Hi. I’m Annie
I came to technology innovation because I’m a translator. I like telling people over here what the people over there are trying to say. I started out by studying languages, morphing into a polyglot and living in as many different foreign places as I could. Then the internet came out.
From Dial-up to Design Systems
As the internet got bigger, the world got smaller. More and more people were trying to connect, to sell, to explore. I started by bringing English translation skills to Spanish companies, then ended up involved in large user requirements gatherings projects in London, urgently needing to consolidate customer asset data as the financial system crashed around us. Back in Australia, I joined some of the first Agile squads as traditional publishing media went digital. I went on to deliver new technology experiences across finance, education, media, software and utilities companies. My biggest painpoint? Investing in a digitisation of my treasured CD collection into mini-discs, an expensive project that was completed about a month before the first iPod came out. Owch. And thus I had my first learning into the importance of contextual design.
Deep-diving into humans
In 2010 I decided to double-down on my investigative nature and commenced (and more importantly, completed!) a transdisciplinary PhD which looked at how meaning is interactionally created in one of the most resilient communities on earth. As one of my examiners said ‘this type of [transdisciplinary] work takes tireless intellectual, physical and spiritual endurance’. So apart from giving me deep exposure to lots of methods such as ethnography (approaches I have continued to evolve in my application to software and service design), I also developed a hefty dose of grit. Importanly, I can see through optics versus science much more easily now, something especially neccessary in this AI-ge that we find ourselves in.
Who I work with
I work with companies that are intent on transforming a part of their service or product offering in a high-impact way for a significant return on investment. I work with start-ups, scale-ups or companies that are innovating with small, autonomous teams and that encourage flat structures with smart and humble attitudes. I straddle data, design and product and have been accused of delivering high impact business targets without being asked to. Thank-you and you’re welcome.
Where I work
I’m based in Melbourne, Australia. Can work hybrid in Melbourne or across Australia. Remote for all global clients but I’m happy to travel for important alignment or value-add events.
Relevant titles (if that makes you more comfortable)
UX Principal/ Lead/ Researcher / Head of / Consultant
Product Designer/ Lead / Owner / Manager
Service Designer/ Lead
Value Realisation Lead (on projects that use AI tech)
Innovation Program Manager
How I work
To me great design is about being a great band member. I’ve worked with over 30 different cross-functional teams, and I still couldn’t say there is a consistent role I take. I do know my limitations and I will call it out early on in the piece if there is a capability gap that needs to be filled. Because I have experience from research to strategy to UI, I tend to place myself most strongly wherever the most urgent /highest value need is but my greatest contributions always happen in concert with a team. I have amazing design ‘band members’ that I riff well with that can come on as part of my team if we need more capability beyond myself.
The cost
I come, I do, I leave. My aim is for you to have a high-impact, modular capability that you can budget and plan around against your other competing business costs. Costs for engagements are typically between AUD 30 - 50K, although each project is quoted individually. If you like what you get, you can get me back again later. I’m open to equity exchanges for smaller start-ups.