I started my career with a degree in Sociology and Early Childhood Education and started teaching in classrooms inspired by Reggio-Emilia and Montessori philosophies out of college. It was there I discovered my passion for play-based learning.

Nothing is more beautiful than seeing user experience design in its purest form. I learned to use my classroom as the unspoken teacher, moving furniture and objects to help my students intuitively navigate my lessons. If my lesson was a dud, I would rearrange my space and try again before assuming failure.

I still love teaching, however, a pivot was needed as I found myself feeling unchallenged. I missed analyzing datasets and researching deep dives, and happily discovered UX. I find it to be the perfect medium to channel chaos and order, all while measuring it with qualitative reasonings and empathetic responses.

Since Covid hit, I have been more focused on making my more meaningful projects come to life.

The most noteworthy of these have been making the art and stories of my Grandma Ronnie accessible to a larger audience. When she first asked me to sell her art for her, I was unwilling to sell the original artworks she gave me for very obvious reasons. So instead I started making an online portfolio for her lifetime of fame, so people could buy prints. If you want to see click here!

Then, I started the second part of this project, which was editing the 8 stories I had transcribed from a recording of her telling her children’s stories, also known as The Naughty Elsie Stories. This project will eventually become a case study since I have been sending my edits out for testing with users and editors alike, but for now, it is still in the works.

If you know any good editors/ publishers, send them my way!