Hi there! I’m a designer that lives at the intersection of design systems and visual design. I build the infrastructure that allows creativity to scale without losing its soul. My belief is that people fill products with empathy when they feel safe and supported. My job is to create the systematic foundation and the human environment for that magic to happen.
My origin story starts like many others. Two hard working individuals, immigrated to the US from Vietnam during times of war, in hopes of finding a better life.
They met in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Got married. And somehow raised a family of six. Well, not somehow. They did it by working overtime, taking extra shifts on weekends, clocking 12+ hour days, and pinching every single penny. All of this in order to give my siblings and I a chance at a better life.
Growing up I ran track, played soccer, and was a straight A student. Any free time I had was always spent on the computer. I was and still am a child of the internet.
Over summer break before eighth grade, I downloaded Photoshop 7.0 from Limewire. Not knowing that I was about to sacrifice any semblance of a sleep schedule for that entire summer. I was hooked, 6AM would roll around and I’d be focused on the perfect lens flare for my Dragon Ball Z forum signature. By the end of that summer I could navigate Photoshop with my eyes closed, but more importantly, I knew exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up.
Before I knew it, this Lancaster kid was shipping off to the big city of Philadelphia to pursue being a designer. I finished a four year degree in three. I was hungry and I wanted to be enveloped in the world of design and had dreams of working at big advertisement firms. But more important than anything, I met Emily. She’s always been in my corner, and my most vocal supporter since.
My superpower is that I do my best work when I'm helping others do theirs. Whether that's creating systems that make someone's job easier or just being the person who brings compassion and genuine recognition to the team. I care deeply about those around me.
It’s funny, for the longest time I would describe what I do and what I bring through the hard skills. But as time passes I’m realizing just how important my soft skills are to any team. I strive to create space around me where others can be their very best. I bring positivity and a level of enthusiasm that is contagious. I’m your very own personal hype man.