https://heathernoddings.com Heather Noddings Thu, 12 Nov 2026 17:04:34 +0000 https://heathernoddings.com en https://heathernoddings.com/Index Sat, 07 Nov 2026 23:31:29 +0000 Heather Noddings https://heathernoddings.com/Index I’m a product design lead in Los Angeles who loves untangling complicated systems. With 15+ years of experience in design spanning product and brand, I bring a mix of artful storytelling and creative problem-solving to every project. I specialize in building from 0→1 and turning ambiguity into clear, cohesive experiences. My favorite opportunities are ones which require both strategic and conceptual thinking to create cohesion and make a lil’ magic happen. Currently Open to new and interesting opportunities, specifically for Staff or Senior roles. Previously Product Design at Netflix Product &amp; Brand Design at TikTok Creative &amp; Art Direction at Kamp Grizzly Global Brand Design at Nike and more. Areas of Interest Design Systems Content Creation &amp; Creators Weird, Complicated Ideas https://heathernoddings.com/Netflix-Tudum-Evergreen-Collections Sat, 07 Nov 2026 23:31:29 +0000 Heather Noddings https://heathernoddings.com/Netflix-Tudum-Evergreen-Collections <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1e0edafaed1e10c147fd04c51ed300cf850f0728ed5fe9bdcef0c831a011e95c/Evergreen-Collections-Cover.jpg" data-mid="254124091" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1e0edafaed1e10c147fd04c51ed300cf850f0728ed5fe9bdcef0c831a011e95c/Evergreen-Collections-Cover.jpg" /> Netflix Tudum: Evergreen Collections Meeting member personalization needs, while maintaining search authority over time.Role Product Design Lead, Tudum XD Category ProductContent Systems Personalization ScopeEvergreen Collections content model, editorial CMS workflow, article mapping, personalized article merchandising with spoiler protection. TimingQ3 2024 Key Stakeholders Publishing &amp; Editorial SEO Product Engineering Tudum’s SEO strategy and Netflix’s personalization strategy needed opposite things from the same articles. I designed Evergreen Collections, a content model and editorial workflow that gives search one authoritative URL while keeping season-specific articles for each member’s watch progress. Editors adopted it and called it their new favorite feature.&nbsp; Unlike traditional editorial platforms, Netflix Tudum can connect editorial coverage directly to streaming members based on their watch history. But a fundamental tension existed between Tudum’s SEO strategy (which overwrote existing articles to maintain search ranking) and Netflix’s personalization strategy (which required distinct, season-level tagged articles to match members’ individual watch progress). Without a fix, Tudum had to choose between search traffic and a better member experience. <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/88bf3752b00b1d40c2b80930a7ce03208ffca6a33594d70f46f4b0e336f659bb/Evergreen-Collections-Tooling---Consumer_01.jpg" data-mid="254140022" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" alt="An intuitive workflow allowed editorial teams to manage collection slugs, map seasonal articles, set publish dates, and assign statuses without complex technical workarounds." data-caption="An intuitive workflow allowed editorial teams to manage collection slugs, map seasonal articles, set publish dates, and assign statuses without complex technical workarounds." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/88bf3752b00b1d40c2b80930a7ce03208ffca6a33594d70f46f4b0e336f659bb/Evergreen-Collections-Tooling---Consumer_01.jpg" /> <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7ff9256e500d32ae1de93e91c88239fc67cd753cf1d247bb8266dd55c02beca8/Evergreen-Collections-Flows.jpg" data-mid="254124104" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" alt="Editors needed to be able to update an existing page with changes for the same season, or start drafting a new page to cover a new season in the same series." data-caption="Editors needed to be able to update an existing page with changes for the same season, or start drafting a new page to cover a new season in the same series." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/7ff9256e500d32ae1de93e91c88239fc67cd753cf1d247bb8266dd55c02beca8/Evergreen-Collections-Flows.jpg" /> <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a369cbb7201d4e1bff3abe819ee8cac39b70952b7ad9e805ee1b195f9ce91019/Evergreen-Collections-Page-Flows.jpg" data-mid="254124101" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" alt="Flow to describe how a collection URL transfers and grows over time." data-caption="Flow to describe how a collection URL transfers and grows over time." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/a369cbb7201d4e1bff3abe819ee8cac39b70952b7ad9e805ee1b195f9ce91019/Evergreen-Collections-Page-Flows.jpg" /> Key decisions Link seasons under one evergreen URL instead of overwriting. The evergreen URL holds search authority, while earlier seasons stay archived at their own seasonal URLs. By Season 4, the evergreen URL hosts the Season 4 guide, with Seasons 1–3 at their own seasonal URLs. This kept SEO intact without erasing the content that personalization depends on. Preserve each season’s articles as separate entities. Keeping them separate lets Tudum show a member only content up to their watch progress, which protects them from spoilers.&nbsp; Put the model in the editorial workflow, not in engineering workarounds. Editors can update an existing page for the same season or start a new page for a new season. An intuitive workflow lets them manage collection slugs, map seasonal articles, set publish dates, and assign statuses without complex technical workarounds. The results: for members <img width="1080" height="1080" width_o="1080" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/bd4db330852a79460c9ccb3685a2198d353345512a1d8027efb049def710c3f7/Evergreen-Collection-Paul-Flow.jpg" data-mid="254137975" border="0" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/bd4db330852a79460c9ccb3685a2198d353345512a1d8027efb049def710c3f7/Evergreen-Collection-Paul-Flow.jpg" />Search / SEO Flow. A viewer who just finished Season 4 and searches "umbrella academy ending explained" lands on the latest Season 4 Ending Explainer in the Evergreen Collection. Tudum keeps its top-tier search authority while dynamically merchandising more Season 4 content. <img width="1080" height="1080" width_o="1080" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ee19243ec7911af071f55611c95c7d11c4a20d394671683f393323cb15407d34/Evergreen-Collection-Sarah-Flow.jpg" data-mid="254137976" border="0" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ee19243ec7911af071f55611c95c7d11c4a20d394671683f393323cb15407d34/Evergreen-Collection-Sarah-Flow.jpg" />On-Service / Personalized Flow. A member who has only finished Season 2 opens the Netflix mobile app, goes to My Netflix &gt; The Umbrella Academy, and sees the Season 2 Ending Explainer and Behind-the-Scenes content. Because Season 2 content was preserved as a distinct entity, she is protected from Season 3 and 4 spoilers. The results: for editors Six new flows were designed and implemented to facilitate the creation and management of collections, and Editorial partners praised the feature’s simplicity and utility: “My new favorite feature. Thank you all for 1) making this, and 2) making it so easy to use!” This team has deep ties to its existing workflows and metrics, so getting them to accept change is hard, and getting them to enjoy it is rarer. What I learned and what’s next Extend spoiler protection to search entry points. The in-app path protects mid-series viewers, but someone who searches Google mid-series still lands on the evergreen URL, which holds the latest season’s content. It’s an unlikely scenario given watch and search behavior, but I’d add a lightweight spoiler gate or season picker at the top of the evergreen page, so the SEO entry point is as safe as the personalized one. Plan for the system changing around us. Evergreen Collections rely heavily on title page merchandising, which another designer owned. I’d identify those dependencies early and align on how changes are communicated, so a downstream change doesn’t quietly undo the work later on. https://heathernoddings.com/Netflix-House-Ticketing-Frameworks Sat, 07 Nov 2026 23:31:30 +0000 Heather Noddings https://heathernoddings.com/Netflix-House-Ticketing-Frameworks <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/dc37c679c6b178bf240e5695a7f9180edcd40533df640dbed45d707974569978/TicketFramework_Cover.jpg" data-mid="254140053" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/dc37c679c6b178bf240e5695a7f9180edcd40533df640dbed45d707974569978/TicketFramework_Cover.jpg" /> Netflix House Ticketing Frameworks From one-off launches to a repeatable playbook: designing the system behind the ticket. Role Product Design Lead, House XD Project lead, self-initiated Category Information Architecture &amp; Taxonomy, Repeatable Frameworks Scope Ticket concept taxonomy, product setup archetypes and data mapping, workstream investigation framework TimingQ3 2026 Audience &amp; Adoption Consumer Products &amp; Experiences: Operations, Marketing, Finance &amp; StrategyProduct Engineering In a pre-product-market fit environment, every new ticket idea was approached as a one-off, so each launch re-discovered the same gaps across teams and systems. I created a shared language for what makes a ticket concept different, and a per-workstream checklist for what must be investigated before it ships. Ops now uses it to spin up new ticket types faster, and Engineering is using it to shape Offerings management. Concepts kept multiplying: fan packs, multi-attraction bundles, child units, VIP packages, arcade credits. Each combined date logic, product structure, pricing and perks in new ways. The ecosystem is hybrid: owned UI (offers, cart, checkout) hands off to a 3rd-party platform (3P) and back, then out to email and SMS. A change in setup ripples everywhere. No shared vocabulary: Ops, Product, Engineering, Finance &amp; Strategy, and Marketing each described the same ticket differently, so requirements were hard to articulate across partners.Key tension: speed of launching business-driven concepts vs. the hidden cost of each one touching 5+ surfaces. Framework 01:&nbsp; A taxonomy for ticket concepts The Ticket Details Card (Concept Attributes). Any ticket concept can be described by six attributes, and that description predicts what has to be built. Date &amp; Time Functionality: Pick Your Date, Pick Your Time, Any TimeAttraction Count: Single Attraction, Multi-AttractionIncluded Products: Single Product, Packaged Product (Hide Extras), Bundled Product (Show All)Usage / Redemption: Single Use, Mixed Use (Single + Multi-Use), Attraction + Lounge AccessPricing Structure: Dynamic, Variable, Multi-Unit, FixedPerks: Priority Entry, Merchandise, Food &amp; Beverage, Lounge Access Product Setup Archetypes (Implementation Details). Each archetype is paired with annotated UI and data mapping (mobile and desktop) showing exactly which field maps where. Integrations with 3P platforms meant that certain implementation rules had to be followed, such as when I discovered the most-restricted product must be first in the platform to ensure a clean bundle flow, with selections not impeding one another. Areas to investigate. Each new attribute points to a likely risk area. Three examples: Single → Multi-Attraction: one booking now held several products, each with its own date and time, so the existing data pattern no longer fit.Any Time: no time is returned, so every surface that normally shows a time needed a fallback.Mixed-use Redemption: transactional messages had to explain clearly how each part of the ticket is redeemed, so guests could actually use what they bought. <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d0221df5498ba783bcd6f83f5bc2e971e03a9040f2e6d740c03a22025463c95c/Framework-01-Taxonomy-and-Attributes.jpg" data-mid="254140223" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" alt="Tags in pink flag what is new or non-standard, so anyone can see at a glance where the risk is." data-caption="Tags in pink flag what is new or non-standard, so anyone can see at a glance where the risk is." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/d0221df5498ba783bcd6f83f5bc2e971e03a9040f2e6d740c03a22025463c95c/Framework-01-Taxonomy-and-Attributes.jpg" /> <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8b9447629352f4e0bbe8aac5966410aea140591c21d27a6510918c0ddd58dde6/Data-Mapping-Example.jpg" data-mid="254283872" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" alt="Each archetype includes data mapping and annotated UI, showing exactly which field maps to the product build and the supporting creative assets and copy." data-caption="Each archetype includes data mapping and annotated UI, showing exactly which field maps to the product build and the supporting creative assets and copy." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/8b9447629352f4e0bbe8aac5966410aea140591c21d27a6510918c0ddd58dde6/Data-Mapping-Example.jpg" /> Framework 02: What to investigate for every new ticket technology concept Offer Merchandising Can the new ticket product be merchandised effectively on web? Content &amp; Data Mapping&nbsp; Does all content and data map as expected through each of the consumer-facing flows? 3P Product Setup Is the ticketing setup clear and working as intended? 3P Transactional Messaging Setup Do email and SMS work as intended? Assets &amp; Creative Copy&nbsp; Do existing visual assets and copy placements meet all needs? <img width="1080" height="1080" width_o="1080" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d2b8f9bcf0ca6d1e23e180e59434ab264c89e108f0c1b89b92a7cb337e96cd92/Workstream-Status.jpg" data-mid="254140244" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/d2b8f9bcf0ca6d1e23e180e59434ab264c89e108f0c1b89b92a7cb337e96cd92/Workstream-Status.jpg" /> Five workstreams, each with one guiding question and a visible status, turn "is this ready?" into something every partner can answer. Each workstream carries a simple status, which I deliberately scoped to the XD investigation, not design readiness for Engineering, which kept expectations honest across teams and allowed for design time to continue after the investigation wrapped up. The framework lives in two formats: a Figma status board for at-a-glance tracking, and the specific Figma pages per concept for deeper dives into each concept and its enablement considerations. Because each workstream asks one clear question, partners know exactly what is needed from them, and other designers have a broad checklist for what to look at when a new concept lands. Proof in practice: Multi-Attraction Bundles Multi-Attraction Bundles put every workstream to the test. Running the concept through the framework showed early what was ready and what would block launch. Ready: Bundles fit into existing Realtor offer placements with no new design work. Existing assets covered the creative needs.Needed changes: The booking item couldn't show several products, each with its own date and time, so I defined a new data pattern for Engineering to ensure user clarity. Reminder emails covered only the first product in a bundle and also had to be fixed before launch.Open questions: The 3P platform flow worked for web (quantity first, then a date and time for each included product), but setup details still needed confirming with other partners.The same framework successfully guided the launch of multiple other ticket concepts in a short timeframe. It also helped the team decide what not to ship: (redacted) and (redacted) Offers were held after investigation. Multi-Attraction Bundles were exercised across every workstream and surfaced real launch blockers early. <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/348c209717fe58f305a6e7eef1ff01bfc148dfef6e7d0cf633fbde839c133926/Ticketing-Framework.jpg" data-mid="254140277" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/348c209717fe58f305a6e7eef1ff01bfc148dfef6e7d0cf633fbde839c133926/Ticketing-Framework.jpg" /> Impact &amp; adoption The frameworks outgrew design: multiple groups now use them for their own work. Operations: Uses the taxonomy to spin up new ticket types faster. The shared language gives non-technical teams a clear view of each attribute and archetype, so they can adjust or drop nice-to-have details when the technical cost is too high.Engineering: Adopted the concept attributes and setup archetypes into new Offerings management. They now shape the data model and field names, and will be surfaced in internal tools.Marketing and Experiences partners: Enabled to work from clearer, per-workstream asks. They can frame a new concept so its technical complexity and its marketing positioning are both clear from the start.Other designers: Have a broad checklist for what to investigate when a new concept lands.Reuse: Launched concepts move into "Previously Launched, Limited Testing Needed for Reuse," becoming building blocks instead of one-offs. Reflections I started these frameworks on my own initiative because I saw the same gaps slowing down every team, and an opportunity for us to work together more effectively. A few things made them stick: Make the invisible visible: The most valuable artifact wasn't a screen. It was a shared description of the product that gave every team the same language. Separate investigation from readiness: Labeling status as an XD investigation avoided false confidence between teams and protected design time to respond to what we found Design for reuse: Each launch added to the archetype library, so the next similar concept cost less. Knowing what had already shipped also let us choose deliberately when to stay consistent and when to diverge. https://heathernoddings.com/Netflix-House-Checkout-2-0 Sat, 07 Nov 2026 23:31:29 +0000 Heather Noddings https://heathernoddings.com/Netflix-House-Checkout-2-0 <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5a514a74d404cda640a1178bd3232329145d8ca3d68e642bfdb69b59fd8f5d55/Checkout-2-Cover.jpg" data-mid="254140349" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/5a514a74d404cda640a1178bd3232329145d8ca3d68e642bfdb69b59fd8f5d55/Checkout-2-Cover.jpg" /> Netflix House: Checkout 2.0 Improving ticket discovery, choosing and purchase for users, while testing into a new business strategy. Role Product Design Lead, House XD Led a small team of flex designers CategoryProduct DesignDesign Systems ScopeConsumer UI / UX, Tooling UI / UX, 3rd Party Integrations TimingQ1–Q2 2026 Key StakeholdersConsumer Products &amp; Experiences: Marketing, Operations, Revenue, CRMProductEngineering After an MVP that launched offering one ticket per experience, Netflix House needed to test a wide ticket assortment, but our third-party ticketing platform limited the purchase experience. I proposed a hybrid approach: owned UI for discovery, cart, and checkout, with targeted third-party modules for specific selections. Conversion improved significantly, and new offers could launch without an engineering release.Netflix House is Netflix’s physical venue for immersive attractions, themed dining and retail. The MVP ticket assortment was very simple, offering a single ticket selection per experience. The updated business strategy was to test into a wide ranging ticket assortment, to see what performed best across locations, experience types, and audiences. Checkout 2.0 was the next step in evolving the ticketing and purchase experience, with three goals: Create a more streamlined purchase experience for our usersIntegrate checkout with the branding and visual language of Netflix HouseIncrease our ability to iterate quickly and learn through A/B testing Because MVP tickets went on sale months before opening day, we had limited data on how far ahead guests would book or how they’d buy once they could book closer to their visit. Our first post-launch priority was to stay agile, experiment quickly with different ticket offerings, and learn our way toward the ideal state. Design approach We kicked off with stakeholders across marketing, product, operations and CRM to understand the wish list and must-haves. Early flow explorations helped facilitate discussions about potential paths forward for ticketing. Three principles guided my work: Lead with solutions over constraints. Operating in ambiguous, high-pressure environments requires acknowledging constraints while giving engineering and business partners viable "80% paths forward." Map systems early to move fast. Untangling dependencies and complexity up front prevents major pivots during implementation and allows informed decisions throughout. Great experiences start behind the scenes. Great consumer-facing experiences are impossible if internal systems slow things down, so the full end-to-end, including tools and workflows, matters. <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/270080e294102c0f568291497186a778e3ae1193655afa3f7dc958a4bc2bf8d5/Hybrid-Architecture.jpg" data-mid="254163094" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" alt="By using a hybrid approach, we could improve essential parts of the experience, while continuing to leverage the parts of the 3P that kept us nimble." data-caption="By using a hybrid approach, we could improve essential parts of the experience, while continuing to leverage the parts of the 3P that kept us nimble." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/270080e294102c0f568291497186a778e3ae1193655afa3f7dc958a4bc2bf8d5/Hybrid-Architecture.jpg" /> <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f5893523c62e9cc60f769b18a84a34df5784f1cb2c0820aa5daac1921330bf6b/Contextual-Choosing.jpg" data-mid="254163316" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" alt="Inline tickets maintained the context of the experience itself, and allowed for a more scannable comparison of ticket choices before launching into the modal." data-caption="Inline tickets maintained the context of the experience itself, and allowed for a more scannable comparison of ticket choices before launching into the modal." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/f5893523c62e9cc60f769b18a84a34df5784f1cb2c0820aa5daac1921330bf6b/Contextual-Choosing.jpg" /> <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/101e50d7f394a709f0fb0994094eb8dc620859be14cfda63d921367bc651c8f6/All-Tickets-Page.jpg" data-mid="254163122" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" alt="The &quot;All Tickets&quot; page separated the upper-funnel storytelling on Location Landing Pages (&quot;What is Netflix House?&quot;) from a conversion-optimized ticketing destination.&amp;nbsp;" data-caption="The &quot;All Tickets&quot; page separated the upper-funnel storytelling on Location Landing Pages (&quot;What is Netflix House?&quot;) from a conversion-optimized ticketing destination.&amp;nbsp;" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/101e50d7f394a709f0fb0994094eb8dc620859be14cfda63d921367bc651c8f6/All-Tickets-Page.jpg" /> <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a7b0cf95ce0d3e96436a5d7c79c79e8ba3a4e2732ac3b28db4c4449882960a6e/Realtor-Promotions---Presales.jpg" data-mid="254163330" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" alt="To support effective ticket merchandising across the system, promotions and featured offers were set via Realtor, the internal CMS. " data-caption="To support effective ticket merchandising across the system, promotions and featured offers were set via Realtor, the internal CMS. " src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/a7b0cf95ce0d3e96436a5d7c79c79e8ba3a4e2732ac3b28db4c4449882960a6e/Realtor-Promotions---Presales.jpg" /> <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/afc693a035cca190e232126a205cdafd800f16f87df5259331b3eb9483b5beeb/Recap-Dont-Miss-Out.jpg" data-mid="254163368" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" alt="Static cards covered immediate discovery, and the hybrid approach let us test 3P Add-Ons and Upsells, validating our decision to limit scope until we had more data." data-caption="Static cards covered immediate discovery, and the hybrid approach let us test 3P Add-Ons and Upsells, validating our decision to limit scope until we had more data." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/afc693a035cca190e232126a205cdafd800f16f87df5259331b3eb9483b5beeb/Recap-Dont-Miss-Out.jpg" /> Key decisions Go hybrid instead of owning the whole flow. The third-party vendor created real UI and UX friction for guests, but it also let us deploy and test multiple ticket structures quickly. Committing to a fully custom experience too soon would have slowed us down and tied up design and engineering time. I proposed a middle ground: owned UI for merchandising, the cart and checkout, with the third-party modal kept for quantity selection, date and time, and add-ons, deferring a fully owned build until our ticketing models matured. Keep users in the right context. We needed to own discovery and the multi-experience cart so users could plan their visit and merchandise tickets and promotions across pages. The third-party ticket comparison forced users deeper into the funnel before they were ready to make a decision, and required visual assets per ticket and block copy instead of a scannable bulleted approach. Inline ticketing in owned UI kept the narrative context and allowed scannable, side-by-side comparison of choices. Separate storytelling from selling. We launched an All Tickets page separate from the Location and Experience pages. It gave high-intent users a place to land and convert, and let the Location Landing page focus on explaining the Netflix House concept. Improve internal systems to improve the guest experience. Self-service ticket management meant offers could be managed and launched quickly without an engineering release. The influx of new ticket types demanded a structured offering hierarchy, so we built a dual-sided system: merchandising tools for marketing partners and high-clarity discovery surfaces for guests. Ship static cart recommendations first. We launched an MVP set of recommendation cards ("Don't miss out on these") that met the immediate discovery need, which let engineering scope the dynamic conflict-detection engine for a future iteration. <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ddae4d5963b7ed04f255d973dd17c24537abff6534b23a1c016a64783b0ba8b8/Cart---Checkout-Updates.jpg" data-mid="254163639" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ddae4d5963b7ed04f255d973dd17c24537abff6534b23a1c016a64783b0ba8b8/Cart---Checkout-Updates.jpg" /> What happened Conversion and speed to market: Conversion improved significantly, and the technical support needed for new ticket concepts stayed minimal, so new concepts were easier to launch than if we had taken on the entire flow end to end. Multi-experience behavior: Netflix House moved from an isolated, single-ticket booking model to a full-itinerary experience, with measurable increases in cart size and completion. Order recovery: Abandoned cart recovery links route guests back to their complete multi-item carts, so they can finish their full booking in one transaction instead of reassembling lost plans. Add-ons and upsells: The hybrid approach made it possible to test add-ons and upsells in the 3P flow, which supported the decision not to build an idealized solution before we had more data. Operational autonomy: Realtor CMS self-service campaign management decoupled promotional merchandising from engineering release cycles. Marketing and revenue teams could launch, test, and adjust offers in real time, and Product and Engineering could focus on platform architecture rather than routine operational support. <img width="1003" height="823" width_o="1003" height_o="823" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/67d0455a66f15ed3e203e1296d870998d6d3f499bd00c2814fae57de0a28fed3/Recap-Hybrid-flow.jpg" data-mid="254163669" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" alt="Owned UI kept the context for users at either end of the flow." data-caption="Owned UI kept the context for users at either end of the flow." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/67d0455a66f15ed3e203e1296d870998d6d3f499bd00c2814fae57de0a28fed3/Recap-Hybrid-flow.jpg" /> <img width="1003" height="823" width_o="1003" height_o="823" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/873023606ebe13fb2a7d8410ee13a0ca9a9ec41da5406a10d478f1edce8d9110/Recap-Order-Recovery.jpg" data-mid="254163673" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" alt="Recovery messaging for incomplete orders kept the entire cart together, and was no longer limited to a single item." data-caption="Recovery messaging for incomplete orders kept the entire cart together, and was no longer limited to a single item." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/873023606ebe13fb2a7d8410ee13a0ca9a9ec41da5406a10d478f1edce8d9110/Recap-Order-Recovery.jpg" /> What I learned and what’s next After launch we A/B tested the placement of the inline ticket modules, and the results validated my instinct that users need key details before they are ready to purchase from an experience page. Next steps included evolving the the foundation for multi-booking support in transactional messages, including full-itinerary order recovery messaging. If I did it again I’d: Build for a much bigger catalog from day one. We designed for the number of tickets we had at launch, and it grew fast. I’d set up stronger organization early, so the system could absorb growth without clutter. Prioritize filtering and sorting sooner. As the catalog grew, users needed better ways to narrow their options by date, experience type, price, or group size. I’d move those tools out of the "fast follow" bucket and into the launch plan. Give promoted tickets more emphasis and more places to appear. Featured offers appeared only on the All Tickets page; I’d add placements on other pages, like experience pages. Guests could see what’s featured in more places, and the business could spotlight more of what it wanted to sell. https://heathernoddings.com/TikTok-Music Sat, 07 Nov 2026 23:31:30 +0000 Heather Noddings https://heathernoddings.com/TikTok-Music <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/afa16703a6c3981bf92f0ff22100288cf52390f8642b203356b8d20a794ef23b/TikTok_Music_cover.png" data-mid="254164479" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/afa16703a6c3981bf92f0ff22100288cf52390f8642b203356b8d20a794ef23b/TikTok_Music_cover.png" /> &nbsp;TikTok Music Creating a cohesive design system for TikTok Music, on- and off-platform. RoleSenior Product &amp; Brand Design Lead, TikTok Creative Studios.Led a small team of 2 designers and directed an agency partner. Category Product Brand Design Systems Campaign Design Scope Brand Design, Product AssetsTimingQ3 2021 Key StakeholdersMusic Editorial Music MarketingMusic on TikTok needed to look and feel like one thing, even though artist assets arrive in every color and style, often at the last minute. I designed the music design system and strategy: color pulled from artist photography and matched to the brand palette, a library of type stickers and iconography to unify disparate assets, and an off-platform approach that sends people to the right on-platform experience. The influence of TikTok on the music industry is undeniable, with on-platform trends creating real-time impact on global streaming charts. Music content spans many different moments, from an album release to celebrating a genre or a hot new trend. But while a streaming service can say “Listen now,” music on TikTok had a much different challenge: how to frame music content from TikTok. We needed to further establish TikTok as the destination for global entertainment, through deepening our association with Music, Sports and Entertainment. As a high-priority content vertical, TikTok needed a design system and strategy to help define music content, both in-app and off-platform. <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/01ff27f3a0be7581b59164320d812301e2dce24289d2caaf6017636cb764f972/TikTokMusic_Color-and-Icon.jpg" data-mid="254164523" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" alt="Typography stickers and icons can be used to add visual interest throughout a campaign and serve to tie different livestreams or playlists together." data-caption="Typography stickers and icons can be used to add visual interest throughout a campaign and serve to tie different livestreams or playlists together." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/01ff27f3a0be7581b59164320d812301e2dce24289d2caaf6017636cb764f972/TikTokMusic_Color-and-Icon.jpg" /> <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e215f809f29d26316899710554e54eab3a6807d0f40d567a97fdadab5f8205ae/TikTokMusic_ColorPalette.jpg" data-mid="254164552" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" alt="Color comes from the core or extended palette, including tints, and is inspired by artist imagery." data-caption="Color comes from the core or extended palette, including tints, and is inspired by artist imagery." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e215f809f29d26316899710554e54eab3a6807d0f40d567a97fdadab5f8205ae/TikTokMusic_ColorPalette.jpg" /> <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/58afba5e18f25467666562e8a3e1e483b7ec5979972d88bac4c9750c4c96d20a/Sound-Banner-Art-Cropping.jpg" data-mid="254164555" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" alt="Music banners are designed to fit into the existing banner system and work well across the various cross-functional teams needs." data-caption="Music banners are designed to fit into the existing banner system and work well across the various cross-functional teams needs." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/58afba5e18f25467666562e8a3e1e483b7ec5979972d88bac4c9750c4c96d20a/Sound-Banner-Art-Cropping.jpg" /> <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b6167d0168dd7518b855bbbd41f758d320fbb5d04079a4fbbe9e1a4bec8a9191/TikTok-Music-Off-Platform-Strategy.jpg" data-mid="254164560" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" alt="For #SwiftTok, OOH messaging leaned into Taylor&rsquo;s UGC and ended on her hashtag, landing people on a canvas with 5.9 billion views and countless videos to discover." data-caption="For #SwiftTok, OOH messaging leaned into Taylor’s UGC and ended on her hashtag, landing people on a canvas with 5.9 billion views and countless videos to discover." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b6167d0168dd7518b855bbbd41f758d320fbb5d04079a4fbbe9e1a4bec8a9191/TikTok-Music-Off-Platform-Strategy.jpg" /> Key decisions Pull color from the artist’s own photography, then match it to the brand palette. Artist assets come in a wide variety of colors and styles, often at the last minute. Deriving color from the photography and matching it to the extended brand color palette keeps the music system cohesive with the rest of the brand, as well as with the artists’ own assets. Unify disparate assets with a shared library. To keep consistency across the variety of artist photography, we created a library of type stickers and iconography. Build for speed, not just polish. We created a system for quickly leveraging artist assets to support trending sounds or songs, so the work could keep up with the platform. Center off-platform messaging on what people will find on TikTok. For out-of-home (OOH), messaging was built around what people would find on TikTok, with a hashtag prioritized whenever possible to send users directly to relevant, entertaining content. The same structure could be reused across artists, campaigns, and trends. <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0b64c753ad3f29d710da85ad5776af01626977a9d46098dc1272a6d0b5ea43b7/TikTok_INSERT-APP-APPLE-ID_AppStore_Today_Event-NoText-1.jpg" data-mid="254164983" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/0b64c753ad3f29d710da85ad5776af01626977a9d46098dc1272a6d0b5ea43b7/TikTok_INSERT-APP-APPLE-ID_AppStore_Today_Event-NoText-1.jpg" /> What happened Off-platform to on-platform:&nbsp;A repeatable approach to out-of-home: build the message around what people will find on TikTok and end on a hashtag that lands them in relevant content. The same structure worked across different artists and campaigns. On-platform: The type sticker and iconography library plus the fast-turnaround system gave the team a consistent way to support each new artist, campaign, and trending sound at scale. Outcome:&nbsp;The color approach and design system developed for music were adopted into other verticals, such as sports and LIVE, shaping their approach and look and feel. What I learned A system let us move at the speed of the platform. TikTok was working with a lean team at the time but still needed to move at the pace of trends on the platform. Building a system meant we could turn music work around quickly instead of starting from scratch each time. A mix of flexibility and rigidity makes creativity easier. Firm foundations (the color approach, type stickers, and iconography) kept the work cohesive, while built-in room to flex let each artist’s assets and each trend show through. https://heathernoddings.com/TikTok-Stories Sat, 07 Nov 2026 23:31:30 +0000 Heather Noddings https://heathernoddings.com/TikTok-Stories <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d34f1cd81f2212d7b108636ba601c3ddce59314759439863b739f1e3fdc66d96/Stories_Cover.jpg" data-mid="254163973" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/d34f1cd81f2212d7b108636ba601c3ddce59314759439863b739f1e3fdc66d96/Stories_Cover.jpg" /> TikTok Stories Designing the brand layer for a new ephemeral feature, from concept to MVP launch. Role Senior Product &amp; Brand Design Lead, TikTok Creative Studios Category Product Branding Scope Color system, avatar treatment, creation iconography TimingQ3 2021 Key Stakeholders Product Product Marketing Stories flipped two of TikTok’s core product rules: content disappears after 24 hours, and during testing it was shared only within a user’s social graph. I designed the feature’s brand layer so it felt clearly different from the core feed while still looking like TikTok: a color system that marks the social-graph mode, an avatar treatment, and creation iconography. The designs shipped in TikTok’s MVP launch for in-market testing. TikTok’s core product is permanent, interest-graph content: videos surface because of what you like, not who you know. Stories flipped both of those. The feature needed its own visual identity. It had to feel clearly different from the core feed while still looking like TikTok, and users had to find it and understand it at a glance. Three goals shaped the work: Lower the bar for creation. Take the pressure off posting by making casual, short-lived content feel welcome. Build closer connections. Make Stories a social medium that strengthens relationships with friends. Bring people back. Give users new reasons to open TikTok, contributing to daily active users over time. <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d7aadd5bdb1a1e732757346483b7929efe7e810f34a04bd6e34116d2eb861796/In-App-Inspiration.jpg" data-mid="254164035" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" alt="Looking at existing visual language to inform the new feature's look and feel." data-caption="Looking at existing visual language to inform the new feature's look and feel." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/d7aadd5bdb1a1e732757346483b7929efe7e810f34a04bd6e34116d2eb861796/In-App-Inspiration.jpg" /> <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/111a86a3c250c331cdae665754c60d15170947da663ae2f2f24b2100a734ac75/Stories_RazzmatazzExploration.jpg" data-mid="254164030" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" alt="Exploration of utilizing Razzmatazz for the new Stories feature to maintains the established color language already built into the app." data-caption="Exploration of utilizing Razzmatazz for the new Stories feature to maintains the established color language already built into the app." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/111a86a3c250c331cdae665754c60d15170947da663ae2f2f24b2100a734ac75/Stories_RazzmatazzExploration.jpg" /> <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3d690a676eb614a0f18788d54c1dfd426053ac348f7c8fef834be291f57ee3ad/TikTok-Stories_A-new-way-to-create.jpg" data-mid="254164025" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" alt="Exploration which leverages the form of the existing create button with an overlap effect for the new Stories icon." data-caption="Exploration which leverages the form of the existing create button with an overlap effect for the new Stories icon." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/3d690a676eb614a0f18788d54c1dfd426053ac348f7c8fef834be291f57ee3ad/TikTok-Stories_A-new-way-to-create.jpg" /> Key decisions Use color to tell the two graphs apart. To keep the feature tied to the brand, I explored the two core brand colors. Razzmatazz would stay with the core interest-graph product, and Splash, the brand’s cyan, would mark the new social-graph feature, giving users an immediate visual cue for which mode they were in. Explore three creative territories before choosing. Each territory combined a color, an avatar treatment, and an icon around one idea: 24h time-based (the ephemeral nature of Stories), creation-centric (how easy it is to create), and social / sharing (the social side of Stories). Build from existing in-app elements. I explored a new icon using the form of the existing create button with an overlap effect, so the feature fit the existing color and design system. I also explored Razzmatazz for Stories to maintain the color language already built into the app. Combine the strongest parts of each territory. Splash signaled the feature’s ephemeral, social nature, and a creation-centric camera icon kept the entry point simple and action-oriented. The color coding introduces a new side of TikTok: social-graph-based and ephemeral. <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/51d19fed3145840f8c7eeacc0f8b4613e95ebbaf917297bec14d2ca11afa8433/Stories_Outcome.jpg" data-mid="254164383" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/51d19fed3145840f8c7eeacc0f8b4613e95ebbaf917297bec14d2ca11afa8433/Stories_Outcome.jpg" /> What happened The designs shipped in TikTok’s MVP launch for in-market testing. After testing wrapped up, Stories opened up to audiences beyond a user’s social graph but kept its 24-hour limit.&nbsp; What I learned and what’s next Early on, I proposed letting users share videos from their interest graph into their Stories, where only their social graph would see them. The idea was sharing without creating: a user could start a conversation with friends by passing along something they’d found, without filming anything. It didn’t fit the first goal, lowering the bar for creation, because nothing new would be made. But it would have helped with the other two: Building closer connections. Shared videos give friends something to react to and talk about, so Stories becomes a social space even for people who rarely post.Bringing people back. Every shared video gives friends a new reason to open TikTok, which supports daily active users.The feature wasn’t part of the MVP, but TikTok eventually adopted it after I left. Looking back, the idea showed me that a product’s goals can pull in different directions. An idea can be a poor fit for the headline goal and still be the strongest lever for the others. Naming those trade-offs early makes it easier to pick the right lever for each stage of a launch. https://heathernoddings.com/Jordan-Brand-Design Thu, 12 Nov 2026 17:04:34 +0000 Heather Noddings https://heathernoddings.com/Jordan-Brand-Design <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/156196a9d6f9cd7a893602e750d3793afeb0e79e5b2985b9c08084e5839bba87/Formula-23.jpg" data-mid="254284794" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/156196a9d6f9cd7a893602e750d3793afeb0e79e5b2985b9c08084e5839bba87/Formula-23.jpg" /> Jordan Brand Design Setting a visual language that holds up at every scale. Role Art Director, Jordan Global Brand Design Category Brand Design Scope Visual direction and creative toolkits for global launches Timing2016–2017 Parnters &amp; Collaborators Daniel Sannwald (Photography) Future Deluxe (Motion) Axiom (Retail) As art director at Jordan Brand, I set the visual language for global campaigns, including Air Jordan XXXI "Black Cat” and “Pure Platinum” releases, and the Jordan Formula 23. The work started with a bold idea and was carried through typography, color, composition, and scale into toolkits that teams applied across digital, retail, activation, and out-of-home. My focus was craft: a distinctive, premium look first, then the system that made it repeatable. <img width="1080" height="1080" width_o="1080" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6ace6260b391563139c4cfb5dafda14fe8ada35f50f1ecede3732c1ff699b51d/Formula-23-A-Boogie-01.jpg" data-mid="254284799" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/6ace6260b391563139c4cfb5dafda14fe8ada35f50f1ecede3732c1ff699b51d/Formula-23-A-Boogie-01.jpg" /> <img width="1080" height="1080" width_o="1080" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e9242dcfb608af8168efd7f9f27a7767f6052592809157dfbd71c196c266f8d8/Formula-23-A-Boogie-02.jpg" data-mid="254284800" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e9242dcfb608af8168efd7f9f27a7767f6052592809157dfbd71c196c266f8d8/Formula-23-A-Boogie-02.jpg" /> Why it mattered A campaign lives or dies on how it looks and feels in the moments people actually meet it: a homepage hero, a store window, a billboard. A global brand also has many teams producing work at once, so the visual language has to hold up in formats and contexts the original designer never sees. That takes taste and a system together. Taste decides what the idea is, the system makes sure that choice survives contact with many hands. As current tools and technology make it easier to produce more work, deciding what’s worth making and how it should look and feel matters more than ever. Judgment helps teams and their tools make work that still feels intentional. Visuals &amp; Explorations Air Jordan XXXI, Black Cat <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b156c65acabba9aff2e762d8075a5567c7f3c72f3b2ad6fb37a7c716547d7008/Black-Cat_01.jpg" data-mid="254288841" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b156c65acabba9aff2e762d8075a5567c7f3c72f3b2ad6fb37a7c716547d7008/Black-Cat_01.jpg" /> <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b3ee4c7c532c88946bed21e4343ef48564c89a1d295c3781185f5f81cdd484dc/Black-Cat_02.jpg" data-mid="254291301" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b3ee4c7c532c88946bed21e4343ef48564c89a1d295c3781185f5f81cdd484dc/Black-Cat_02.jpg" /> <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d8b229f0f30e0d4dd676ac98eca80d8976b1fc11b304c1a87f5349f2ba9a4076/Black-Cat_DotCom.jpg" data-mid="254293279" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/d8b229f0f30e0d4dd676ac98eca80d8976b1fc11b304c1a87f5349f2ba9a4076/Black-Cat_DotCom.jpg" /> Air Jordan XXXI Low, Pure Platinum <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7a996f67e16a3170e08af19c77c926a901890c06ffbba5de1db3b915dcf58210/HeatherNoddings_AJXXXI_PurePlatinum_KeyArt-Detail.jpg" data-mid="254293089" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/7a996f67e16a3170e08af19c77c926a901890c06ffbba5de1db3b915dcf58210/HeatherNoddings_AJXXXI_PurePlatinum_KeyArt-Detail.jpg" /> <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7dec76550a3dae15f1d8a835f35e4fd29d9a98813a1c98e1dd85c891c72d8aac/HeatherNoddings_AJXXXI_PurePlatinum_KeyArt.jpg" data-mid="254293087" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/7dec76550a3dae15f1d8a835f35e4fd29d9a98813a1c98e1dd85c891c72d8aac/HeatherNoddings_AJXXXI_PurePlatinum_KeyArt.jpg" /> <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d8f9e7468ba2d64d13869c0ff2f05becb45d6f224f376545f93139865384cc06/Pure-Platinum-Art-Direction.jpg" data-mid="254293296" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/d8f9e7468ba2d64d13869c0ff2f05becb45d6f224f376545f93139865384cc06/Pure-Platinum-Art-Direction.jpg" /> <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/749f2ec8533c8140c405227a10300b0a6b8b9e54c91b5b165923b2f1ad1e8188/HeatherNoddings_AJXXXI_PurePlatinum_Wheatpaste.jpg" data-mid="254293413" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/749f2ec8533c8140c405227a10300b0a6b8b9e54c91b5b165923b2f1ad1e8188/HeatherNoddings_AJXXXI_PurePlatinum_Wheatpaste.jpg" /> <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/296b0ea8c10044f6d90502e7a5570af21695765aa5dc810a8350ad49d9465984/PurePlatinum-Retail.jpg" data-mid="254294006" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/296b0ea8c10044f6d90502e7a5570af21695765aa5dc810a8350ad49d9465984/PurePlatinum-Retail.jpg" /> Jordan Formula 23 <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/dcc220c435aa3c01679a11a9ed83edb8636671075c5b6c7fee1affde0deef6d7/Formula-23_02.jpg" data-mid="254293364" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/dcc220c435aa3c01679a11a9ed83edb8636671075c5b6c7fee1affde0deef6d7/Formula-23_02.jpg" /> <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7dc8aa419f97bc68a4aac3b11755853a1e95aad717c3fa26cc5f65b8fef7264a/Formula-23_03.jpg" data-mid="254293888" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/7dc8aa419f97bc68a4aac3b11755853a1e95aad717c3fa26cc5f65b8fef7264a/Formula-23_03.jpg" /> What I learned and what’s next Craft is what makes a system worth scaling. Rules keep a campaign coherent, but the look is what makes it recognizable and premium.Restraint travels. A small set of type and color choices held up across many teams and formats.&nbsp; https://heathernoddings.com/SparkAR-Filters Sat, 07 Nov 2026 23:31:31 +0000 Heather Noddings https://heathernoddings.com/SparkAR-Filters SparkAR Filters Using SparkAR to create photography-inspired Instagram filters. Role AR Creation &amp; Design CategoryPersonal Work Scope Concept, design and creation of SparkAR Instagram filters Partners None (self-initiated) I taught myself Spark AR Studio, Meta’s augmented reality development platform, and built Instagram filters inspired by photography. Two of my favorites: Auragraphy, which reveals a user’s aura, and Fractals, a digital prism lens that splits the scene seen through a phone camera. Fractals was used over 100,000 times.Spark AR Studio (later known as Meta Spark Studio) was an AR development platform created by Meta. I was curious about the tool and challenged myself to make something interesting with it. Meta shut down Spark AR in 2025, but it was an incredible tool for AR content creation and gave me a way to explore designing for real-time, camera-based interaction. I made several filters over the years, and these are two of my favorites. <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2ee44001e7d2b18e749641e0356420f9ac1ea11fe6a2e63ce459d3d1d190d6ed/Aura-Textures-Set-01.jpg" data-mid="254165008" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" alt="I explored a lot of different possible colors and light patterns for the auras themselves. This is an early set of textures." data-caption="I explored a lot of different possible colors and light patterns for the auras themselves. This is an early set of textures." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/2ee44001e7d2b18e749641e0356420f9ac1ea11fe6a2e63ce459d3d1d190d6ed/Aura-Textures-Set-01.jpg" /> <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f0430e46f7be12cc027792b72d62259f9b6296ac17f9a7b6085f7486099d1273/Radiant-Human-Aura-Photography.jpg" data-mid="254165007" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" alt="Example of actual aura photography, by Radiant Human" data-caption="Example of actual aura photography, by Radiant Human" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/f0430e46f7be12cc027792b72d62259f9b6296ac17f9a7b6085f7486099d1273/Radiant-Human-Aura-Photography.jpg" /> <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/746c27b3ecb0829b9b3e58cf8f62c042c4c138543ee01beeabb9d29090517afe/Auragraphy_SparkAR_Patch01.jpg" data-mid="254165053" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" alt="View of the SparkAR patch editor. Each aura in the filter was applied using a random selector which kept each result feeling different and more personal." data-caption="View of the SparkAR patch editor. Each aura in the filter was applied using a random selector which kept each result feeling different and more personal." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/746c27b3ecb0829b9b3e58cf8f62c042c4c138543ee01beeabb9d29090517afe/Auragraphy_SparkAR_Patch01.jpg" /> Auragraphy filter reveals a user’s aura (so they can post it to the ‘gram). One of the first filters I made was inspired by the beauty of aura-capturing photography. The Auragraphy filter created a colorful array of auras surrounding the user, cycling through each one before landing on their specific aura for image or video capture. Fractals was a prism lens built for the camera we all carry: our phones. This digital prism filter automatically shifted and split the scene viewed through the camera — all without the need to carry anything extra, since it was readily available right in Instagram. <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/fee2eb749fe519b2179e374a0e559bd3ad3ce0b4c48ea16ffc6bc5e607ed0cae/Fractals-Examples_02.jpg" data-mid="254165125" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" alt="Fractals was used over 100,000 times, with real captures shown above." data-caption="Fractals was used over 100,000 times, with real captures shown above." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/fee2eb749fe519b2179e374a0e559bd3ad3ce0b4c48ea16ffc6bc5e607ed0cae/Fractals-Examples_02.jpg" /> <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5e53ca902a969b2d005c323be47053cf83020a9223d9e30f2040e3db4e8c7c18/Fractals-Examples_01.jpg" data-mid="254165088" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" alt="I explored ways to repeat and shift content with a prism study, then checked the preview in the editor with the prism surfaces shifted." data-caption="I explored ways to repeat and shift content with a prism study, then checked the preview in the editor with the prism surfaces shifted." src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/5e53ca902a969b2d005c323be47053cf83020a9223d9e30f2040e3db4e8c7c18/Fractals-Examples_01.jpg" /> <img width="1920" height="1080" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7e1e60f4622e4145b88393112a2c08081701cf16bebc86f323f80b3ac98340a5/SparkAR-Cover.jpg" data-mid="254165157" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/7e1e60f4622e4145b88393112a2c08081701cf16bebc86f323f80b3ac98340a5/SparkAR-Cover.jpg" /> https://heathernoddings.com/This-Should-Be-Fun Sat, 07 Nov 2026 23:31:31 +0000 Heather Noddings https://heathernoddings.com/This-Should-Be-Fun This Should Be Fun A home for random creative ideas, because this should be fun. Role Concept &amp; design Category Personal Projects Linkthisshouldbe.funMost of my work is shaped by business goals, stakeholders, and constraints. This Should Be Fun is a personal site where I play around and pursue creative ideas without any of that. I’m a one-woman show, tackling the concept, visual design, interaction, and writing for each iteration. I build it mostly with templates and tools that are readily available so that I can go from idea to something clickable super quickly.&nbsp;It’s a belief I hold dearly, and the name says it all: this should be fun! I loved the early-internet and so for the current iteration of TSBF I decided to make a desktop, where every icon might hide something. I wanted to reward poking around, and for the chat to feels like we’re back in the ICQ / AIM days. &nbsp;&nbsp;Chat ChatBot Reply: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquaHuman Reply: Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat The chatbot isn’t AI. It runs on the logic of ELIZA, the 1960s chatbot, so its personality comes from simple rules, not a model. ELIZA worked because it played a psychotherapist: the patient-and-therapist dynamic let a few canned reflections feel truly thoughtful. My Y2K version doesn’t have that built-in framing, so it’s less convincing, but it was fun to play with and learn more about how the logic worked. Try it out above or on the site.I haven’t worked on much branding or graphics professionally in recent years, so I like to throw in some of that on the site too. <img width="1668" height="1042" width_o="1668" height_o="1042" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b116478fc5c4b15015128f3eb8d4e27fe55a27c5bc74d91dc3c8c878eb4487d3/Screenshot-2026-11-10-at-8.48.43AM.png" data-mid="254205674" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b116478fc5c4b15015128f3eb8d4e27fe55a27c5bc74d91dc3c8c878eb4487d3/Screenshot-2026-11-10-at-8.48.43AM.png" /> <img width="891" height="757" width_o="891" height_o="757" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d9d5bc3246c2d1ce388ce38f0969fa82cdb8a896273b83c35d8e371ad6f9ee5a/Screenshot-2026-11-10-at-8.50.23AM.png" data-mid="254205725" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/891/i/d9d5bc3246c2d1ce388ce38f0969fa82cdb8a896273b83c35d8e371ad6f9ee5a/Screenshot-2026-11-10-at-8.50.23AM.png" /> <img width="772" height="529" width_o="772" height_o="529" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/054625967318c5b28973fd155bec1fd3ac596fb01699aa269101c6896cabfe50/Screenshot-2026-11-10-at-8.49.49AM.png" data-mid="254205723" border="0" data-no-zoom="true" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/772/i/054625967318c5b28973fd155bec1fd3ac596fb01699aa269101c6896cabfe50/Screenshot-2026-11-10-at-8.49.49AM.png" /> Why are millennials so obsessed with a peace sign? <img width="1656" height="971" width_o="1656" height_o="971" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a7ff67bc7607f2fcacf75735eb15315072a02cf1d5a922af4eb43739330ec437/Screenshot-2026-11-10-at-9.04.45AM.png" data-mid="254206013" border="0" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/a7ff67bc7607f2fcacf75735eb15315072a02cf1d5a922af4eb43739330ec437/Screenshot-2026-11-10-at-9.04.45AM.png" /><img width="1540" height="955" width_o="1540" height_o="955" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6f809b7599f41e5928d271059c07af8f23c16c22d0f73c0dfc3937fcd19f76ed/Screenshot-2026-11-10-at-9.02.48AM.png" data-mid="254206004" border="0" data-no-zoom src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/6f809b7599f41e5928d271059c07af8f23c16c22d0f73c0dfc3937fcd19f76ed/Screenshot-2026-11-10-at-9.02.48AM.png" />