I’m a product designer at Uber, living in Brooklyn, New York.
My journey has meandered through the realms of science, astronomy, kinesiology, AIDS education, and fashion, each discipline enriching my understanding of the world and cultivating my abilities in critical thinking, problem solving, and collaboration, ultimately guiding me to my true vocation in design. Design, as I hold the conviction, is akin to science - an iterative process encompassing observation, questioning, research, hypothesis formation, experimentation, analysis, and refinement. With an unquenchable thirst for learning, compassion for users, and relentless rigor, I aim to leverage my creativity and scientific approach to solve the hardest challenges and create lasting impact that improves people's lives and advances us towards a more equitable, sustainable future.
My path to design has been anything but linear. It took time for me to discover a career that seamlessly blended my creativity, aesthetic sense, and desire to serve others. Growing up, I had a wide range of interests spanning from science and fashion to music and photography. I delved into projects like launching a weather balloon with a camera into the stratosphere, nearly reaching space, and using color-magnitude diagrams to estimate distances to star clusters like NGC6866.
Initially, I pursued Kinesiology and even joined the Peace Corps with thoughts of entering the medical field to serve others and satisfy my scientific curiosity.
However, it was after leaving the Peace Corps that I finally found my true calling: design. Beginning with fashion design, a realm familiar to me from making clothes when I was younger, I honed skills in pattern making, tailoring, production, sketching, fabric knowledge, sales, and the complete process of creating collections.
My journey continued with fashion internships in New York City, where I gained hands-on experience in various design aspects. I transitioned from suits and clothing pieces to product photography, business cards, website design, and even app development. Through all of this I met inspiring people who offered me diverse viewpoints and perspectives which fueled my curiosity and commitment to learning.
Eventually, I gravitated towards digital design for its human-centered focus, technical challenges, and immense potential to impact people globally through the internet. This discovery propelled me into the world of Design Thinking and kickstarted my career in product design.
In recent years, I've been captivated by the internet's transformative power and our evolving relationship with technology and everyday devices. This journey has led me through a multitude of industries including food delivery, autonomous vehicles, real estate, restaurants, maps, life insurance, social media, healthcare, sustainability, e-commerce, fashion, and education. Immersing myself in these fields has given me a deep understanding of their unique challenges and opportunities.
I'm deeply fascinated by the ongoing evolution of our relationship with technology, and I'm only just beginning this exciting journey. I'm eager to push the boundaries of design further, shaping how technology can adapt to enhance our human experience and unlock our potential.
Uber, Product designer
2021 - Present
I redesigned the merchant in-store order fulfillment system based on extensive user research, enhancing usability and launching the product globally across 40+ countries.
As part of the design I developed a scalable design system for over 600,000 restaurants worldwide, supporting new business verticals and improving features like order acceptance and catalog management.
Additionally, I was part of the team that led the design of Uber's inaugural ads management platform, achieving $1 billion in annual revenue. I also led initiatives for sustainable packaging under UberEats' sustainability program and designed the merchant experience for autonomous vehicle order pickups, training merchants for efficient integration.
My work included collaboration with a cross-functional team of world-class designers, engineers, researchers, operations, sales, marketing, and data scientists. Together, we tackled complex challenges and drove innovations across several projects, ensuring seamless integration of user-centered designs and cutting-edge technology.
Big Human, Product designer
2019 - 2021
Led user research and strategy for top-tier clients including Guardian Insurance and Compass, creating compelling mobile and web experiences.
Designed, prototyped, and assisted in the implementation of design systems that improved consistency and usability across 10+ digital products.
Engel & Volkers, Product designer
2018-2019
Designed a mobile application for real estate agents to access critical business data on-the-go, improving field accessibility and efficiency.
Developed an internal platform for agents and shop owners to streamline business management processes.
Manolo Costa, Design Assistant
2017-2019
Managed the production of over 300 custom-tailored garments, enhancing the brand’s operational efficiency and product quality. Contributed to the design of two seasonal collections, gaining insights into fashion design and product lifecycle management.
Peace Corps, Health Volunteer
2017-2018
Worked alongside local health workers at a regional hospital to educate and support patients on HIV and malaria prevention.
Led community outreach initiatives to improve treatment adherence and reduce health-related stigma.