Unique Projects

Occupational Therapy

I have spent over a decade as a children’s occupational therapist, tackling complex challenges with creativity and big-picture thinking and empowering children with severe and complex disabilities to engage in activities of daily living that many of us take for granted.

Occupational therapy shares many parallels with UX design, as both are problem-solving disciplines centred on understanding and addressing user needs. OTs identify barriers and enablers akin to pain points and positive interactions in UX that affect a client’s ability to achieve their goals. Through client interviews and clinical assessments, comparable to user research and usability testing, they gather insights to define meaningful goals. They then develop an evidence-based treatment plan, much like synthesising research to create design concepts, prototypes, and wireframes. At its core, occupational therapy, like UX design, is goal-driven, empathetic, and deeply user-centred.

Botanyblend

As a creative outlet alongside working as an Occupational Therapist, I qualified in Aromatherapy, and designed, created and marketed sustainable massage oil startup ‘Botanyblend’.

The brand was successful winning two Beauty Shortlist Awards and featured in major publications such as The Telegraph newspaper, Stella, Devon Life, Tony and Guy and Manor magazines. We also retailed in various independent boutiques, hotels and trendy London stores such as Wolf and Badger. To create the products I intuitively utilised design thinking processes, identifying user problems, speaking with people, testing with people, iterating the formula based on feedback, refining scents, consistencies and aesthetics until a handful of beautiful and inspiring products were created. The process taught me about the day to day complexities of running a startup, it was also my introduction into web based design and my understanding of its role in business success.

To see annotated notes of my designs see here.

SAMA Wellbeing

In a plan to expand the Botanyblend brand, I created a wellness lifestyle brand called ‘SAMA Wellbeing.’ The intention was to create a lifestyle brand inspired by the senses. I co-designed the website with my husband. At a similar time, I managed to secure a secondment redesign of the Occupational Therapy website. This is when I found Product Design. I sold the brand and commenced study in UX design, the rest is history.