About Me

I've spent most of my professional career dealing with design, technology, applied research methods and statistics, as well as anything having to do with human affect, cognition, and behavior primarily through the human interface to technology.

My current interests are in advances in design practice, the human and technology aspects of Web 2.0, and the ways in which technology can extend, optimize, and improve work, play, relationships, education, health, and overall fulfillment.

I'm the director of IBM User Experience Design and am responsible for driving the visual and interaction/user experience design of IBM software, hardware, websites, and services.  I lead the development of IBM's user experience design processes, methods, assets, and tools and their deployment company-wide, and also IBM's team of design and user experience practitioners.

I joined IBM in 1988 after having done graduate studies, research, and teaching at the University of Toronto.  I introduced UCD at IBM in 1993 and assumed my present company-wide role in 1995.  I've written over 60 conference and journal publications.  I've also written a book entitled "User-Centered Design: An Integrated Approach", contributed chapters to other edited books and served as special issue editor for the International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction special issue entitled "Designing the Total User Experience at IBM" and the "Ease of Use" issue of the IBM Systems Journal.  I'm a member of several international committees and working groups. I'm based in Toronto, Canada.

I've spent much of my life observing people interacting with others, their world, and themselves; read widely about improving the human condition, optimizing the interactions between people, and driving effective organizational change; and practiced what I've learned. I have Ph.D. level training in Psychology and Cognitive Science, have taught university, conducted research, and led design at IBM for 20 years.  I've taught, led, managed, and mentored thousands of people over the years. I'm also a father of four with kids ranging in age from 9 to 21. 

I'd like to point out that the views expressed in this blog are my own and don’t necessarily represent the positions, strategies or opinions of my employer.