About me

Learn more about my professional background, qualifications, and my guiding principles.

How'd I get here?

As a kid, my mom used to say I had the gift of gab. In more contentious moments: ‘"You never stop talking!" Not much has changed…I’ll still talk anyone’s ear off about what I care about.Growing up in a bilingual household, I quickly learned how to navigate cultural nuance. I used to watch TV with my Cantonese-speaking grandmother, translating in real time so we could laugh at the same jokes. These foundational experiences taught me how language unlocks access to knowledge, connection, and shared meaning.I also grew up with a disabled, non-verbal sibling, which made accessibility a personal value long before I had the vocabulary for it. Without adaptive technologies, my sister constantly struggled to communicate her basic needs. Everything changed when she was introduced to the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). Suddenly, she was able to express herself and interact with others in ways previously unfathomable. It was a revelation: that the right design, even something low-tech like laminated paper on velcro, could unlock dignity, connection, and agency.These experiences are foundational to who I am as a person and designer. Universal design isn't just a moral imperative — it leads to practical, tangible benefits for all. Curb cuts help people wheelchairs, strollers, or luggage. Captions help people who are hearing-impaired, speakers of different languages, or those of us who simply want to catch every word.When we design for a wide range of bodies, minds, and cultural contexts, we don't just shine a light on people at the margins — we illuminate the world for everyone. That's what I'm here to do.

Career highlights

Check out my LinkedIn profile for my full work history, or take a look at my selected work or case studies (request access).

Personal highlights

In my free time, I enjoy fitness, learning new languages (Opiskelen parhaillaan suomea!), playing the mountain dulcimer, and hanging with my canine pal, Arthur 🐶🐾

Education

  • Master of Education | The George Washington University 2010

  • Bachelor of Political Science | Vassar College 2008

Other Skills

  • Languages: English (native), Spanish (conversational), Cantonese (heritage speaker)

  • Design and prototyping tools: Figma, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, Canva, Sketch

  • User experience: UX writing, content strategy, product thinking, content-first design, microcopy, wireframing, design systems, information architecture, accessibility (AX), localization/internationalization (l10n/i18n), and voice & tone guidance

  • Marketing and brand: Social campaign creative, paid media content, cross-functional collaboration with brand and growth teams, adapting voice for marketing contexts across platforms

  • Collaboration: Working cross-functionally with PMs, engineers, marketers, and researchers

Contact me