Product Development

Product development

I’m Mary.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been creating things.

Long before I knew what product development was, I was already doing it — I was just calling it by different names.

As a child, I wrote poems, stories and songs. I was fascinated by the idea that something could begin as a thought and become something real that other people could experience. I published my first poetry book when I was still a child, led theatre and music groups at school, and spent most of my free time making, building or imagining something new.

Creativity was never a hobby for me. It was simply how I moved through the world.

As I grew older, that curiosity found new forms. Photography taught me how to see details that others often miss. Architecture taught me how creativity and logic can work together. Fashion taught me how design becomes part of everyday life. Makeup taught me that even the smallest details can change how someone feels about themselves.

The common thread was always the same: I was never interested in creating things that stayed on paper. I was drawn to things people could wear, use, experience, connect with and remember.

Over the years, I worked across beauty, fashion, education, content creation, creative direction and brand development. I trained professionals, led creative projects, directed campaigns, worked on photoshoots, built teams and collaborated with people from very different backgrounds.

What fascinated me most wasn’t just the creative side of these projects. It was understanding why certain ideas connected with people while others didn’t.

Why one product became someone’s favourite.

Why one concept felt exciting.

Why one design stood out in a crowded market.

Without realising it, I was slowly moving towards the field that would bring all of my interests together.

Because product development isn’t just about creating products.

It’s about understanding people. It’s about spotting opportunities. It’s about solving problems. It’s about connecting creativity with strategy, intuition with research, and ideas with execution.

Today, I manage products from the earliest spark of an idea through to launch. From identifying market opportunities and consumer needs, to developing concepts, exploring formulations, selecting packaging, evaluating samples and shaping how a product will eventually be experienced by the people who buy it.

What makes me different is that I don’t approach products from a single angle.

I see them through the eyes of a creator, a consumer, an educator, a marketer and a storyteller.

I think about how a product works. How it looks. How it feels. How it will be used. How it will be communicated. And most importantly, why someone would choose it.

I’m endlessly curious, highly creative and naturally driven to improve, refine and reimagine things. Whether I’m developing a new product, solving a challenge, designing a concept or even cooking dinner, my brain is always asking the same question:

“How could this be better?”

That mindset has guided every stage of my journey.

Not because I was trying to become a product developer.

But because I’ve always loved creating things that make people’s lives a little more interesting, useful, beautiful or enjoyable.

Product Development simply became the place where all those passions finally came together.

One of the products I developed end-to-end as an NPD project: this multifunctional makeup sponge.

I managed the full production process, with an ergonomic shape designed to sit comfortably in the hand and work smoothly on both small areas around the eyes and the full face.

It has a super soft texture, expands up to twice its size when damp for gentler application, absorbs less product, and is made from recycled materials.

One of my end-to-end product developments:

a new pen liner range fully developed by me, from concept, naming, and packaging design to product direction. Designed with essential shades, easy application, and a waterproof formula for effortless flawless eyeliner.

One the most exciting eye products I’ve ever developed! And I named it : Miraculous! (Miracle+ Fabulous)

These multi-chrome eye pencils can be used as both an eyeliner and an eyeshadow. Depending on the light and viewing angle, each shade shifts into different colours, creating a unique effect every time.

The best part? They’re long-lasting, smudge-proof, sweat-resistant, and designed to complement a wide range of skin tones and makeup styles.