“Technology should work for me instead of me working for it“
Updated July 2, 2021
15 Minutes in Photoshop = $$$$ Saved
Way back in the day, I worked in a call center for health savings accounts. The most common issue was clients accidentally processed a withdrawal or a contribution which ends up tying up their money for 3-5 business days. The other call center representatives complained that the clients were just stupid but I decided to do some research on the issue using the resources I had.
It actually came down to a terrible User Experience/User Interface which caused unnecessary confusion for the end user. I made a simple solution suggestion using Photoshop to create a mockup that the developers implemented within the week. The end result? My personal calls on this issue dropped by 50% in the same time frame. Imagine if the other representatives experienced the same drop in calls as well. How much time and money was saved from 15 minutes in Photoshop? Probably thousands.
And that’s how (and why) I got here!
Hi, I am Paris!
I focus on solving my own problems. using technology as my chosen tool. So the experiences I have with technology and creative solutions come from wanting to solve my own problems first in a scalable, affordable, and repeatable solutions.
And to further that goal, I experiment with the combination of technology and creative ideas to make something new, functional and useful. Not every project is a winner but I learn a lot along the way and get better at determining the best path to take.
My Focus
I currently have 5 major areas that I focus on (which will be the primary focus for this site):
- Health
- This is the most important metric that I am maximizing. The quality of my life literally relies of how healthy I am (or I am not). Technology and data plays a part because I of the way I keep track of everything. I used to spend time counting calories (the events leading up to Year Zero ended that 2000+ day streak), tracking blood test results, testing workouts, weight, body fat and much more with plans to increase it each year. This is a non-negotiable point and why it is number one.
- This is the most important metric that I am maximizing. The quality of my life literally relies of how healthy I am (or I am not). Technology and data plays a part because I of the way I keep track of everything. I used to spend time counting calories (the events leading up to Year Zero ended that 2000+ day streak), tracking blood test results, testing workouts, weight, body fat and much more with plans to increase it each year. This is a non-negotiable point and why it is number one.
- Copywriting
- While copywriting itself focuses more sales, the concepts can be applied to everyday life. Being able to educate and influence people through the written word is a skill that pays dividends in every area of life. This is one reason why I focus so much on documentation and keeping email chains short and sweet with a simple ask. I know that people won’t read blocks of text (at best, they might skim it) so I change my approach in my day job accordingly. I have been studying resources to improve my copywriting for fun & profit.
- While copywriting itself focuses more sales, the concepts can be applied to everyday life. Being able to educate and influence people through the written word is a skill that pays dividends in every area of life. This is one reason why I focus so much on documentation and keeping email chains short and sweet with a simple ask. I know that people won’t read blocks of text (at best, they might skim it) so I change my approach in my day job accordingly. I have been studying resources to improve my copywriting for fun & profit.
- New Technology – Hardware & Software
- Every day, there are new apps and products. While they can offer a new way to do things, sometimes I found it is best to figure out what I DON’T need. Not everything that is created is useful in every use case. So why I try to stay abreast of new developments, I have gotten out of the belief that this magic device will be the one that solves all my problems. I focus on choosing the best tool for the job, leaning towards longevity/consistency versus being new and flashy.
- Every day, there are new apps and products. While they can offer a new way to do things, sometimes I found it is best to figure out what I DON’T need. Not everything that is created is useful in every use case. So why I try to stay abreast of new developments, I have gotten out of the belief that this magic device will be the one that solves all my problems. I focus on choosing the best tool for the job, leaning towards longevity/consistency versus being new and flashy.
- Customer Service
- Every human interaction is a level of customer service. Feel free to quote me and place it in your next book 😊. Seriously, customer service is important in every area. And combining technology with customer service is the next logical step. Using the story from above, no one would have guessed that Photoshop would have solved what some considered customers being ‘stupid’.
- Every human interaction is a level of customer service. Feel free to quote me and place it in your next book 😊. Seriously, customer service is important in every area. And combining technology with customer service is the next logical step. Using the story from above, no one would have guessed that Photoshop would have solved what some considered customers being ‘stupid’.
- Creative Expression
- Using all of the above, this is where I give myself permission to experiment and create. Honestly, that’s where all of my hobbies/projects come from. The intersection of tech, art, people, and many other things can lead to a beautiful idea or an informative disaster. Without creative expression, I wouldn’t be the same. It keeps me sane.
- Using all of the above, this is where I give myself permission to experiment and create. Honestly, that’s where all of my hobbies/projects come from. The intersection of tech, art, people, and many other things can lead to a beautiful idea or an informative disaster. Without creative expression, I wouldn’t be the same. It keeps me sane.
My Hobbies
Most of my hobbies have technology at the core in some capacity. The crossover between these hobbies and technology helps to refine my ideas and allows me to see opportunities where I may not have noticed before. So you can imagine video editing, graphic design, and many other things are included in that:
- Singing original songs (i.e. Tracer, Love Letter)
- Creating interactive designs (i.e. Meet The IT Department – Philadelphia Museum of Art Concept)
- Playing and recording video games (i.e. F#&K This Disrespectful Child – Jump Force, The Rocketeer – SuperFighters Deluxe)
- Creative projects and art (i.e. The Avenir Project – Philadelphia Museum of Art Staff Appreciation Idea)
- Working with AI and Augmented Reality (i.e. What would I look like as a different race/gender? – ArtBreeder, Animating a Picture of me using Wombo.ai + ArtBreeder)
Where to go next?
- Wanna work together? Shoot me an email!
- Wanna read my thoughts on technology and society? Check out my previous blog posts.
- Are you interested in cool shit? Check out my Instagram where I showcase my art/designs.
- Check out Designed by Paris for behind the scenes and additional information relating to my designs/art.