I strive for simplicity. I transform complexity into clear, organized systems that elevate user experience by optimizing how products are structured, organized, and navigated.
To achieve this, I blend UX design expertise with strong technical skills to create intuitive navigation and scalable design patterns that establish consistency across products, present information clearly, and simplify product exploration and discovery.
I see design as a bridge—connecting creativity and functionality, vision to execution, users with solutions. Collaborating with stakeholders, I leverage research insights and iterative prototyping to optimize designs and create a shared vision that is user-friendly and practical to build.
I am seeking a long-term opportunity to contribute to the information architecture or design system of a complex information-rich or technical product. I thrive in low-ego, customer-centric teams that value curiosity, independence, growth mentality, attention to detail, and a commitment to craft.
My strengths include:
- Information Architecture & Navigation: Expertise in structuring content and navigation to improve usability and accessibility based on data and user feedback.
- UI Prototyping: Advanced understanding of Figma and HTML/CSS, with expanding skills in JavaScript & React for Web, and ProtoPie for creating native mobile concepts.
- Design Systems: Experienced in managing Figma component libraries, and defining scalable design patterns for consistent, efficient workflows.
- Accessibility: Expert understanding of WCAG and accessibility standards, ensuring inclusive, user-friendly design components.
- Collaboration: Skilled in balancing user needs, business goals, and technical constraints, with a solid foundation in front-end technologies for smooth implementation.
- Growth Mindset: Dedicated to continuous improvement and advocating for a growth mindset.
Professional Journey
I am constantly striving to understand not just how things work, but the deeper meaning behind them.
I grew up in a small town in Northern Wisconsin, where I learned the value of resilience and resourcefulness. These qualities have shaped who I am and continue to guide my personal and professional growth. Throughout my journey, my drive to learn has been a constant. I embrace continuous learning as a way of life.
My design career began in Graphic Design in the mid-2000s, crafting print and web designs for small businesses and educational institutions in Central Florida. Driven by ambition, I moved west to pursue greater opportunities and chart a new path.
In 2014, I became a first-generation college graduate, earning dual Bachelor’s degrees from the University of Oregon with Summa Cum Laude honors while balancing work in customer service to support my education. It was during a year of graduate study in Landscape Architecture at UO that I first discovered my passion for user experience design, leading me to complete a Master’s in Human-Computer Interaction at the University of Washington in 2017.
Since then, I’ve gone on to work at Microsoft and Google, growing from a Product Designer to a UX Architect. Along the way, I've collaborated with global teams across the U.S., Canada, the UK, India, and Egypt to create a variety of successful enterprise products, including Microsoft.com Universal Navigation, Google Ads, TurboTax, Bing for Commerce, Bing APIs, & Visual Studio.
Beyond Work
I value knowledge, creativity, and authenticity—principles that guide not just my work, but the way I live.
I've pursued creative expression across a wide range of media throughout my life. I'm especially experienced in drawing and printmaking, including woodcut, etching, and monoprinting. My work has been exhibited in galleries and sold to collectors, reflecting my deep commitment to craft and exploration.
Outside of design, music is my greatest passion. I’m a self-taught bassist and guitarist who believes in the universal language of music as a way to bridge differences and spark connection. Playing music offers a non-visual creative outlet that both complements and expands my perspective as a designer. I’m endlessly curious about music history and culture—and I run a small e-commerce shop dedicated to buying, selling, and trading music gear. (I’ll admit, I’m way too into the gear.)
My curiosity doesn’t stop there. I’m also drawn to learning, wayfinding, organizing systems, creative coding, health and wellness, and of course, strong dark espresso. I’m an avid fantasy football player and a seasoned action RPG gamer—insightful, strategic, and always up for a challenge.
These passions enrich my life and reflect the values I bring to every project: curiosity, dedication, reflection, and perseverance. I approach everything I do with a growth mindset, always seeking opportunities that challenge me, inspire me, and bring a deeper sense of meaning and balance to my work.