Author Archives: Elizabeth Pizzuti

We’re stewards, not owners: User experience and open source

I work at a relatively large organization. There are many divisions and teams, and products within the larger product. At this organization, I design for people using these products. To add another layer of complexity, the products we design and build are open source. This means that beyond the end users of the product, merchantsContinue reading “We’re stewards, not owners: User experience and open source”

How to be a better designer, Part 1: Consequences of social media algorithms

I’ve been meaning to write this post on the consequences and power of data, and reflecting on what power we have as designers to make things better. It’s becoming more clear as time goes on, some of the things we design (or technologies we facilitate with our design) related to our work on certain platformsContinue reading “How to be a better designer, Part 1: Consequences of social media algorithms”

Design, cooking, and frameworks for creativity

I’ve had to think about my ideation and design process a lot lately, transitioning from a background of customer-centered product design to tech companies that are more driven by engineering. How does design work in these environments? Also, during the recent extensive time at home I’ve managed to cook a lot of meals. I hadContinue reading “Design, cooking, and frameworks for creativity”

Using technology to connect us with shopping IRL

Some context: I designed an app a little while back that connect you with points of interest around the city, and you could follow different paths based on your location and interests. Although there’s a lot of talk about how much technology disconnects us from the world around us, I’ve always been fascinated by theContinue reading “Using technology to connect us with shopping IRL”

Rethinking Retail: 4 Opportunities to Upgrade the Associate Experience

At HBC Tech, one of the company’s current initiatives is to bridge the divide between the physical and digital experience. Saks Fifth Avenue has a considerable network of retail locations throughout the US, and our goal is to use technology to entice more people into these stores. More specifically, one initiative focuses on connecting newContinue reading “Rethinking Retail: 4 Opportunities to Upgrade the Associate Experience”

Notes on Creativity and Originality in Digital Product Design

Designers are extremely creative people, but the design of websites and digital products is becoming less and less so. And it’s not just because of responsive web design. I’ve been thinking about why this is happening, and in my research for a new platform I’m building, I asked many designers their opinions on the topic.Continue reading “Notes on Creativity and Originality in Digital Product Design”

The Earliest Stage of a Startup: Finding Your Purpose

Something I’ve always found useful is documenting my process and publishing it. It allows me to follow the thread of ideas and crucial areas to return to (or to let go). I’ve been working for nine years and freelancing for five of those (counting two years in grad school), so I’ve had a wide varietyContinue reading “The Earliest Stage of a Startup: Finding Your Purpose”

Design Principles [WIP]

AKA a (trying not to be douchey) design manifesto for myself while designing for the Internets. Message It’s not about what program you’re using, it’s about the message you’re trying to communicate. Choose the tool that satisfies your objectives.  Integrity Form follows function. Think It’s not about whether designers should code, or whether everything shouldContinue reading “Design Principles [WIP]”

#artTech: The art world is failing and we can help

It was a day the art world had never seen before. Last Monday at Christie’s auction house in New York, a Picasso painting sold for $179 million, which sets a record for the most expensive item ever to sell at auction. In total, the auction house sold more than $1 billion of art over three days –Continue reading “#artTech: The art world is failing and we can help”