Beyond design, I enjoy exploring, creating, & being in nature.
I think my interest in design started with my interest in people - I love learning about their stories, which led me to study comparative literature on a whim in college. I'm equally fascinated by the natural and built worlds, so I'm always keeping my eyes open to record it all through photography, sketching, painting, and writing.
A sense of place.
I think travel is an amazing way to broaden your mind and get outside of yourself. These days it's so easy to get stuck in the echo chamber of our minds. When I travel, I embrace the uncomfortable and the unknown. I love the offbeat path, the random tip of a stranger, the awe of a lonely vista. I become awake to new people, ideas, colors, and textures.
Art for art's sake.
I've recently rediscovered my love of painting. I'm inspired by the vast landscapes of the American West and the stark minimalism of Greece. For me, painting is a relaxing counterpoint to digital work. It can be so refreshing to create something with my hands and step away from a screen.
Architecture as inspiration.
When I was younger, I wanted to be an architect - in some ways that childhood vision has come true. There are so many similarities between digital product design and architecture - our built environment combines utility and aesthetics to solve problems and evoke feelings. I'm fascinated by how our experience of a space can alter the way we interpret both ourselves and our surroundings.