Hello!

I bring a diverse background spanning non-profits, government sectors such as the City of Austin and the Air Force, as well as pivotal roles at Macmillan Learning and Google. My expertise in UX Design and Service Design is fueled by a relentless commitment to creating solutions that fuse intuitive usability with profound human connection. Grounded in human-centered design principles, I specialize in pushing boundaries to empower users through transformative experiences across digital, physical, and interpersonal realms. Through rigorous research methodologies and a background in counseling, I craft cohesive customer journeys and drive empathy-driven innovation, ensuring designs resonate universally while fostering ethical, data-driven strategies for organizational success.

About me

I was born and raised in Chicago. After earning my Bachelor's degree, I moved to Seattle, drawn by its rain, coffee culture, and penchant for flannel layering. During my time there, I pursued a Masters in Clinical Psychology, becoming a trained mental health professional. This experience provided me with valuable opportunities to work with diverse populations, addressing a wide range of challenges and crafting solutions grounded in strengths.

Throughout my journey, I received comprehensive training in individual, group, and family counseling, practicing various therapeutic approaches and interview methods. These included cognitive-behavioral and humanistic therapies for personal growth, art therapies for emotional expression, and family systems theory for addressing group dynamics and systemic issues. In my direct service roles, I recognized the crucial role of solid data in advocating for and supporting individuals during critical service moments. This understanding was pivotal during my involvement in evaluating the 1811 Eastlake supportive housing program in collaboration with the University of Washington. Our findings, published in respected journals, underscored the program's effectiveness in reducing alcohol-related issues and enhancing residents' quality of life. Read More

Upon relocating to Austin, I focused on integrating design principles into social work environments. During this period, I expanded my knowledge by completing a UX certificate from General Assembly and participating in the IDEO Human-Centered Service Design course. This transition led to roles at Macmillan Learning, Google, and the City of Austin's Service Design Lab, where I contributed to projects aimed at optimizing educational and city services to better meet user needs and enhance usability. These experiences enabled me to bridge the gap between social work practices and innovative design solutions, reinforcing my commitment to creating meaningful experiences and improving service delivery for all communities.

Designing within the civic sector presented its own unique challenges, including navigating governmental protocols, compliance standards, and security requirements. My demonstrated adeptness in understanding and adapting to the regulatory landscape ensured that our solutions not only met user needs but also complied with all necessary regulations. My ability to navigate these complexities while maintaining a focus on user experience underscores my exceptional skill and dedication to delivering high-quality design solutions in any environment. I also consistently served as a mediator between stakeholder needs, ensuring alignment throughout the project lifecycle.

In parallel to my service design roles, I co-founded Periphery Design Co-op in Austin. Our team specializes in community-focused service design, employing a user-centered approach in digital and physical projects. We prioritize solutions that address root problems, offering facilitation, tools, workshops, and support to empower individuals and communities to create tailored solutions, with deep consideration of history, culture, and environment.

Throughout my career spanning Chicago, Seattle, and Austin, I have remained committed to leveraging my background in clinical psychology and social work to drive innovation in service design. Looking forward, I'm passionate about leveraging AI and machine learning to create more personalized and efficient solutions that meet the evolving needs of communities. My journey is driven by a passion for enhancing tools and systems for direct service professionals, with the ultimate goal of creating meaningful experiences and improving service delivery across all communities.

Austin Design Week, 2019

A panel discussion on conducting design research while consciously navigating sensitive topics and the impact research has on designing for multidimensional problems at scale.

Better World by Design, 2019

Brown University invited us to conduct a workshop on Human Centered Research Methods. Participants were provided case studies with real life examples from the University’s HOPE student organization. Participants left with a better understanding of the challenges faced by service providers, and an in-depth service design toolkit to assist service providers with work based trauma. Toolkit

Civic Futures Summit, 2019

Community-Driven Design for Better Technology, Programs & Policies, was a two day workshop introducing the techniques of civic service design with examples of successful city project case studies from New York’s Service Design Studio, and Austin’s Service Design Lab.

Austin Design Week, 2018

Like many communities around the country, and the world, Austin is currently grappling with questions about how to serve a growing population of people experiencing homelessness. This panel was set up to discuss design methods and strategies used when working within a system assisting participants experiencing homelessness.