From an early age, creativity shaped the way I understood the world. In high school, I spent my summers at art colleges and applied to ten art schools without knowing exactly what my major would be. When my top choice didn’t accept me, I wrote a letter asking them to reconsider, and they did. That moment became an early lesson I still carry with me: hard work matters, but persistence, communication, and thoughtful follow-through matter just as much.

I earned my BFA in Industrial Design from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, with a minor in Interdisciplinary 3D Fine Arts. This is where I discovered that at the heart of everything I love is problem-solving. Studying abroad at Central Saint Martins in London broadened my creative perspective; on weekends, I found myself at punk shows or learning to swing dance, proof that creativity can be expressed in countless forms if you stay open to it.

Throughout my 20s, I freelanced in set design, furniture design, and, later, audiovisual production. These roles allowed me to travel to more than two dozen countries and reinforced a core belief in UX research: you are never the user. Exposure to diverse environments and people has helped me look outside of myself. And this is how I approach design. I thrive on picking up new skills regardless of where I am, which includes the everyday jobs I tap into between projects, ranging from restaurants to art classrooms. That variety taught me adaptability, resourcefulness, and how to collaborate with people of all kinds.

In AV, I started as a stagehand but quickly gravitated toward lighting design and stage management. I was often entrusted with event and project manager responsibilities because of my ability to organize, communicate clearly, and build strong relationships with both high-end clients and crew. In live events, deadlines don’t shift; you learn to anticipate needs, solve problems fast, and keep everyone aligned.

Now I choose to pursue a Master’s in Business & Science with a concentration in User Experience Design at Rutgers University. The program’s unique blend of business strategy and design rigor immediately resonates with me because it allows me to deepen my UX practice while understanding the broader organizational contexts that shape business decision-making. 

At my core, I’m a creative problem-solver. I’ve worked with countless materials and mediums, and I showcase some of my handmade projects here because I believe creativity is a muscle you strengthen, both in your work and your life. While I’ve never fully identified with the word “artist,” I’ve always embraced the identity of a designer: someone who creates beautiful, functional things that serve real people.

What motivates me most is meaningful work; research that uncovers human needs, design that solves real problems, and opportunities to collaborate with others who value curiosity and continuous learning. I’m a lifelong learner, and I hope we can learn from each other as we build thoughtful, impactful products together.