I am a self-taught, empathy-fueled craftsperson with a business background. That is my superpower.
My journey as a self-taught UX/UI’er with 15+ years of industry experience is what makes me tick and fuels the exceptional work product I produce. That “non-traditional” path forced me to be fearless in my approach to new tools and concepts while finding mountains of value in peer collaboration and feedback before those concepts were cool.
Engaged.
I've been a presenter at Minnewebcon, helped to establish and then participate in the AIGA UX Committee, been a guest lecturer at the Art Institutes, participated in the U of M design mentorship program, had a blast as an Art Buddy, was an emcee for the Special Olympics, as well as volunteering as a coach for my daughters softball and basketball teams.
Published.
Previously, I have shared insights about my journey towards becoming a confident and established designer. I've written about my experience with Art Buddies (sadly archived), interviewing tips for students and how I conquered some serious sketching demons. I also had the good fortune to be featured for the “How I got that job” series on startribune.com.
Award Winning.
While awards are never the primary goal, receiving them is always pretty sweet. I've been fortunate to be recognized with several awards over the years, including 4 AIGA Show Awards, 3 AdFed Pushpin Awards, multiple W3 Awards, and others.
