Why I became a Designer

I love to build things. When I was a kid I would nonchalantly say to my mom, “I’m going to the garage to make something!” (a worrying thing for any kid to say to their parent), and off I’d go. I’d come back with some gluey mess of cardboard, it was never very good but that didn't stop me.

Over the years I never lost that love of creating. Thankfully, the end products improved significantly. I drew and painted, I wrote music and stories but there was always something fascinating to me about technology.

It took a few years to find my place, but once I did it clicked. As a Product Designer I could combine my love of building, psychology, penchant for research, passion for design, and my desire to help others succeed. I knew this was the career for me.

Image of Alex Cooksey smiling while wearing a plain black turtleneck shirt on a white background with a light purple pattern.

What to expect from me

As a Product Designer dealing in empathy daily I think it’s important to have a clear understanding of your values, so I thought I would share mine with you here.

⚖️ Operate with Integrity

Trust is a cornerstone of any good partnership, which is what I believe our relationship to our end users, clients, and colleagues should be. Customers trust us with their money, data, and time, so it’s important to me as a designer to consider the impact of the decisions I make.

🙋🏻‍♀️ Willing to get it Wrong

Constructive criticism is one of the most powerful tools in my toolkit. The ability to be wrong and to recognize when I need to let go of something that's not working, or listen to someone who has a better idea opens up countless possibilities. No one has a monopoly on good ideas.

♿️ Design for Accessibility

I believe accessibility is an integral part of the design process and should be addressed every step of the way, not just at the end of a project. When accessibility is tackled holistically it creates better products. We do a disservice to ourselves and others when we don’t consider diverse needs.

What's it like to work with me?

I've talked about who I am, now find out how others feel about working with me 👇

Kerri-Dale Smith

Senior Product Designer

Alex is a phenomenal product designer, who not only possesses a keen eye for detail and aesthetics, but also an innate ability to navigate complex design challenges with simplicity and elegance. Her willingness to challenge conventions and propose innovative solutions reflects her dedication to crafting product experiences that truly resonate with users.

Athavan Karunakaran

Senior Full Stack Developer

When Alex joined our team she hit the ground running, asked all the right questions, questioned assumptions that we made about how our product should operate, and was able to quickly prototype designs that developers could execute on, all of this on tight deadlines! We wouldn't have been able to turn around that project as quickly as we did without Alex.

Ilene Shioguchi

Product Designer

What sets Alex apart is her unwavering dedication and hard work. Her meticulous attention to detail allows her to excel in tackling large, complex projects while ensuring that every aspect is thoroughly considered. She welcomes constructive criticism and demonstrates a relentless commitment to enhancing user experiences.