Hello! My name is Audey (pronounced like "Audrey" but without the "r"). I'm currently pursuing my M.S. in Engineering Design Innovation at Northwestern University, and I'm dedicated to working on projects that prioritize people and the planet.
Feel free to inquire about my other projects I've taken on at jobs that I am unable to include in this portfolio.
MY PRINCIPLES:
IN DESIGN
1. Strip. Take away the excess and leave only the necessary. Excess is noise and waste.
2. Ask “why” for every decision you make. Do research beforehand, and be able to explain the reason behind your design.
3. Cross-Pollinate. Look into what other industries are doing (agriculture, gaming, healthcare, etc.) for unexpected inspiration.
IN MARKETING
1. Know your audience. A great product will fail if your target audience doesn’t want it.
2. Tell a story. Most people are motivated more by feelings rather than logic or numbers.
3. Practice subtle detachment. Be passionate when brainstorming new ideas, but don’t get too attached. Ideas change, and an idea can evolve into a better one if you let it.
IN COMMUNICATION
1. Stay simple. Don’t use pretentious language. No one wants to waste time googling terms they’ve never heard before.
2. Proofread. Nothing says unprofessional more than spelling and grammar errors.
3. Make it short and sweet. People are more likely to finish reading it.
IN SUSTAINABILITY
1. Define the goal. Given the complexity of the space, defining your sustainability goal first (circular economy, reducing GHGs, 0% Plastic, etc) will create more concrete benchmarks to work towards.
2. Understand the political landscape. Keep up-to-date with global government policy (EU, US, China, etc.).
3. Pair sustainability with another motivation. Combine Planet-Centered Design with Human-Centered Design to increase chances of adoption.
1. Be comfortable with being uncomfortable. Comfort is the enemy of growth.
2. Stay hungry. You’re never too good to learn something new.
3. Don’t set goals, set paths instead. Focusing on the daily process and your goal will happen as a byproduct.
4. Fail. If you've never failed in your life, you’ve never tried anything new. People rarely succeed on their first try.
5. Be fearless. Those that dare to venture experience the greatest rewards.