UX Engineer & Design Tech
I design and build accessible, interaction-focused experiences from user interviews to production code.
Figma, React, TypeScript, and a Portuguese Water Dog named Molly Mayhem who is always pawing at my keyboard.
Case Studies
Hiring FAQ
Are you a designer or an engineer?
I'd say both, and that each skill feeds the other. Building and testing code gives me a real edge with designers because I think more about how something will actually be used once it's built and not just how it looks. My design background sets me apart as an engineer, since I can walk the line between what's pretty and what's usable.
Do you use AI tools (Claude, Gemini, Cursor)?
I do use AI tools in my workflow, but I try not to rely on them for coding unless it's a tedious or repetitive task because I want to keep my skills sharp. I started with Cursor, but didn't like the desktop app much, so I switched to Claude. I don't use Gemini for anything serious; in my experience, it hallucinates more often than the others and leans too sycophantic, telling me what I want to hear rather than what's accurate. I have used Figma MCP and Figma Make and I feel neutral about them. They’re helpful for generating ideas on the fly, but I don’t like using them as foundations for serious projects because they can be sloppy.
Which tools/languages do you use?
Languages: HTML, CSS, Sass, Javascript, Typescript Frameworks: React, Bootstrap, Material UI Tools: Node.js, NPM, Git Currently learning: Next.js and Tailwind CSS I like to dabble, so I have written some in Python and Arduino but I wouldn’t claim them professionally.
How did you get started in UX and Engineering?
I took a Digital Conservation elective in my last semester of undergrad (a BA in History), and our assignment was to build a WordPress blog on a historic topic. I got really into it when I found books in the GMU library that hadn't been checked out in years, and I was excited to share what I'd found with family and friends across the country. My project was on underground African jazz music under the Third Reich in 1930s Germany, and I loved figuring out how to embed jazz recordings on my site. I decided to teach myself to code, mostly from YouTube and then Udemy, and eventually got a certificate in Full Stack Development from George Washington University. That got me my first UI Engineer job, working with NIH. I went back for my Master's because I wanted more say in design and engineering decisions, and moved to the Bay Area to keep sharpening my skills and learn from people further along than me. I like picking up new skills on the fly, and being self-taught has made that a lot easier, in my career and in my life as a hobbyist tinkerer.