Behind the Screen: A Day in the Life of Our Interactive Director, Kirsten
At MLD, no two days are ever the same. You might be designing a new website one day, problem solving for a site being buggy the next. Every day presents new challenges, new opportunities for growth — and that’s exactly what I love most about my role.
As a multidisciplinary professional, I enjoy projects that require me to tap into all of my skills whether it’s designing a mood board for a new site build, developing a landing page, or digging into analytics. Whatever the task may be, this diversity of work keeps me on my toes and curious, and I can always find something new to learn.
There’s a special kind of energy in the constant newness of each day, and that’s just how I like it.
Design with Purpose: Bridging the Gap Between Creativity and Technology
When you look at a design, you might hone in on the colors or the emotion it exudes, but design is more than just aesthetics — it’s about solving problems. Whether it’s a business objective, a technical limitation, a story that needs to be re-told, or even a tight deadline, my job is to find creative solutions to solve these challenges, while delivering something that is both visually compelling and functional.
What I find special about MLD is that while our approach is rooted in creativity, it’s deeply informed by data. Analytics plays a crucial role in informing each and every one of my design decisions from how the photos are laid out to the placement of CTAs.
We use tools like Google Analytics and hotjar heatmaps to gain an understanding of who our audience is and how they interact with a website, allowing us to both empathize with our users, define their pain points, and ideate on the best possible solutions to get them to take the most beneficial action for their needs.
For those decisions, I take myself out of purely the designer role and think through what it would be like to be the user - a person interacting with the website for the very first time. What do I want that experience to be like? How can I help shape their journey so that it’s simple and enjoyable? It’s all about the details, the strategy, and that’s what fuels my love for my work.
One of the most rewarding parts of my role is seeing a project come to life from start to finish. I’m involved in every stage—tracking user behavior, designing data-driven mockups, and bringing those designs to life as fully functional, responsive websites. It’s not just about theory or ideas; it’s about creating something real and impactful. So when people ask what I do, I don’t just tell them—I show them.
Finding My Flow: A Work Rhythm that Fuels Creativity
My routine isn’t about simply checking off tasks—it’s about creating a rhythm that keeps me in a creative flow while giving me the space to recharge. To-do lists will always be there, but I focus on maintaining a balance that lets me stay energized and creative throughout the day from morning walks with my dog to diving into the latest tech trends.
I start my day in a way that warms up my mind and end it feeling energized for the next.
7:00am: Wake up and resist the urge to doom scroll on my phone. I take my dog out for a walk to get some fresh air and sunshine to help wake me up. I make myself some coffee, and get cozy in my reading chair.
I spend about an hour each morning reading for pleasure, and another hour catching up on the latest technology and design trends. This helps me stay up to date, while also giving my brain the chance to warm-up before diving into the never-ending onslaught of emails.
9:00am: I am at my desk, coffee in hand, and ready to work. I prefer to start with the most challenging tasks first, when my brain is in its most optimal state, so this is crucial focus time.
12am: I head to the gym for a quick workout session. This helps me feel more rejuvenated and focused to take on the rest of my work for the day. Afterwards, I take my dog on another walk, and make myself a smoothie (because we all need some good sustenance to make it through!)
With smoothie in hand, I am ready to solve problems, hop into meetings, or delve into projects. I answer questions from team members or clients, and provide solutions to a wide variety of issues that may arise.
I wrap up the day with lighter tasks, like SEO implementations, light design work, or planning for the next day. I believe in finishing strong, but not with work that will overwhelm my mental energy for the next day.
Sparking the Balance Between Flexibility and Structure
Working from home has been the bees knees. It allows the flexibility and freedom I crave to be creative. However, it does require a good amount of self-discipline to maintain a healthy work-life balance. While flexibility is a huge benefit of working from home, I’ve learned that creating clear boundaries is essential for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. If you’re thinking, “No way, I could never work from home!” let me give you some insider tips into how I manage to strike a healthy balance between the two:
Stick to a 9-5 schedule: Work starts at 9am and stops at 5pm (with some exceptions, of course). Maintaining these boundaries helps me make time for myself and, most importantly, my dog.
Designated workspace: I have a dedicated space to work that is only for work. This helps me get in the right mindset during working hours, and allows me to fully disconnect when the day is done.
Finding my flow state: I try to dedicate time blocks to one discipline at a time to maintain focus!
And That’s a Wrap! Thanks for Spending the Day with Me
Being an Interactive Director means every day presents the opportunity for new challenges, ideas, and creations. The variety of work and the ability to juggle so many different disciplines keeps me engaged and in a constant state of growth. It’s a role that requires both flexibility and structure, and one that I find incredibly rewarding.