A little about the way I work.
Iām Lena Vale, a fictional independent product designer created for this portfolio study. The work here explores how interfaces can ask less of a person while still being useful.
I start with the words someone uses to describe a problem. Usually there is a small mismatch between those words and the structure of the tool they are using. That mismatch is often a better starting point than a new feature list.
Working principles
- Make the current state understandable before adding another action.
- Let people leave a task and return without having to reconstruct the context.
- Use language that describes the result, not the mechanism.
- Keep the uncertain parts visible. A prototype is a question, not evidence of success.
What is represented here
Shelf, Window and Thread are original self-initiated concepts. Their illustrations are purpose-made interface studies. No customer outcomes, employer affiliations or research participant claims are implied.
The case pages explain a design decision, show its consequences and name a tradeoff. The small wording comparisons are functional; the pictured applications are visual studies.
Say hello
This demonstration uses an example address. Replace it with your own contact details when adapting the portfolio.