About

On my social media profiles, you'll often see the tagline "Former archaeologist turned UI/UX Designer." This introduction tends to pique people's interest and leads to engaging conversations about my journey from navigating the frozen tundra of the Alaskan Arctic to optimizing user experiences by analyzing the most effective placement of pixels.

 

I consider my unconventional background a strength in UI/UX. My early professional career involved fieldwork in the Canadian Yukon Territory that eventually took me above the Arctic Circle into the Northwest Arctic Borough of Alaska. During this time I developed and conducted research proposals, diary studies, 1:1 interviews, AB testing, surveys, and ethnographic observations. Little did I know I was preparing myself for UI/UX design years before I even knew what the field was.

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I left archaeology once I realized the physical labor and academic politics were endless. The field was never going to change, so I had to. In 2016 I started working for an entertainment company and learned the tools of the trade in marketing - SEO, keyword research, KPI tracking, and ROI analysis.

 

By 2020 I had outgrown my position and looked for something that could combine my analytical background in research with my creative pursuits in video games, anime, and photography. Google searches led me to UI/UX design and ultimately Designlab, an intensive online UI/UX program. After a sleepless night of Googling and researching the field, I realized I found my calling.

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I began my journey as a UX Designer at Riot Games in 2021, collaborating with some of the best designers in the world. Working on Team Mobile Force has been an incredible opportunity to nurture my growth as a designer and contribute to creating amazing user experiences for players all over the world.

 

I believe anthropological research requires the same level of empathy for different cultures as one would show a prospective client and in today's globalized world, they're one in the same. I find my old profession and new calling blending together seamlessly. Now when I conduct research, I utilize ideation concept sessions, user flows, wireframes, and high and low fidelity screens as part of my overall design process.

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In my free time you'll find me either watching anime, building mechanical keyboards, ice skating, or sitting ringside at a UFC fight. I'm currently based in Los Angeles and open to new projects, so please feel free to reach out so we can collab!