Innie Once More

The term “Innie” has been used amongst my colleagues to refer to an Information Architect that works inside a large organization. At the Information Architecture Summit in Phoenix this April, Dan Willis and Mags Hanley paid tribute to this concept (Innies vs Outies, a UX Death Match). I’m invoking the term here to refer to my new career adventure.

At the beginning of October, I joined the User Experience group at Oracle. A few weeks in and already I can see opportunities to contribute to this team to drive high quality interaction for all the constituents that need to interact with Oracle online. This is a pretty big task. However, I’ve been in this situation before and it’s exactly the kind of challenge that I find incredibly rewarding. I like big, gnarly, complex communication requirements. I like the set of challenges that come with “making the complex clear”. I’ve really been enjoying digging in.

As something begins it implies something has ended. In taking my new gig I had to leave my EightShapes colleagues. I’ve worked with them for many years. I met Nathan at an IA Summit based on conversations there we asked him to build a documentation system for the company I was working for at the time, Sun Microsystems. That was just the beginning of many projects.

As an employee and contractor with EightShapes, I was a trusted partner in the work I completed for clients. I learned a great deal working for and with Dan, Nathan, Dimple, Jason, John, Chris, Izac, PJ, James, José, David, Debbie, France, Anna, Geoff and our lovely and collaborative clients. I think they should know I appreciate it.

It’s been three years on the ‘Outside’. The skills I sharpened and the great projects I got to work on while consulting definitely gave me insight that I’ve been calling on in my current role. So, here’s to making the complex clear inside the organization.

Up Late Again

In anticipation of a trip to the Virginia/Bethesda region of our country, I’m up late, again. I can’t help it. I get excited when I get the chance to get together with my co-workers. Adventures await, so I’m off to bed now – really – this time. Travel is an adventure indeed. Wish me luck.

Almost There

I’ve had a second job for awhile. It’s a volunteer job. I’m on year two of co-chairing the IA Summit. We almost have the program ready this year. It’s been a long road but I think we’ve pulled together a great event that people are going to get value from. Working at my second job has definitely taken valuable blogging time this year, so I’m glad to see that I’m managing to push both forward at the moment. New habits for a new year, I guess.

So soon, the program will be live with registration, this is the Christmas morning anticipation I missed out on this year.

A UX Professional Practicing Independently

I recently had a career change occur. I am now working for myself as an independent contractor. It was an unplanned career change but not one that was unwelcome. I have spent many years acquiring knowledge at companies and consultancies. I have seen many situations, environments, and challenges. I have worked at several different and interesting places:

• 2 years at a start-up that grew from me as employee #33 to over 500 employees in a matter of months.
• 3 years at a high tech company that was fast paced, internal UX taught me the value of systems across many very complicated messages
• I’ve spent many years consulting at big and small places. I’ve worked in many industries on many different experiences including:  software, web apps, web sites, interactive storytelling, mobile web sites and theatrical performance.

I actually started my Internet career as an independent contractor. Over a decade later, it’s time I’m back. I feel I can apply my hard earned professional lessons and diverse background to helping clients as an individual. There won’t be anything in between me and my work. I can do the right thing for the client. I love the work and I want to help people. As long as I can do that, I’ll feel that I’m doing a good job as a professional and for myself.

I was inspired earlier this year by Whitney Hess and Erin Malone who also took the plunge to be on their own. I’d been thinking about it and all of a sudden the decision was made. Some times things in the universe line up and the doors just open.

So thanks universe. I’m off to go help some clients.

Recent Article

Last year Sean McKay and I worked on the sun.com home page project along with many other talented people at Sun. This month they published an article about the project in Twin Cities Business Magazine.

Thursdays Are My Favorite Day

So it’s a good day to start a new job. On a Thursday. The week is in full swing, almost winding down. You can get a feel for the place, but you don’t have the whole week in front of you. There is time to adjust and reflect over a weekend. It’s a big adjustment because I’ve been out of an office and at home for three years. But it turns out, it’s good for me to be around people too.

In homage to the first day of school pics my mom always took of me, I asked Thomas to oblige.

Note the EG brand colors incorporated into the ensemble.

This blog post dedicated to Amy and Livia because they asked.

A Blast From the Past

As I’m looking backward one last time, I just have to share my first day at Sun picture. I sure do change my hair a lot.

This picture was taken on November 15th, 2004.

Today’s ToDo List

todo

send emails
have meetings
delete user on computer
pack it all up and go to fedex

done and done

another phase of my life begins and ends

Monday Morning Reset

It’s the Monday after a long holiday weekend for me. I didn’t get much accomplished but I did rearrange my office, so I’m starting today off with a new perspective. In my new office, I get a direct view of some of the best art we own, I’m looking right at my stack of books I’ve been meaning to dig into and lovely morning light shines on me and the air conditioner blows on me.

Changing your perspective can definitely help your attitude.

Testing the calendar

This is how busy my work life is….

when do i find time for work?