Leadership, Thought leadership
Kayla Heffernan
Supporting people and building capacity

Whether I’m coaching an associate designer or managing an experienced team, my role is to build trust and psychological safety and help people thrive. The same curiosity I bring to understanding users is the mindset I bring to understanding the people I lead.

I’ve collected tactics over many years through self-directed learning (talks, readings, podcasts), structured professional development (conferences, courses, Melbourne Business School) and from other leaders.

You’ll notice a pattern in every tactic. None of them involves guessing.

They also aren’t forms to complete or assessments to run. They’re structured conversations to have with your team members, individually, early in your journey together

Supporting people and building capacity
Leadership, Thought leadership, Work example
Kayla Heffernan
How to set up a design practice from scratch

Design hire number one and don't know what to do? Read about the 6 steps I used to set up a design practice from scratch

How to set up a design practice from scratch
Work example
Kayla Heffernan
Why no one is following your instructions (and ...

If no one is listening, it's probably a design problem. The tips in the article will help you craft messages people can actually understand and act on.

Why no one is following your instructions (and how to fix it)
Work example
Kayla Heffernan
Consistency isn’t optional — it’s core to ...

Is your style guide being ignored? It’s not just a branding issue — it’s a usability problem. Learn why consistency is core, not optional — and how to get teams on board.

Consistency isn’t optional — it’s core to usability
Thought leadership
Kayla Heffernan
From 2015 to 2024: how real estate websites ...

In 2015, I embarked on the journey of buying my first home. At that time, I wrote a blog post critiquing the UX of real estate websites through a, somewhat sarcastic, persona named ‘Kayla’ and listed out ‘her’ (my) user needs and how they weren’t being met. Discover how real estate websites have evolved from 2015 to 2024 through a personal lens. Spoiler alert – it still sucks, but it sucks a little less.

In this blog post, I evaluate how current real estate platforms address user needs such as viewing new properties, staying within budget, accessing accurate information, and managing inspection schedules. It suggests key improvements and practical recommendations for improving real estate website UX.

From 2015 to 2024: how real estate websites have evolved

Inclusive design

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Accessibility affects us all: Celebrating Global Accessibility Awareness Day

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Accessibility affects us all: Celebrating Global Accessibility Awareness Day

Discover why digital accessibility matters for everyone — not just a few — and how small design changes can make a big impact this Global Accessibility Awareness Day.

Guys as the new ‘um’

Gendered words can be, and are, damaging to some recipients (and effectively the deliverer). You’re probably not even aware of the fact that you’re alineting or demeaning your audience. I, and a lot of other women, have a visceral reaction to the term and it’s important you are aware of the impacts of choosing to using it. Let's talk about "guys". 

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Designing for People you Didn't Know Existed

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Designing for People you Didn't Know Existed

Last week a few of us from SEEK went to UX Australia, a conference dedicated to all things user experience. I gave a 10-minute talk at UX Australia which was recorded and will eventually be available but in the mean time here’s a sneak peak.

By now we all know we are not the user, it has been drilled in to us enough times. But how do you design for people you might not know exist. How many genders are there? You might think two if you’ve never met an intersex person.