Introduction
At the age of fifteen, I secured a summer position at a furniture factory. To get the job, I expressed my interest in technology and programming to the owner, specifically regarding their newly acquired CNC machine. To demonstrate my capability, I presented my academic record and was hired to support a senior operator with the machine.
That summer, I was struck by the ability to control complex machinery through programmed commands on its control board. The design and layout of the interface, as well as the tangible results yielded from my input, highlighted the intersection of technical expertise and thoughtful design. This experience sparked my curiosity about the origins and development of such systems and functionalities.
I have always maintained that design is fundamentally about clarity, how systems make sense and elicit meaningful responses. It involves translating intricate, technical concepts into experiences that are intuitive and accessible. This perspective has guided my approach throughout my career, whether developing an AI-powered dashboard for Air Canada, creating an inclusive quoting tool for TD Insurance, or designing online public services for Ontario.
The central challenge remains consistent: achieving transparency and trust in complex environments. Effective design bridges the gap between people and systems, supporting purposeful engagement.
My observational nature drives me to understand how systems operate, decisions are reached, and individuals navigate complexity. This curiosity informs my design methodology, which begins by analyzing the foundational elements, people, processes, data, and technology, that must integrate seamlessly to deliver a cohesive experience.
To me, design is not merely an aesthetic layer; it serves as the essential framework that provides structure, clarity, and empathy within multifaceted systems. Designing from this perspective, I prioritize not only usability but also alignment across stakeholders and components.
My core design strengths
Throughout my career, I have found that my most effective work comes from applying a set of foundational strengths to every project. These strengths consistently guide my approach and ensure each solution is thoughtful, impactful, and built for real-world complexity.
✓ Systems Thinking: I make it a priority to look beyond surface-level interfaces. My approach involves examining how data, people, and technology interact and influence each other within a system. By doing so, I can design solutions that are not only visually appealing but also deeply integrated and sustainable across the entire ecosystem.
✓ Human-Centred Design: Every design decision I make is grounded in observation and empathy. I focus on the user’s experience, prioritizing how it feels to engage with the product or service. My aim is to create solutions that resonate with individuals on a practical and emotional level.
✓ Accessibility & Inclusion: Designing for everyone is a fundamental principle for me. I strive to ensure that the experiences I create are not just compliant with accessibility standards, but are genuinely usable and fair for all users. Inclusion is woven into the fabric of my process, shaping outcomes that reflect the diversity of people who will interact with them.
✓ Storytelling & Visualization: I leverage visual storytelling to simplify and clarify complex ideas. Using visuals, I help teams and stakeholders see both what we are building and why it matters. This approach fosters understanding and alignment, making the design process transparent and purposeful.
✓ Facilitation & Collaboration: I believe that the best insights and solutions emerge when diverse voices contribute to the process. By facilitating collaboration, I encourage open dialogue and collective problem-solving, ensuring that outcomes are shaped by a broad range of perspectives and expertise.
If I had to distill all these strengths into a single guiding principle, it would be this: “I design to understand, not just to create.”
My design approach: a cyclical process
Design, for me, is less of a straight line and more of a cycle, a continuous rhythm of curiosity, synthesis, and iteration. This process shapes how I approach every project, ensuring that each step builds upon the previous insights and discoveries.
1. Understand the System: I begin by mapping the entire ecosystem, considering all the people involved, their goals, the relevant data, and any constraints. This foundational understanding allows me to see how different elements interact and influence each other.
2. Observe the Experience: Next, I dedicate time to watch, listen, and learn how people actually engage with the system. Through observation and empathy, I uncover genuine behaviours and needs that may not be immediately apparent.
3. Synthesize & Prioritize: I then translate my findings into clear opportunities and actionable design principles. This synthesis helps to focus efforts on what matters most, guiding the team toward solutions that address real challenges.
4. Visualize the Future: Prototyping and iteration are central to my approach. I work to make complexity feel simple and trustworthy, refining concepts until the design communicates clarity and confidence.
5. Deliver & Educate: Finally, I collaborate with developers, stakeholders, and accessibility teams to bring the vision to life. I also focus on making the solution scalable, ensuring that the impact and understanding extend as the project grows.
Good design isn’t just creative, it’s disciplined, methodical, and deeply human.
Projects that demonstrate impact
Transforming operations at Air Canada
At Air Canada, I was responsible for designing AI dashboards that transformed predictive data into clear, actionable insights. These dashboards provided operations teams with the tools to act quickly and effectively, which resulted in a significant reduction in delay response time, by 25%. This project highlighted the value of turning complex data into meaningful information that drives real-world improvements.
Advancing accessibility at TD Insurance
During my time at TD Insurance, I led an accessibility-first redesign of the Auto and Travel Quoter. My approach was centred on ensuring that the solution met the rigorous standards of WCAG 2.1 AA compliance. The redesign not only made the product fully accessible, but also drove an 18% increase in conversions. This experience reinforced the importance of designing for everyone and demonstrated how accessibility can be a catalyst for business growth.
Simplifying government services for Ontarians
With the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, I took on the challenge of redesigning a complex government service. My focus was on simplifying the process for citizens, making it easier and more intuitive to use. The result was a 40% reduction in form completion time, making government interactions smoother and more efficient for the people of Ontario.
Clarity as a catalyst
What stands out to me about these projects is that each one demonstrates a universal truth: clarity scales. When people have a clear understanding of what they are doing and why, efficiency, trust, and accessibility naturally follow. These outcomes prove that good design is not just about aesthetics, it’s about making information actionable and understandable, leading to measurable impact.
Reflection
The best design doesn’t add more, it removes confusion. It connects people, systems, and intent, turning complexity into clarity.
If your organization is wrestling with complexity, whether that’s data, accessibility, or AI, that’s exactly where design can make the biggest difference.
At Mimico Design House, we specialize in helping teams turn that complexity into clarity, mapping systems, simplifying experiences, and designing interfaces that people actually understand and trust.
Through a combination of human-centered design, systems thinking, and accessibility expertise, I work with organizations to bridge the gap between business strategy and user experience, transforming friction points into moments of understanding.
If your team is facing challenges with alignment, usability, or data-driven decision-making, I’d love to explore how we can help.
You can connect with me directly on LinkedIn or visit mimicodesignhouse.com to learn more about how we help organizations design systems people believe in.
