Hi!
I’m currently working at BigBear.ai as a UX Designer/Researcher and recently received my UX Certification (with UX Research Specialty) from Nielsen Norman Group.
Outside of design research, you can find me planning my next trip, thumbing through fashion magazines, working on some type of art project, trying to learn how to skateboard (emphasis on “trying”), or hanging out at the nearest museum. (I’ve been told I might have too many hobbies? I disagree.)
If you’d like to hear more about my Design & Research experience, thoughts about Placemaking, or just chat about the last cool place you went to, feel free to reach out!
A little more about me:
Photo by Amanda Murphy
In 2015, I received my Bachelor of Science in Consumer Sciences & Retailing with a minor in Art & Design from Purdue University. My undergrad degree allowed me to dip my toes into how art and design are used for storytelling. It also, along with my career before pursuing a graduate degree, gave me insights into both business’ and consumers’ points of view and how to strategically balance these. However, after working for a few years on the corporate side of the fashion and retail industry, I knew that I wanted to pivot my career in a different direction. I wanted to hone in on using my empathic mindset to work with people in a way that I could use my creativity to build community and create positive social and environmental impact.
This led me to explore the field of human-centered design. Soon after, I began my journey as a Master’s Student at Indiana University and received my Master’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction Design (May 2020). During my time at IU, I gained design and research experience through my studies of course, but an internship at the Eskenazi Museum of Art, and studying at the University of Amsterdam in July 2019 were two pivotal learning opportunities. (Not to sound dramatic, but they were kind of life-changing opportunities as well.) In Amsterdam, I completed a research program called Placemaking in the City. This program opened my eyes to how design is used in public spaces to strengthen communities and improve oppressed systems. This experience allowed me to sharpen my research and design skills in a real-world setting while deepening my love for ethnographic research and spatial design.
Through my studies, I discovered my love of storytelling. I realized that my love of talking to people from every corner of the world, listening to their experiences, and advocating for others was something that research allows me to do. I realized creating things that provide people the opportunity to experience the world in a more deep and meaningful way, and give them a platform for their voices to be heard is something that design allows me to do. I’m so grateful to have found the world of human-centered design because here, I am able to focus my work on leveraging my privilege to share the experiences of others and translate those stories into social and civic change.
