Design Researcher | Social Impact Strategist
I translate lived experience into design solutions that transform how people navigate healthcare, education, and complex systems.
Let’s work together.
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Relational, resonant, respectful.
My work operates at the intersection of systems thinking, narrative research, and co-design, uncovering human stories beneath complex systems and translating them into opportunities to address both individual needs and systemic barriers.
Storytelling is foundational to my practice. My background in journalism taught me to listen for the narratives beneath complex challenges, while marketing showed me how those stories can become catalysts for meaningful change. This combination allows me to create design solutions where authenticity and strategy work in harmony.
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Design/UX Research
Adobe Creative Suite
Figma
Google Suite
Animation
Photo/Video
Copywriting
Brand Identity
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9+ years in communications, marketing, customer service, sales, events, and creative
MA in Design, Carnegie Mellon University, 2025
BA in Journalism & Advertising, University of Oregon, 2016
LUMA Human Centered Design Practitioner Certificate, 2024
IDEO Design Thinking Certificate, 2024
Groundswell (2)
Making Space to Restore, Together: A Systemic Design Response to Staff Well-Being
Groundswell is a multi-modal care ecosystem that supports healthcare worker well-being by introducing resources that acknowledge the emotional complexities of oncology care.
Client: UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, Cancer Services
Co-Production | Healthcare | Co-Design
Groundswell (1)
Making Space for Grief, Together: Integrated Emotional Support Systems for Oncology Staff
This concept pitch emerged from a participatory research-driven graduate design course partnered with gynecologic oncology staff. Awarded grant funding for a quality improvement pilot study.
Client: UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, Cancer Services
Generative Research | Healthcare | Co-Design
Birth Story
A Micro-App Concept Helping Parents Document and Reflect on Their Birth Experience
A sister app to Myana (Mothers You Are Not Alone), that would support parents during critical moments of the birthing process by offering documentation, reflection, and social sharing tools.
Client: University of Pittsburgh Center for Research on Healthcare
UX Research | UX Design | Healthcare
Transition Design
A Systems-Based Design Response to Food Insecurity in Pittsburgh
Through a multi-level design lens, this theoretical seminar project addresses Pittsburgh's food insecurity by proposing a hyper-local integrated intervention plan to tackle systemic barriers to food security. The course was taught by the founders of CMU's Transition Design Institute.
Systems Thinking | Design Research | Data Visualization
MindfulNest
Social-Emotional Learning Technology for Pre-K Classrooms
Improving the teacher experience of MindfulNest’s dashboard—a classroom tool for SEL education supporting emotional regulation and identification.
Client: CMU, CREATE Lab, Robotics Institute + Trying Together
UX Research | UX Design
SomeBuddy
A Social App Concept for Busy Grad Students to Plan Low-Effort and Lightweight Socialization
Alleviating campus loneliness through approachable connections with peers, GPS map to locate connections, and a social brand to foster inclusion.
UX Research | Brand Identity | Animation
Bridging the G.A.P.
Re-Brand Campaign for The Great Allegheny Passage Trail
A comprehensive rebranding proposal featuring a campaign for inexperienced riders, GPS app prototype, print materials, and environmental graphics.
UX Research | Brand Identity | Animation
Homi
A Social App Concept to Connect Future Roommates Over Shared Values
Making the roommate search more safe and enjoyable through playful UI, personalization and preference customization, and supportive messaging prompts to help navigate key details.
UX Research | UX Writing | Brand Identity
Heirloom
A Concept for An Empathetic Tool to Support End-of-Life Logistics
A rapid mini-capstone for LUMA Institute's Human-Centered Design Practitioner course on the fundamentals of design thinking and creative problem solving through hands-on application.
Human-Centered Design | UX Design | Design Research
Cuba Creatives
An Interactive iPad Publication Showcasing the Stories of Cuban Artisans
An immersive journalism magazine with experiential UI created by a student-run creative agency through the University of Oregon’s study abroad program.
Art Direction | Brand Identity | UI Design
Seeds of Transformation
An Interactive Zine Exploring Design Principles Inspired by Community Wisdom
This interactive zine emerged from a graduate seminar challenge on developing a "design mind." The assignment pushed students to distill their unique perspectives on design practice into an accessible storytelling format.
Visual Communications | Graphic Design | Print Design