I started my career as a hairstylist, which might seem random for a designer. But it taught me everything about listening to what people want and figuring out how to make it happen. After finishing my Visual Communications degree at SF State, I realized I love solving the same kinds of problems—just with pixels instead of hair.

Recently, I had the opportunity to put this approach to the test when I was selected as a top 20 finalist out of 500+ submissions in BRIDGEGOOD’s Inspire Oakland design challenge. The project challenged me to dig deep into what defines a community's identity and translate that into a design that celebrates Oakland's resilience, diversity, charisma, and heart.

This experience reinforced what I love most about design work—I'm drawn to projects where I can blend creativity with practical problem-solving, whether that's designing a brand that resonates with people or building an interface that doesn't frustrate users. My goal is always to create something that looks great but more importantly, actually works for the people using it.

Because at the end of the day, whether I was behind the chair or behind the screen, it's always been about making people feel good about the experience.