Product Designer

In my career I have designed experiences for apps, websites, marketing materials, physical products, wood-working projects, games, and more! I consider myself a bit of a jack-of-all trades and find I enjoy many aspects of design from project leadership to creating prototypes and even helping create and grow design org structures.

I've been drawing for enjoyment since I was a child and continue to play with many mediums like, watercolor, gouache, acyrlic, pastel, printmaking, and digital art. I'm inspired by movie and game concept artists and want to work towards being a better illustrator. I spend most of my time practicing life drawing and painting! The image on the left is a digital painting I made last year! You can check out some of my art in the caoursel below. Like what you see? Follow me on Instagram .

I love economic or engine-building tabletop games like Imperial Settlers or Lords of Waterdeep. I find playing board games challenging, satisfying, and a great way to keep your cognition sharp! The same can be true for video games, however, I mostly play them for the escapism (everyone needs to let their brain rest!). My favorites are RPGs, Fighters, and MOBA's. I do actively play by taking note of the choices game designers make like color palettes, design of levels, lighting, and game mechanics. Another bonus is that it inspires me to use those same gamifcation concepts in my own design work - particularly for students experiences.

I've started to travel out of the country more over the past few years and I hope to continue the trend. In the past 3 years I visited the UK, France, Japan, Germany, South Africa, Canada, and Mexico. Covid has put a stop to a lot of travel but hoping to start back up again in 2023. Top of my list? Peru and the Galapgos! And while some people hate traveling for work, in a previou jobs I would travel once a month around the US and I actually enjoyed the trips! I'm always ready to be a jet setter!

My vacuum gets quite a bit of use because it has to pick up after several furry friends at my house! I own two cats and three dogs. I find animals offer so much in terms of stress relief, joy, exercise, and inspiration for art! While I enjoy my quiet time as an extroverted introvert (yeah, that's a thing), I find my pets create a unique sound track in my house that I dearly miss when one of them is not around. I also volunteer at my local shelter on ocassion and it can be real hard to not take another furry friend home!

While I don't consider myself a great musican I do find joy and stress relief in practicing and playing music. I played violin for about 8 years in my youth and occassionally will pick it up but I practice piano more often these days. I still have so much to learn but I love that! In terms of the kinds of music I like to listen to...I have very eclectic tastes. I'll pretty much listen to anything because I find my taste in music is closely related to my mood! If you took at peak at my playlist you might find: Metallica, Unleash the Archers, Heart, Glass animals, Fleetwood Mac, Joni Mitchell, Chuck Ragan, Lindsey Stirling, Chillhop... and the wide variety goes on! I will say I most often listen to indie-folk music but I love a little of everything!