Hello!
I’m Aoife Norby
and I’m glad you’re here!
I might be what my sister calls “milleni-old”, but I’m still here living my best life and sharing it with you. I currently live in Chicago with my cats Freya & Binx.
I’m an expert in experience design and accessibility who works with some of the worlds biggest brands at my day job and try to find a way to infuse art & creativity into all aspects of my life. (I don’t ever exercise…but I do dance 3-5x per week and when I’m starting a new hobby hyperfixation, it’s a 99.99% chance it’s some sort of art or craft).
You will likely joke about my “bargain basement body” that came from the “bruised and reduced bin”, which is how I laugh at some of the annoying challenges my body has thrown at me such as food allergies, chronic migraines and neurodivergence. But it wasn’t until a freak accident left me realizing I was disabled.
In 2008, my whole life changed in an instant when I hit black ice. They told me I’d never walk again…so 13 months later, I ran a 5k. And 3 months after that a running injury to the same leg left me with a rare, progressive and incurable pain disorder called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. CRPS is considered one of the most painful conditions a human can experience.
While my body certainly was disabled before, it was this diagnosis that left me identifying as disabled.
The doctor told me I’d likely have to leave the workforce by the time I was 30.
I spent a few years taking it easy professionally, but science gave me some cyborg parts (a spinal cord stimulator) and I’m still going strong at 39.
I consider my CRPS to be a dynamic disability – I use a cane to help with pain and balance and use dance as exercise, physical therapy and soul-feeding.
I’ve made accessibility a core part of my creative process at my day job and I’m currently working on a few products to make my life more accessible while still being beautifully designed. This site and my social media presence is to help me build the following and earn the funds to launch these products.
Support Aoife
Shop merch
Shop for unique merch featuring my design & illustration work. Items are made to order and come at a variety of price points.
Follow the journey
I’m sharing my journey & life on social media as I design the life I want to live and create beautifully accessible products.
Buy Aoife a coffee
Contribute to the work financially to help me build the funds needed to produce accessible products and launch a brand.
