About Ash Donaldson

Cognitive Biases and Faulty Thinking

Ash Donaldson's core interest lies in the mechanisms of faulty thinking that affect everyone, as stated in their [about page][10]. They delve into cognitive dissonance [9], where conflicting beliefs cause discomfort, and seeing patterns [7], noting how brains excel at pattern recognition but often err in misinformation-heavy environments. Their blog title, 'Exploring a world of misinformation' [3][11], frames this as a central theme, exemplified by advice for aspiring female leaders to avoid mainstream media [11].

UX Design Principles

Donaldson emphasizes practical UX techniques like using cards in user experience [4] and critiques the field broadly. They question whether UX experts really make things better [6], arguing that thoughtless design persists [3]. Key to their philosophy is intuition as the enemy of user research [5], advocating evidence over gut feelings, and skepticism toward science's omniscience [8].

Human Factors Engineering

As a self-described Human Factors Engineer [10], Donaldson applies psychology to design, highlighting how brains are good at seeing patterns but prone to errors [7]. This ties into broader design critiques and personal experiences [12], blending professional insight with reflections like loving the 'slippery slide'—possibly a metaphor for navigating complex systems.

Misinformation and Media Critique

The blog's overarching narrative confronts a 'world of misinformation' [3][11], with posts on science's limits [8] and cognitive traps [9]. Recent implications include media avoidance for leadership aspirants [11], suggesting evolved caution against biased information sources.

Personal and Family Context

Personal life intersects with themes of suffering and resilience, potentially linked via family. Podcast episodes feature Trisha Donaldson on partner's trauma [1] and Jimmy Donaldson (James Alexander Donaldson the 5th) on youth ministry [2], hinting at familial ties. Obituaries for David A. Donaldson [14] and Terry Willard [13] may indicate relatives, adding depth to human-centered design ethos.