My design philosophy

Function first, then form

I love making beautiful things, but first and foremost, product design is about making something that works for people. And you can find out whether it does by looking at the numbers and talking to them.

Design is for everyone

I strive to make inclusive designs that are accessible for user, ans I also strive to include people in the design process. Non-formal designers should be involved and sharing input at every stage, tp achieve the best results.

Start with good enough

I have a burning desire to create the best solutions I can, but I am learning to balance it with also creating the simplest, fastest solutions I can so that my teams and I can put something good enough out there faster, and then build from there,

How I became a product designer

English major, actor, singer

I love creating meaningful, human experiences. I studied English literature in undergrad because I loved stories that revealed something deep and true about what it means to be human. After I moved to New York City, I went to acting school and acted in downtown plays and short films for the same reason.

Copywriter

Eventually, I found myself working in digital advertising as a copywriter, crafting experiences on websites and for ad campaigns that spoke to the human needs and desires our clients’ products addressed. While doing this, I realized that it was actually the design side of the work that appealed to me the most—I always liked art growing up—and I started a night class to learn the foundations of graphic design.

Advertising Designer / Art Director

Next, I worked as a designer and art director at a digital agency focused on hospitality clients. I was lucky enough to work under an extremely talented creative director, who showed me the ropes and helped train my eye. After a few years, I decided to freelance for clients on my own for a bit, and gained confidence that I could bring my skills into new contexts.

Marketing / Brand Designer

I heard about an opportunity to go in-house for a workplace coaching startup and was intrigued because coaching has the potential to make people’s work experiences more meaningful. I got the job and joined the brand and marketing team. I had a ton of autonomy and the opportunity to refresh the entire brand three times. I also got exposed to product design because Lingo Live had a digital coaching platform.

Marketing / Product Designer

When the need arose, I jumped onto the product side, eager to help push our work forward. I took some classes to learn more about the discipline of product design, and I started working with our project manager and CEO on new initiatives. I realized that I loved talking to users and trying to solve their problems. It made the work feel more meaningful to me and the problems were complex and challenging.

The product design process became even more satisfying when we brought onboard a seasoned VP Product with experience in agile best practices. He had great insights and always pushed me to be more strategic and take the work to the next level. He also made our lean product team a more cohesive unit. We were all in the loop without being weighed down by meetings, and we were stronger than the sum of our parts.

Now

I am now actively looking for my next role, and I am hoping to find another amazing team to work with, ideally one with other product designers on it who I can collaborate with and learn from. I’m eager to use my skills and passion to solve new complex problems, ideally with ones social impact, and create meaningful, useful, and human experiences for more people.