I am an aspiring User Experience and Graphic Designer from Chicago. I graduated from Lane Tech College Prep in Chicago and am currently studying at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. I am planning on graduating with a BA in User Experience Design and a minor in Graphic Design in 2026.
My love of art and being creative has always been a part of me. I began to find my preference for art over other subjects in elementary school.
In middle school, I realized I excelled in math and logical thinking compared to my peers. I was also knowledgeable in technology due to growing up with a dad who worked in a technology-based field. I realized this when I was recruited by one of the administrators of my middle school to help set up and maintain the computer lab for classes. During this time, I also learned more about technology through the Girls Who Code and Robotics clubs that I was a part of.
In 8th grade, my dad took my skills into account and suggested that I look into being a graphic designer. Thus, my goal for my future was mostly set.
For high school, I was accepted into one of the top selective enrollment schools in Chicago, Lane Tech College Prep, due to my excellent grades and test scores. In high school, I followed the art concentration track and took art classes along with my academic classes. My high school art teachers are the ones who truly cultivated my passion and grow as a designer, both in confidence and skill.
My teacher in my first two years of high school helped me gain confidence in my artistic ability by choosing to highlight and display several of my pieces at showcases. However, it was my art teacher senior year that truly set me on my current path.
Senior year I participated in a high school student design competition for an event the Chicago Park District was holding. I designed several logo options and submitted it to the competition. Luckily, I ended up winning and got the experience collaborating with graphic designers at the Chicago Park district and seeing my design in use.
That one competition set me my path by giving me several design experience opportunities.
I chose to attend Bradley University to receive my Bachelors in Studio Art with a concentration in Graphic Design. I loved the way they set up their curriculum and fell in love with the small campus so I knew it was the place for me.
I went into my first year of college in the honors program with the plan to major in Graphic Design and minor in Marketing, however, that would eventually change a bit.
While in the graphic design program, one of my professors recommended me to some friends to help them with some designs and marketing materials for a not-for-profit they were starting. I ended up continuing to work for them throughout my sophomore and junior years as well doing everything from flyers to designing their website.
During this time, I learned about the exceptional UI/UX Design department at Bradley. After extensive research and conversations with User Experience designers in the field I decided that it was exactly what I was looking for. I got to use both my creative and academic sides in this field. I switched to a User Experience Design major with a minor in Graphic Design.
My connections and professor recommendations ended up getting me two jobs on campus as a sophmore. One being a Graphic Design Internship with Bradley’s Athletic Marketing Department, the other working as an student User Experience Designer for the Turner Business College at Bradley.
