My Design Journey
Design runs in my family. My Opa, a skilled silversmith, immigrated from Germany to the United States when my father was young. My father, an architect, met my mother while studying architecture at the University of Virginia, where she was completing her Art History degree.
Given my family's design background, I grew up drawing and painting for fun, taking art classes throughout my youth and high school years. I always saw it as a hobby rather than a potential career path.
When I graduated high school, I enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh as a dual major in Business and Mandarin. It was the first time I wasn't actively engaged in something creative, and I soon found myself craving that creative outlet in my studies. Unsure of my direction and reluctant to spend four years pursuing something I wasn't passionate about, I decided to leave school and start working as a carpenter.
During this period, I began taking Graphic Design courses at my local community college and quickly developed a passion for them. This newfound interest led me to re-enroll at Virginia Commonwealth University, where I pursued a degree in Advertising. It was there that I discovered UX Design, a field that blended my creative instincts with my analytical skills. It was a lightbulb moment for me. I gave it my all to pursue this as a career.
My unconventional journey has been rich with diverse experiences. I've worked in kitchens, on construction sites, and in landscaping. I’ve navigated through three different schools and embraced various paths. Each of these experiences, with all their highs and lows, has broadened my perspective and deeply influenced my approach to design.
