about his passion for news and about how growing up all over the world left an impression on him as a designer. We also talked about the ins and outs of interaction design, how he approaches new projects, and some of the highlights of his career. John's had a really interesting career, and I'm looking forward to seeing what he'll bring to Facebook!

We've got a special bonus episode for you this week! I had the opportunity to talk with Maya Patterson, a product designer for Trunk Club in Chicago, Illinois. After a few chats in our Slack community about diversity and the state of design media, I thought she would me a fantastic guest.

Our conversation began with a look into a typical day for her at Trunk Club, and she shared how she got into product design, as well as the challenges she's faced being a Black woman in this field. We recorded our talk last week, so we also spend time unpacking our post-election feelings and looking at ways designers can get involved with using their talents to make social change. Hopefully you'll come away from this episode with some food for thought!

I first heard about Karla Cole through a past guest -- Allan Cole (no relation). As one of Facebook's newest product designers, Karla works on one the composer unit, one of Facebook's most vital features that asks "what's on your mind" when you want to make a Facebook post.

Karla and I touched on a lot of topics, including design curriculum, how she approaches new projects, some of her dream projects, and her journey as a designer from North Carolina to Virginia to NYC to Facebook. Karla has some big goals for the future, and the combination of her enthusiasm and talent make her a force to be reckoned with in the design industry!

Last month, I had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity -- visiting Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park, CA! I recorded some interviews while I was there that will air this month, and I spoke as part of Facebook's Design Lecture Series. First up, I'm talking with UX research manager Reggie Murphy.

We started off by going into what UX research is and why it's important for designers, and Reggie shared how studying radio websites in the mid-90s turned into the career he has today. Reggie also gave some great advice and resources for those of you interested in UX research and how it's used to make design decisions at Facebook on a regular basis. Thanks to Facebook for helping make this month's interviews happen!

You're really in for a great conversation this week! Sela Lewis described herself to me as "a designer who writes", but I think it's better to describe her as a designer who thinks. Whether she's expressing herself through her blog or taking on lofty design projects, Sela is always figuring out how her design skills can exist in multiple spaces to make the best impact on the world.

We started off with her current work at Education Trust, and from there dove into a number of topics: Black women and creativity, NYC design culture vs. DC design culture, how travel has shaped her design thinking, and a lot more. We even talk a little about the current season of network and cable television! Sela says that designers should always make themselves a part of the deeper conversation, and I think this episode is a great example of that.

If you're not inspired after hearing Jonathan Key talk about design, you might need to check your pulse! Jonathan's design work is all about representation, whether it's through his creative collective Codify Art or by taking a stand against state-sponsored violence by the police via Artists Against Police Violence. And he's still doing more!

We started our conversation by discussing why it's important for artists and designers to be involved with social issues, and from there talked about his time at Brown University and RISD and how those experiences shaped his current work. He also mentioned the design work he's doing in the black LGBT community and talked about the artists and designers who influence his work. Overall, it's a great interview with someone who takes design and its power in our society very seriously. I hope you get inspired!

Larrie King has a really interesting vantage point in the design community. As an assistant professor of design at Kent State University, he teaches the next generation of designers to take on the challenges of our ever-changing world. And as creative director of Glyphix Studio, he oversees projects and keeps clients happy. It's the best of both worlds!

We spent a good bit of our conversation talking about design education and how he manages both of his roles at KSU. We also spoke on diversity in the design industry, his design influences, and his current work with Lifewater International. Larrie's message of inclusion is really important for designers everywhere, and I'm glad to speak to someone that's really doing the work and paving the way for the future!

Have I mentioned lately that I love our Slack community? There are so many talented and amazing people there, including this week's guest -- Lyn Muldrow! Lyn is a front-end developer, as well as the technical manager for Oakland-based nonprofit organization Hack the Hood.

We talked about how she got interested in technology at an early age, her experiences in Silicon Valley (and how that led her to where she is now), and we touch on the double consciousness around "being yourself" in an industry that expects you to conform to culture fit. Lyn also recently attended the White House for their LGBTQ Tech and Innovation Summit, so keep an eye out for her -- she's on the rise!