I first started learning design software when I was 13 with Adobe Photoshop. At 14 I began building my first websites. I studied computer science throughout high school, but I decided to get a B.S. in Architecture at the University of Virginia to blend my artistic and technical skills. Architecture school taught me a lot about the design thinking process, iterating on solutions based on feedback, and conceptualizing a project from start to finish. I gained a lot of experience with design software and learned how to build neat things with laser cutters and 3D printers.
After my second year of architecture school I did an internship with a startup where I received my first exposure to UI/UX design. I was responsible for using design tools like Photoshop and Illustrator to create and iterate on mockups of the application. During the internship I realized I wanted to be a UI/UX Designer. I enjoyed its technical nature, visual problem solving, and iterative speed. I still stuck with the architecture degree due to its basis in design thinking, but I focused my extracurriculars, internships, and side projects around web design and development.
When I graduated in 2015, I immediately joined the tech industry at a technical consulting firm where I designed and developed dozens of custom applications from small websites to large enterprise apps. Clients included Fortune 500, Federal, and startups across a variety of industries, particularly in the healthcare space.
I have been fortunate enough to create a niche for myself in both UI/UX design and front-end development. Currently I work as a Sr. UX Designer at Amazon, designing the Seller Central experience for Amazon sellers. I am responsible for iterating on designs and conducting user research, as well as occasionally developing production UI code. I work closely with product managers, user researchers, and developers to turn user feedback into tangible enhancements and ensure designs are implemented as intended.
Since graduating college, I have earned certifications as a Certified Usability Analyst and Full Stack Web Developer. In my spare time I enjoy working on side projects, creating voxel art, and tinkering with public APIs.