Kristen McCloud is a UX designer at Blink. She loves to craft both intuitive and delightful experiences that help to solve a larger problem at hand. We are proud to feature her as part of our CM Spotlight series.

Describe what you do or create in one sentence.

As a UX Designer, I help creative intuitive, user-centered digital experiences.

What are the top creative challenges that you face in your day-to-day?

Balancing user needs with business needs is always challenge. I think that’s what separates design from other creative practices like fine art. There are a lot of requirements to juggle while keeping your integrity and trying to create something you’re proud of.

How do you define creativity and apply it in your career?

I define creativity as being innovative. It’s the ability to read between the lines, and to not always take things for face value in order to come up with a better or more unique solution. I’m always trying to take in inspiration, especially from places outside of my field, to help flex that muscle.

What’s one piece of creative advice or a tip you wish you had known earlier in your career?

When reviewing work, it’s completely okay to say that you don’t have an answer or need more time to think on something before forming a strong opinion. Getting comfortable with that is a skill in and of itself.

What are you reading these days?

I’m currently reading Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty. It’s fascinating—a great book if you like narrative reporting.

If you had 15 extra minutes each day, what would you do with them?

I would wake up 15 minutes earlier every day so that I had more time to enjoy my slow mornings!