Product Design Intern at Duolingo 💚
About me
To me, graphic design represents a visual form of education, enabling the effective communication and sharing of information by compelling designers to find the most optimal and efficient way to convey a message. My job as a designer is to problem-solve and help people better understand.
In 2019, I taught myself how to use Illustrator and InDesign in order to format my high school’s literary magazine.
From there, I learned Photoshop for poster designs and RAW photo editing, and I became more interested in After Effects for animated designs in advertising.
In 2020, I became interested in the principles of User Experience and User Interface design, and in the following year, I learned how to use Figma, Xd, and Miro to kickstart my work as a UX Designer.
Fellow SWE and Design interns 🧑💻
Eventually, I turned to writing and filmmaking to express myself and document the stories passed down to me. Today, my interests in theater, music, writing, design, and entrepreneurship all stem back to this love for telling stories.
As a UX/UI designer, you always think about what appeals to your users. And in filmmaking, acting, and directing, that same idea of delivering an important message to your audience persists. Even when I’m writing a song on my ukulele, I’m trying to share a story.
In truth, I have a million ideas of what I want to be. But at the end of the day, it’s about saying something that matters.
And I am a storyteller.
The longer story
I’ve been a passionate storyteller for my entire life. I made my first film about youth homelessness in Honolulu when I was in 7th grade, and my love for documentary and film production only grew from there.
Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, I was exposed to a one-of-a-kind community, where I quickly learned the value of storytelling as a child. I inherited sacred legends from my relatives and Native Hawaiian community, and I traced my genealogy generations back to São Nicolau and Japan. Stories at the dinner table revealed my identity like one branch on a deeply rooted family tree.
Swarthmore SPAA’s Cherry Blossom Festival 🌸
