For example: Bad design on a health insurance website could mean forgoing a crucial doctor’s appointment because the site’s text didn’t meet WCAG accessibility guidelines. Or being slapped with an unexpected bill because there’s no way to search for in-network providers. As a designer, it’s my responsibility to make sure the user can accomplish what they need, when they need it, as smoothly as possible.

Making inclusive, accessible design takes nothing from those who won’t notice, but means everything to those who will.

For an embarrassingly long span of time, I wouldn’t use references when drawing because I thought it was cheating. In actuality, thanks to some misplaced pride I was refusing an extremely valuable tool. Letting go of that kind of pride leads to being a better collaborator, a smarter designer, and able to create a better product. Now that’s something to be proud of.

Life’s easier when you free yourself from the belief that a task has to be completed all in one go, or absolutely perfect on the first try. Got a huge pile of dishes in the sink? Wash one. What's the worst thing that happens, you have one fewer dish to clean later?

Everybody has bad mornings. Everybody has nights they didn’t get enough sleep. Everybody’s doing their best, but sometimes their best doesn’t look that great. Extend them the same kindness you’d hope to see returned– after all, you’re trying your best, too.

If a product comes in glow-in-the-dark, that’s the version I’ll be getting, thank you very much.