Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area immersed me in design from an early age—first through Microsoft Paint, then evolving my toolkit with the earliest versions of Adobe Flash, Illustrator, and Photoshop. By high school, I was already exploring these programs independently, receiving school recognition for my work in computer applications.

Afterward, I spent over a decade in the service industry, developing skills that profoundly inform my design approach:

• Empathy & User-Centered Thinking – Anticipating guest needs and adapting on the fly

• Real-Time Problem Solving – Quickly finding solutions in fast-paced environments

• Communication & Collaboration – Working alongside diverse teams and clientele

• Attention to Detail – Maintaining consistency and quality under pressure

• Feedback & Iteration – Constantly refining processes based on user (guest) responses

• Patience & Resilience – Thriving in high-stress, time-sensitive conditions

These experiences have shaped me into a designer who naturally puts the user first—translating the “steps of service” mindset into thoughtful, engaging digital products.