For exercises that generate real-time performance data (e.g. distance, calories burned, repetitions), many fitness classes encourage friendly competition through a digital leaderboard visible to their students for the duration of a session. Design an experience including a large television display for the leaderboard and a simple smartphone app for agreeing to participate and choosing a public identity.
Having worked on various products at Nike, I am quite familiar with the fitness space, however, this design exercise posed some unique problems for me; I wanted to approach it with a clean slate and build a very different experience from what I had attempted to do before. I needed the user to guide me in the right direction and enable me to solve some core group workout problems using a leaderboard and a companion application.
These words by Bill Bowerman - Co-Founder of Nike, would also help to guide me: “If you have a body, you are an athlete.”
During my research, some key concerns were surfaced regarding the exclusive nature of group fitness classes, the lack of cultural and ethnic diversity, and the price-point which makes group workouts inaccessible to many. Although solving these bigger problems would take more than just a leaderboard and a smartphone application, I wanted to use these very touch-points to help make this experience more inclusive and lay the foundations for a fitness platform that could be independently driven by its users.”
Having worked on various products at Nike, I am quite familiar with the fitness space, however, this design exercise posed some unique problems for me; I wanted to approach it with a clean slate and build a very different experience from what I had attempted to do before. I needed the user to guide me in the right direction and enable me to solve some core group workout problems using a leaderboard and a companion application.
These words by Bill Bowerman - Co-Founder of Nike, would also help to guide me: “If you have a body, you are an athlete.”
During my research, some key concerns were surfaced regarding the exclusive nature of group fitness classes, the lack of cultural and ethnic diversity, and the price-point which makes group workouts inaccessible to many. Although solving these bigger problems would take more than just a leaderboard and a smartphone application, I wanted to use these very touch-points to help make this experience more inclusive and lay the foundations for a fitness platform that could be independently driven by its users.”
In the summer of 2019, we discovered that people on low-RAM (1.5GB or less) Android phones weren’t having the best Instagram experiences. When we looked closer, it was clear their experience of Instagram on these devices was slow, buggy and unreliable. We also learned that many people using low-RAM devices live in emerging markets like India, Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America where, not only are the devices different, but so, too, are the needs of people in those areas — especially compared to people in the more developed markets on which Instagram had historically focused. In short, we weren’t providing the same well-crafted Instagram experience to these people as we were for those who had easy access to Wi-Fi, speedy networks, low-to-no data constraints, and space on their devices for a plethora of apps.
In the summer of 2019, we discovered that people on low-RAM (1.5GB or less) Android phones weren’t having the best Instagram experiences. When we looked closer, it was clear their experience of Instagram on these devices was slow, buggy and unreliable. We also learned that many people using low-RAM devices live in emerging markets like India, Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America where, not only are the devices different, but so, too, are the needs of people in those areas — especially compared to people in the more developed markets on which Instagram had historically focused. In short, we weren’t providing the same well-crafted Instagram experience to these people as we were for those who had easy access to Wi-Fi, speedy networks, low-to-no data constraints, and space on their devices for a plethora of apps.
In the summer of 2019, we discovered that people on low-RAM (1.5GB or less) Android phones weren’t having the best Instagram experiences. When we looked closer, it was clear their experience of Instagram on these devices was slow, buggy and unreliable. We also learned that many people using low-RAM devices live in emerging markets like India, Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America where, not only are the devices different, but so, too, are the needs of people in those areas — especially compared to people in the more developed markets on which Instagram had historically focused. In short, we weren’t providing the same well-crafted Instagram experience to these people as we were for those who had easy access to Wi-Fi, speedy networks, low-to-no data constraints, and space on their devices for a plethora of apps.
In the summer of 2019, we discovered that people on low-RAM (1.5GB or less) Android phones weren’t having the best Instagram experiences. When we looked closer, it was clear their experience of Instagram on these devices was slow, buggy and unreliable. We also learned that many people using low-RAM devices live in emerging markets like India, Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America where, not only are the devices different, but so, too, are the needs of people in those areas — especially compared to people in the more developed markets on which Instagram had historically focused. In short, we weren’t providing the same well-crafted Instagram experience to these people as we were for those who had easy access to Wi-Fi, speedy networks, low-to-no data constraints, and space on their devices for a plethora of apps.
In the summer of 2019, we discovered that people on low-RAM (1.5GB or less) Android phones weren’t having the best Instagram experiences. When we looked closer, it was clear their experience of Instagram on these devices was slow, buggy and unreliable. We also learned that many people using low-RAM devices live in emerging markets like India, Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America where, not only are the devices different, but so, too, are the needs of people in those areas — especially compared to people in the more developed markets on which Instagram had historically focused. In short, we weren’t providing the same well-crafted Instagram experience to these people as we were for those who had easy access to Wi-Fi, speedy networks, low-to-no data constraints, and space on their devices for a plethora of apps.
Press
Teaching
Education
FAQs
Are you available to freelance?
I love helping others, but my time is currently very limited. If your project doesn't align with my interests your message most likely will be ignored. Please know that I mean no disrespect, but I just can't engage with everyone who messages me. To put vibes out into the world - brands/people I'd love to work with include (but not limited to) Kaws, RTFKT, Pokemon, Magic The Gathering, Yeezy, Bandai, X-Men, DBZ, Zelda, Hayao Miyazaki, Satoshi Kon, or Katsuhiro Otomo.
Can you jump on a 15 minute call?
My e-mails and DMs are filled with people asking me to jump on 15 minute calls. I honestly would have no time to get my work done if I accepted all these calls. If you want to engage with me on a call please state clearly the context for your request.
What tools do you use?
Blender, Unity, Adobe Suite, and pen on paper.
Will you make a tutorial showing how you did that?
I have several tutorials on my YouTube channel. In general I’d like to do more for the creative community. I'm currently thinking of doing something like Patreon to give access to Q&A’s, group video chats, critique, sharing project files, and showing WIP work.
When is your next NFT drop?
Wen it’s ready fren.
A multi-disciplinary Product Designer currently working at Apple in Los Angeles, CA.
I conceptualize, plan, design, and prototype software solutions.
I have a traditional design education, with a B.A. in Visual Communication Design from Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa, and over 20 years of design experience.
Now I am at Apple, working for my dream company with great talented folks. I can't talk much about it, but it has been an exceptional experience for me so far. In the past decade, I've garnered many awards, including FWA, Awwwards, CSS Design Awards, Webby, and also had the honor of being a judge for the CSS Design Awards, The Webby Awards, The Lovie Awards, and had the privilege to work with several global brands such as Apple, Facebook, Postmates, Square, Marvel, Tillamook, Insomniac, Bestseller, Jack&Jones, Turkish Airlines, Ferrara, and Absolare. Here you can also read my interview with Lovers Mag from two years ago. I occasionally post pictures reflecting my personal life on Instagram and share some findings, thoughts, recommendations on Twitter. I also listed the names of amazing people I've come across over the years, impacting my journey. Let's connect.
In the summer of 2019, we discovered that people on low-RAM (1.5GB or less) Android phones weren’t having the best Instagram experiences. When we looked closer, it was clear their experience of Instagram on these devices was slow, buggy and unreliable. We also learned that many people using low-RAM devices live in emerging markets like India, Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America where, not only are the devices different, but so, too, are the needs of people in those areas — especially compared to people in the more developed markets on which Instagram had historically focused. In short, we weren’t providing the same well-crafted Instagram experience to these people as we were for those who had easy access to Wi-Fi, speedy networks, low-to-no data constraints, and space on their devices for a plethora of apps.