Focused on mission-driven travel and nature brands
Before I ever opened a design file, I spent nearly seven years crafting meaningful experiences through music. I taught students how to create together, led ensembles through performances, and built connections through rhythm, collaboration, and trust.
That time taught me how to lead with empathy, communicate complex ideas clearly, and create experiences that resonate with others.
“Teaching taught me how to connect, simplify, and create experiences rooted in purpose.”
But over time, I started to feel a quiet pull, one that made me wonder if there was something else I was meant to explore.
It all started with a trip to Hawaii before my first year of teaching. For two weeks, my husband and I explored nature—snorkeling reefs, hiking through lush trails, shark cage diving, and visiting local farms.
I brought my camera everywhere, capturing what I saw and felt.
I didn’t realize it then, but that trip reignited a love for visual storytelling that had quietly been sitting dormant.
Two years later, we traveled to Australia and New Zealand. We began sharing our travel experiences online, using photography to tell our stories.
And in 2020, we found ourselves in the Serengeti, photographing elephants, lions, and cheetahs in their natural habitat.
As our travels continued, I built a blog to share our experiences more personally. I started a print shop to offer my wildlife photography and learned how to build and market a brand. Looking back, I can see how I was already doing the work—creating stories, designing experiences, and making things people could connect with.
In 2023, during my final year of teaching, I made the decision to step away.
UX Design felt familiar. Empathizing with users reminded me of empathizing with students. Simplifying information, guiding someone through a journey, creating something people connect with, these were things I had already been doing.
Soon, I found myself gravitating toward UI design, then brand design, and eventually building systems that could scale and tell deeper stories. All of these paths came together and helped me see what I was meant to do.
"UX Design gave me the language and tools to combine all the parts of who I am — educator, photographer, storyteller, and creator."
Today, I’m building a path as a Brand Experience Designer and Visual Storyteller for mission-driven travel and nature brands. I'm blending everything I’ve learned—as a teacher, photographer, and storyteller—into a creative practice rooted in clarity, purpose, and connection.
Every project I take on is guided by curiosity, empathy, and a desire to help people experience the world more meaningfully.
"I am not just designing for screens. I am designing to tell stories, inspire connection, and support the places and causes that matter most."
Whether I am shaping a brand identity, crafting a digital product, or capturing a moment through photography, I focus on creating experiences that resonate and give something back to the world.
I'd love to hear your ideas and explore how we can bring them to life together.
