Raised in the great state of North Carolina, I was guided through the creative ways of the world through public education, watching Trading Spaces, and making paint-your-own-pottery. After completing my Bachelors in Graphic Design at North Carolina State University, I headed west to Portland, Ore. where I learned there is more than one type of lemon and that snow can stay on mountains all year long.After five years on the West Coast, I relocated to Chicago to work with the Experience Design team at the Art Institute of Chicago in order to challenge and reimagine the role of design in the museum world. I worked at the museum for six years, finishing my tenure as the Creative Director of Visual Design. My stint in design management was monumental, and motivated me to want to work on challenges that contribute to the employee experience. I decided to pivot to Service Design, where I jumped in to leading projects at Accenture Song.
My love of designing and improving human-centered processes has continued as I work as an independent Service Design Lead, primarily for UIC’s IHDD.
Parallel to my design career, I am a practicing conceptual artist, lapidary, rockhound, and modern woman who likes to talk about her feelings. The concepts in my work center around introspection, vulnerability, and celebrating the people I love. I have been an artist-in-residence at Elsewhere (2017) and Epicenter (2016) and the Blueprint Residency (2019). I also serve as the Vice President of the advisory council for my local Chicago park.
As a designer, I’ve been individually recognized by Design Ignites Change, the Adobe Design Achievement Award, and the IXDA Awards. I’ve also served as a Jury Chair for the Core77 Design Awards (Service Design category, 2022) and participated in the Digital Transformation Committee for SEGD (2022). I also am a proud board member for SEGD (2023–2025) where I chair the strategy subcommittee.
Press, etc
2021: SEGD Presentation
with Creative Director, Environments Leticia Pardo about the Design process at the Art Institute of Chicago