Trend-spotting reporting.
Trend-defying strategy.
Trend-spotting reporting.
Trend-defying strategy.
Trend-spotting reporting.
Trend-defying strategy.
Trend-spotting reporting.
Trend-defying strategy.
Hey, I'm JD, award-winning editorial director ✌︎, UX content strategist ✹ and writer ✐ in London with a finger on the pulse of tech and travel.
Hey, I'm JD, award-winning editorial director ✌︎, UX content strategist ✹ and writer ✐ in London with a finger on the pulse of tech and travel.
Hey, I'm JD, award-winning editorial director ✌︎, UX content strategist ✹ and writer ✐ in London with a finger on the pulse of tech and travel.
✉️ Get behind-the-scenes updates; my latest writing; witticism that wasn't fit to print; maybe a few words in Polari, the lost queer language.
✉️ Get behind-the-scenes updates; my latest writing; witticism that wasn't fit to print; maybe a few words in Polari, the lost queer language.
✉️ Get behind-the-scenes updates; my latest writing; witticism that wasn't fit to print; maybe a few words in Polari, the lost queer language.
✉️ Get behind-the-scenes updates; my latest writing; witticism that wasn't fit to print; maybe a few words in Polari, the lost queer language.
Hey, I'm JD, award-winning editorial director ✌︎, UX content strategist ✹ and writer ✐ in London with a finger on the pulse of tech and travel.
future of travel
future of travel
CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER
“Writing about the future often fails to ask questions like, whose future are we really talking about?”
In early 2023, I began writing the Future of Travel column for Condé Nast Traveler, aiming to go beyond the hype and behind the scenes of trends re-shaping the world around us.
no code movement
no code movement
BBC WORKLIFE
“Just like Twitter but worse … a lot worse.”
Opening with the story of a non-developer who created a Twitter knockoff without writing code, this future of work feature charts the rise of "no code" platforms, profiling founders in the growing sector.
tech for good
tech for good
GOOD ON YOU x FARFETCH
UX writing for an app helping fashion brands be more transparent
Brand ratings platform Good On You teamed up with FARFETCH to launch a first-of-its-kind SAAS tool, Good Measures, to help fashion brands improve their sustainability. I consulted on UX copy and communications.
future of travel
future of travel
CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER
“Writing about the future often fails to ask questions like, whose future are we really talking about?”
In early 2023, I began writing the Future of Travel column for Condé Nast Traveler, aiming to go beyond the hype and behind the scenes of trends re-shaping the world around us.
no code movement
no code movement
BBC WORKLIFE
“Just like Twitter but worse … a lot worse.”
Opening with the story of a non-developer who created a Twitter knockoff without writing code, this future of work feature charts the rise of "no code" platforms, profiling founders in the growing sector.
tech for good
tech for good
GOOD ON YOU x FARFETCH
UX writing for an app helping fashion brands be more transparent
Brand ratings platform Good On You teamed up with FARFETCH to launch a first-of-its-kind SAAS tool, Good Measures, to help fashion brands improve their sustainability. I consulted on UX copy and communications.
future of travel
future of travel
CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER
CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER
“Writing about the future often fails to ask questions like, whose future are we really talking about?”
“Writing about the future often fails to ask questions like, whose future are we really talking about?”
In early 2023, I began writing the Future of Travel column for Condé Nast Traveler, aiming to go beyond the hype and behind the scenes of trends re-shaping the world around us.
no code movement
no code movement
BBC WORKLIFE
BBC WORKLIFE
“Just like Twitter but worse … a lot worse.”
“Just like Twitter but worse … a lot worse.”
Opening with the story of a non-developer who created a Twitter knockoff without writing code, this future of work feature charts the rise of "no code" platforms, profiling founders in the growing sector.
tech for good
tech for good
GOOD ON YOU x FARFETCH
GOOD ON YOU x FARFETCH
UX writing for an app helping fashion brands be more transparent
UX writing for an app helping fashion brands be more transparent
Brand ratings platform Good On You teamed up with FARFETCH to launch a first-of-its-kind SAAS tool, Good Measures, to help fashion brands improve their sustainability. I consulted on UX copy and communications.
Experience
Experience
Experience
Experience
I'm a correspondent and consultant exploring ideas shaping our futures online and off — and the cool places worth being present for.
I'm a correspondent and consultant exploring ideas shaping our futures online and off — and the cool places worth being present for.
I'm a correspondent and consultant exploring ideas shaping our futures online and off — and the cool places worth being present for.
I'm a correspondent and consultant exploring ideas shaping our futures online and off — and the cool places worth being present for.
🏴☠️ Sole trader, collaborative spirit
☁️ London, UK based; PNWer for life
🏁 10+ years of award-winning experience
⚓ American abroad, working globally
🔈 Say it like shady Chanel = Shadel
🏴☠️ Sole trader, collaborative spirit
☁️ London, UK based; PNWer for life
🏁 10+ years of award-winning experience
⚓ American abroad, working globally
🔈 Say it like shady Chanel = Shadel
🏴☠️ Sole trader, collaborative spirit
☁️ London, UK based; PNWer for life
🏁 10+ years of award-winning experience
⚓ American abroad, working globally
🔈 Say it like shady Chanel = Shadel
🏴☠️ Sole trader, collaborative spirit
☁️ London, UK based; PNWer for life
🏁 10+ years of award-winning experience
⚓ American abroad, working globally
🔈 Say it like shady Chanel = Shadel
Present tense
Present tense
Bringing a decade of award-winning editorial and digital expertise, I dive into tech and travel trends for major and niche media outlets. And I consult with clients around the world on stand-out content strategies and UX writing.
Bringing a decade of award-winning editorial and digital expertise, I dive into tech and travel trends for major and niche media outlets. And I consult with clients around the world on stand-out content strategies and UX writing.
I write Condé Nast Traveler's Future of Travel column and am editor-at-large at Good On You.
I write Condé Nast Traveler's Future of Travel column and am editor-at-large at Good On You.
Projects I've worked on have been honored by the Webby Awards, US Travel Association, AIGA, NATJA, AMA PDX and more.
Projects I've worked on have been honored by the Webby Awards, US Travel Association, AIGA, NATJA, AMA PDX and more.
Holding my master's degree with distinction in international relations from the University of Exeter, and former Human Rights Commissioner at the City of Portland, I go beyond the hype to make sense of meaningful trends shaping the world around us.
Holding my master's degree with distinction in international relations from the University of Exeter, and former Human Rights Commissioner at the City of Portland, I go beyond the hype to make sense of meaningful trends shaping the world around us.
Past tense
Past tense
Previously based in the Pacific Northwest, I was the Portland travel writer for The Washington Post, covering its distinct neighborhoods and culture. I was also a contributor to VICE's LGBTQ+ section, where my long-form reporting was named Best of 2017. My VICE coverage of queer dating app discrimination was influential in leading to key UX reforms.
Previously based in the Pacific Northwest, I was the Portland travel writer for The Washington Post, covering its distinct neighborhoods and culture. I was also a contributor to VICE's LGBTQ+ section, where my long-form reporting was named Best of 2017. My VICE coverage of queer dating app discrimination was influential in leading to key UX reforms.
A seasoned creative leader, I was previously head editor at one of the Pacific Northwest’s top media companies; project lead at SPJ award-winning Oregon Business; co-founder of a now-defunct underground culture platform; and contributor and consultant on launch teams for a range of new verticals at international publications.
A seasoned creative leader, I was previously head editor at one of the Pacific Northwest’s top media companies; project lead at SPJ award-winning Oregon Business; co-founder of a now-defunct underground culture platform; and contributor and consultant on launch teams for a range of new verticals at international publications.
And long before all that, I was a queer nonbinary kid wandering around the Appalachian Mountains, from where I come — making music with mandolins and synthesizers, writing poems and stories, and trying to find some truth.
And long before all that, I was a queer nonbinary kid wandering around the Appalachian Mountains, from where I come — making music with mandolins and synthesizers, writing poems and stories, and trying to find some truth.
Future tense
Future tense
Perhaps I’ll team up with you? Maybe you’ll drop me a line?
Perhaps I’ll team up with you? Maybe you’ll drop me a line?
Present tense
Bringing a decade of award-winning editorial and digital expertise, I dive into tech and travel trends for major and niche media outlets. And I consult with clients around the world on stand-out content strategies and UX writing.
I write Condé Nast Traveler's Future of Travel column and am editor-at-large at Good On You.
Projects I've worked on have been honored by the Webby Awards, US Travel Association, AIGA, NATJA, AMA PDX and more.
Holding my master's degree with distinction in international relations from the University of Exeter, and former Human Rights Commissioner at the City of Portland, I go beyond the hype to make sense of meaningful trends shaping the world around us.
Past tense
Previously based in the Pacific Northwest, I was the Portland travel writer for The Washington Post, covering its distinct neighborhoods and culture. I was also a contributor to VICE's LGBTQ+ section, where my long-form reporting was named Best of 2017. My VICE coverage of queer dating app discrimination was influential in leading to key UX reforms.
A seasoned creative leader, I was previously head editor at one of the Pacific Northwest’s top media companies; project lead at SPJ award-winning Oregon Business; co-founder of a now-defunct underground culture platform; and contributor and consultant on launch teams for a range of new verticals at international publications.
And long before all that, I was a queer nonbinary kid wandering around the Appalachian Mountains, from where I come — making music with mandolins and synthesizers, writing poems and stories, and trying to find some truth.
Future tense
Perhaps I’ll team up with you? Maybe you’ll drop me a line?
Perhaps I’ll team up with you? Maybe you’ll drop me a line?
Collaborators
Collaborators
Collaborators
Collaborators
Editorial
Editorial
Editorial
Editorial
The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post
Condé Nast Traveler
Condé Nast Traveler
Condé Nast Traveler
Condé Nast Traveler
Them
Them
Them
Them
BBC Worklife
BBC Worklife
BBC Worklife
BBC Worklife
VICE
VICE
VICE
VICE
Bloomberg CityLab
Bloomberg CityLab
Bloomberg CityLab
Bloomberg CityLab
Fodor's Travel
Fodor's Travel
Fodor's Travel
Fodor's Travel
+ more
+ more
+ more
+ more
Consulting
Consulting
Consulting
Consulting
Airbnb
Airbnb
Airbnb
Airbnb
Travel Oregon
Travel Oregon
Travel Oregon
Travel Oregon
PDX
PDX
PDX
PDX
Good On You x FARFETCH
Good On You x FARFETCH
Good On You x FARFETCH
Good On You x FARFETCH
Adidas
Adidas
Adidas
Adidas
Crowd DNA
Crowd DNA
Crowd DNA
Crowd DNA
Destination DC
Destination DC
Destination DC
Destination DC
+ more
+ more
+ more
+ more
KIND WORDS
KIND WORDS
KIND WORDS
KIND WORDS
“JD has an eye for spotting rising trends in travel and breaking them down in a way that really speaks to a young, diverse audience.”
—Amanda Finnegan, The Washington Post
“JD has an eye for spotting rising trends in travel and breaking them down in a way that really speaks to a young, diverse audience.”
—Amanda Finnegan,
The Washington Post
“JD has an eye for spotting rising trends in travel and breaking them down in a way that really speaks to a young, diverse audience.”
—Amanda Finnegan, The Washington Post
“JD is not only a delight to work with, but they are always at the ready with razor sharp ideas and squeaky clean copy, whether I'm looking for reporting on innovation in the travel industry, or service-y yet voice-y destination guides that are a cut above the rest.”
—Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler
“JD is not only a delight to work with, but they are always at the ready with razor sharp ideas and squeaky clean copy, whether I'm looking for reporting on innovation in the travel industry, or service-y yet voice-y destination guides that are a cut above the rest.”
—Megan Spurrell,
Condé Nast Traveler
“JD is not only a delight to work with, but they are always at the ready with razor sharp ideas and squeaky clean copy, whether I'm looking for reporting on innovation in the travel industry, or service-y yet voice-y destination guides that are a cut above the rest.”
—Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler
“JD has transformed our audience engagement with creative strategic guidance and UX writing — helping us make more elevated editorial content and successful digital products.”
—Sandra Capponi, Good On You
“JD has transformed our audience engagement with creative strategic guidance and UX writing — helping us make more elevated editorial content and successful digital products.”
—Sandra Capponi,
Good On You
“JD has transformed our audience engagement with creative strategic guidance and UX writing — helping us make more elevated editorial content and successful digital products.”
—Sandra Capponi, Good On You
Work examples
Work examples
Work examples
Work examples
contributor
contributor
THE WASHINGTON POST
Trending reporting for the reimagined travel section
I contribute trending reporting to The Washington Post's travel section including features on # Traveling While Trans and the rise of 3-D gallery tours. And from 2019 to 2021, I was the Portland, Oregon city reporter for By The Way.
future of travel
future of travel
CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER
“Flygskam,
smygflyga,
tagskryt”
The Swedes are inventing a lot of words about flying's climate impacts. My first installment in the Future of Travel column, this feature probes whether sustainable aviation innovations could change things.
UX writing
UX writing
AIRBNB
SEO copywriting for major destination landing pages
Both a destination research and extensive UX writing project, I worked with Airbnb to create compelling and SEO-optimized descriptions and guides to dozens of destination landing pages — including national and major city destinations in North America and Europe.
public interest tech
public interest tech
THEM
“We need a new digital public square.”
During the first two weeks of Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter, I interviewed social media academics, tech critics and civil rights leaders for this deep-dive feature about what Musk got so wrong with Twitter — and why democracy needs better public digital infrastructure.
generative AI
generative AI
CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER
Microsoft granted me early access to the new Bing in early 2023 to see what it could do for trip planning. It raised some big societal questions.
digital nomads
digital nomads
THE WASHINGTON POST
“‘Overnomadism’ is an apt way of describing what happened when these young jet-setters descended.”
Featured as a top LinkedIn News story, this feature probes a new wave of digital nomads, as the remote work revolution kicked into higher gear throughout the pandemic. Oh, and apparently I coined a new word.
contributor
contributor
VICE
“Best Writing of 2017”
From 2016 to 2018, I contributed conversation-sparking feature stories to VICE's LGBTQ+ vertical. My coverage of discrimination on queer dating apps has been influential in UX design, and my reporting on radical activism was named Best of 2017.
aviation
aviation
THE WASHINGTON POST
Spending a few dollars to offset the footprint of your flight may sound too good to be true because it is, climate experts say. And some warn it's making the climate crisis even worse.
contributor
contributor
CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER
I was one of the reporters spotlighting key ideas and actions — with a DEA&I focus — for the NATJA award-winning Bright Ideas in Travel list.
digital strategy
digital strategy
TRAVEL OREGON
Award-winning digital strategy and editorial for TravelOregon.com
I directed a US Travel Association award-winning editorial program and consulted with Travel Oregon on cross-channel digital strategies, including working on seasonal campaigns with Wieden+Kennedy — such as the GPS-enabled app the Oregon Weather Compass, which was a 2017 Webby Award Honoree.
long form
long form
THEM
What happens when the world's most powerful search engine suggests transphobic results for nearly every major transgender celebrity? That's the scoop in this long-read feature, based on months of original reporting.
destination guide
destination guide
CONDE NAST TRAVELER
“The lake can appear so overwhelmingly azure, so cobalt, so cerulean, so sapphire that, well, you might run out of ways to describe its many shades of blue.”
Destination guides that reflect local expertise and the spirit of the place are my forte. I profiled America's deepest and bluest lake in this guide to Crater Lake National Park.
placemaking
placemaking
BLOOMBERG CITYLAB
“He calls himself the leader of a river-lution.”
Long associated with sewage, Portland's Willamette River has finally been declared safe for recreation. This feature profiles an urban swimming activist who wants residents to test the waters.
contributor
contributor
contributor
THE WASHINGTON POST
THE WASHINGTON POST
Trending reporting for the reimagined travel section
Trending reporting for the reimagined travel section
I contribute trending reporting to The Washington Post's travel section including features on # Traveling While Trans and the rise of 3-D gallery tours. And from 2019 to 2021, I was the Portland, Oregon city reporter for By The Way.
PUBLIC INTEREST tech
public interest tech
public interest tech
THEM
THEM
“We need a new digital public square.”
“We need a new digital public square.”
“We need a new digital public square.”
During the first two weeks of Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter, I interviewed social media academics, tech critics and civil rights leaders for this deep-dive feature about what Musk got so wrong with Twitter — and why democracy needs better public digital infrastructure.
digital nomads
digital nomads
digital nomads
THE WASHINGTON POST
THE WASHINGTON POST
“‘Overnomadism’ is an apt way of describing what happened when these young jet-setters descended.”
“‘Overnomadism’ is an apt way of describing what happened when these young jet-setters descended.”
“‘Overnomadism’ is an apt way of describing what happened when these young jet-setters descended.”
Featured as a top LinkedIn News story, this feature probes a new wave of digital nomads, as the remote work revolution kicked into higher gear throughout the pandemic. Oh, and apparently I coined a new word.
digital strategy
digital strategy
digital strategy
TRAVEL OREGON
TRAVEL OREGON
Award-winning digital strategy and editorial for TravelOregon.com
Award-winning digital strategy and editorial for TravelOregon.com
I directed a US Travel Association award-winning editorial program and consulted with Travel Oregon on cross-channel digital strategies, including working on seasonal campaigns with Wieden+Kennedy — such as the GPS-enabled app the Oregon Weather Compass, which was a 2017 Webby Award Honoree.
future of travel
future of travel
future of travel
CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER
CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER
“Flygskam,
smygflyga,
tagskryt”
“Flygskam,
smygflyga,
tagskryt”
“Flygskam,
smygflyga,
tagskryt”
The Swedes are inventing a lot of words about flying's climate impacts. My first installment in the Future of Travel column, this feature probes whether sustainable aviation innovations could change things.
AVIATION
aviation
aviation
THE WASHINGTON POST
THE WASHINGTON POST
Spending a few dollars to offset the footprint of your flight may sound too good to be true because it is, climate experts say. And some warn it's making the climate crisis even worse.
contributor
contributor
contributor
VICE
VICE
“Best Writing of 2017”
“Best Writing of 2017”
“Best Writing of 2017”
From 2016 to 2018, I contributed conversation-sparking feature stories to VICE's LGBTQ+ vertical. My coverage of discrimination on queer dating apps has been influential in UX design, and my reporting on radical activism was named Best of 2017.
contributor
contributor
contributor
CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER
CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER
I was one of the reporters spotlighting key ideas and actions — with a DEA&I focus — for the NATJA award-winning Bright Ideas in Travel list.
generative AI
generative AI
generative AI
CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER
CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER
Microsoft granted me early access to the new Bing in early 2023 to see what it could do for trip planning. It raised some big societal questions.
UX writing
UX writing
UX writing
AIRBNB
AIRBNB
SEO copywriting for major destination landing pages
SEO copywriting for destination landing pages
SEO copywriting for major destination landing pages
Both a destination research and extensive UX writing project, I worked with Airbnb to create compelling and SEO-optimized descriptions and guides to dozens of destination landing pages — including national and major city destinations in North America and Europe.
long form
long form
long form
THEM
THEM
What happens when the world's most powerful search engine suggests transphobic results for nearly every major transgender celebrity? That's the scoop in this long-read feature, based on months of original reporting.
DESTINATION GUIDE
destination guide
destination guide
CONDE NAST TRAVELER
CONDE NAST TRAVELER
“The lake can appear so overwhelmingly azure, so cobalt, so cerulean, so sapphire that, well, you might run out of ways to describe its many shades of blue.”
“The lake can appear so overwhelmingly azure, so cobalt, so cerulean, so sapphire that, well, you might run out of ways to describe its many shades
of blue.”
Destination guides that reflect local expertise and the spirit of the place are my forte. I profiled America's deepest and bluest lake in this guide to Crater Lake National Park.
placemaking
placemaking
placemaking
BLOOMBERG CITYLAB
BLOOMBERG CITYLAB
“He calls himself the leader of a river-lution.”
“He calls himself the leader of a river-lution.”
Long associated with sewage, Portland's Willamette River has finally been declared safe for recreation. This feature profiles an urban swimming activist who wants residents to test the waters.
Ethical notes
Ethical notes
Ethical notes
Ethical notes
“Public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice”
“Public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice”
“Public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice”
I occasionally lecture on or am interviewed about elements of media ethics and fair work — that’s shown me how these conversations often raise a lot of questions. The lofty quote above comes from the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics, which guides and motivates my work. But to help you understand how I approach such ethics in practice, here are a few specific themes that are especially key to what I do.
I occasionally lecture on or am interviewed about elements of media ethics and fair work — that’s shown me how these conversations often raise a lot of questions. The lofty quote above comes from the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics, which guides and motivates my work. But to help you understand how I approach such ethics in practice, here are a few specific themes that are especially key to what I do.
I occasionally lecture on or am interviewed about elements of media ethics and fair work — that’s shown me how these conversations often raise a lot of questions. The lofty quote above comes from the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics, which guides and motivates my work. But to help you understand how I approach such ethics in practice, here are a few specific themes that are especially key to what I do.
I occasionally lecture on or am interviewed about elements of media ethics and fair work — that’s shown me how these conversations often raise a lot of questions. The lofty quote above comes from the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics, which guides and motivates my work. But to help you understand how I approach such ethics in practice, here are a few specific themes that are especially key to what I do.
In everything, minimize harm
No freebies, no discounts
Advocate for fair work in media
Consulting and volunteering
Fact check diligently
Always open to civic dialogue
In everything, minimize harm
No freebies, no discounts
Advocate for fair work in media
Consulting and volunteering
Fact check diligently
Always open to civic dialogue
What I do
What I do
What I do
What I do
Travel + sense of place
Travel reporting
Trend consulting
Copywriting
Destination research
LGBTQ+ travel
Editorial + copy direction
Feature reporting
Editorial strategy
Content planning
Editorial newsletters
Editorial positioning
Digital copywriting
Content strategy + UX
Content strategy
UX writing
Messaging
Content architecture
Verbal branding
Travel + sense of place
Travel reporting
Trend consulting
Copywriting
Destination research
LGBTQ+ travel
Editorial + copy direction
Feature reporting
Editorial strategy
Content planning
Editorial newsletters
Editorial positioning
Digital copywriting
Content strategy + UX
Content strategy
UX writing
Messaging
Content architecture
Verbal branding
Travel + sense of place
Travel + sense of place
Travel reporting
Travel reporting
Trend consulting
Trend consulting
Copywriting
Copywriting
Destination research
Destination research
LGBTQ+ travel
LGBTQ+ travel
Editorial + copy direction
Editorial + copy direction
Feature reporting
Feature reporting
Editorial strategy
Editorial strategy
Content planning
Content planning
Editorial newsletters
Editorial newsletters
Editorial positioning
Editorial positioning
Digital copywriting
Digital copywriting
Content strategy + UX
Content strategy + UX
Content strategy
Content strategy
UX writing
UX writing
Content architecture
Content architecture
Messaging
Messaging
Verbal branding
Verbal branding
Contact me
Contact me
Contact me
Contact me
Let's talk future plans.
Let's talk future plans.
© JD Shadel 2023