Product sense

That screech of a 14.4k modem in my first-grade bedroom changed everything. Each night I'd wait for that digital handshake, knowing it meant I could explore something new.

I became obsessed with mastering every piece of software I could find. Building websites in FrontPage. Creating logos in Photoshop. Each new program was a playground to explore, though I didn't realize I was laying the foundation for something bigger.

I filled notebooks with sketches of every interface I encountered. When the mobile revolution hit in the late 2000s, my obsession exploded. I downloaded every app I could find, filling folders with screenshots, trying to understand why certain design decisions worked and others failed.

Architecture school taught me something unexpected: pixels and buildings solve the same problems. Reading "The Design of Everyday Things" unlocked something in my brain. A doorway and a submit button both need to tell you exactly what to do next. The best designs never make you think - they guide you naturally.

The real education came from working alongside brilliant designers at URX, Pinterest, Aesthetic, and Clubhouse. Each team taught me new ways of seeing. Each product revealed new patterns. Each failure pushed me to look closer, think deeper.

Now I lead product teams at Canva. The tools changed, but I'm still that curious kid at heart. Just instead of sketching other people's interfaces, I'm building things that impact millions of users worldwide.

Want to build product sense? Start filling your own notebooks. Break things apart until you understand every piece. Question every button. The answers are in the details. They always have been.