WHO AM I?
Designer, product professional, amateur runner and budding sneakerhead. I get joy out of solving problems that help humans create positive habits and reach their life goals. I also make a mean Tonkotsu.
Initially starting out as a graphic designer some twenty years ago, my love for tech and social sciences meant I quickly drifted towards UX and product design.
I spend my time leading design and product teams, gleefully balancing company objectives, product vision, and ensuring the development and growth of my colleagues.
CURRENTLY READING
Quiet
by Susan Cain
CURRENTLY HEARING
Cautionary Tales
A podcast on learning from our errors
CURRENTLY USING
Strava
Because I'm training for a half-marathon
I realised design was a possible career by around age 15 after a summer spent messing about on Photoshop and Freehand. I was attracted to both design and social sciences and decided to read for a Degree in Communications at the University of Malta (focusing on visual communications) with Psychology as my secondary area.
CAREER JOURNEY
First, I was a graphic designer
On Graduating in 2006, I quickly landed at TBWA\ANG, one of Malta's leading agencies with clients on the island and beyond. I worked on advertising campaigns for McDonald's and GO (Malta’s leading communications services company) as well as Air Malta's inflight magazine Il-Bizilla.
Then I did something silly
By 2009 I was eager for a new adventure and, in the midst of a global recession, I moved to Edinburgh, Scotland. With full-time posts hard to come by, I became self-employed and evolved into a dependable and in-demand freelancer. I also started to switch my focus increasingly towards digital design.
Then I did something smart
I got a masters from the Edinburgh College of Art - University of Edinburgh. I had become increasingly passionate about human-centred design and intrigued by user research methodologies, I combined that with my desire to get a post-grad degree, resulting in an MA in Design focusing on UX, graduating in 2012.
Then London called
Still feeling attracted to agency life, I joined Whippet as their go-to-guy for anything digital whilst also working on advertising campaigns and service design. I collaborated directly with clients such as Tesco, Cadbury's, Coles in Australia and Target in the USA.
It was at around this time I created a Tube Map of Malta, which made some waves for a bit.
Then I joined a startup
In 2014, right after putting down a deposit on a flat and a few months away from getting married, I joined Lingvist as their first in-house designer. Still a small-start-up at the time, Lingvist quickly grew and I with it. By the time I left six years later, I was head of product and design and a member of the executive team.
Then I joined a global leader
It became apparent that, in order to grow, I needed to test out my abilities on a larger scale. So, in the midst of the Corona pandemic, I joined HelloFresh. I am currently the strategic product design lead for the global consumer tribe taking care of activation, engagement and habit-building. Managing a team dedicated to enabling customer success.
