For years I joked that PhotoShop should come with some kind of aptitude test or breathalyzer-type app that measures a person’s visual taste level before granting them access. As a marketing person/brand manager, I’ve encountered so many well-intentioned individuals that know just enough about the design program to be dangerous.

I’m thrilled to announce that I have joined the ranks of those folks.

Behold:

Glorious, right?

I recently enrolled in a 3-course web design “blueprint” with Skillcrush, the online learning platform, and so far it’s been a really great experience. I’m one course in and have picked up some basic UX and design skills (hence my original artwork). This week we’ll get into html and css (I know a bit of both but hope to step up my game).

The final project is an online portfolio for yours truly, which means I’ve had to create things like user personas, mood boards, and style guidelines…for myself. This is weird and sometimes feels like self-administered therapy or something. I’ve done these exercises before, but always for other companies or brands. I am trying to be as thorough and pragmatic as I’d be with any other client. But, I’m not going to lie, choosing your personal color palette and determining your market differentiators can start to feel like that scene in Being John Malkovich where John Malkovich tries his own hand at being John Malkovich.

I’ll keep you posted, friends…