The Bay Area has been my home for years but I was born and raised in Alaska. When I’m not designing something I’m reading fiction, running on Bernal hill and closely following Formula 1 racing.

I graduated with an Industrial Design degree and a love of automotive design. A familiarity with 3d tools and an eye for detail landed me a role at a small VFX startup called Mova. We developed facial motion capture technology for video games and feature films. I loved working with a tight knit team and the feeling of being indispensable.

At Cruise I started as a user of mapping tools, creating assets to expand their driving coverage. After being hired on full time I was responsible for developing and improving our in-house mapping products. As a product operations analyst I gained perspective on the value of well executed research and design. UX/UI sits at the nexus of design and helping people, both of which I enjoy and find rewarding.

While seeking mentorship I became aware of Tech Fleet, an organization that partners designers with clients and stakeholders in need of pro bono design. Tech Fleet is structured to provide designers with real world experience working on multidisciplinary teams. Joining a project means being hired to a team, complete with resumes, cover letters and an interview process. My experience here reinforced what I already know to be true; design isn’t just making something that meets your users needs and looks good. Design is about collaboration, compromise, empathy and understanding how to advance together towards a goal.