That's me!
I hope this letter finds you well
I'm Jax! A UX researcher and systems thinker currently in the MHCI+D master's program at the University of Washington. I'm driven by cross-functional knowledge coming from a background in informatics and design, along with a passion for making things that truly help people in their day-to-day lives. This shows up in my work through a focus on inclusive, accessible, and playful experiences that function well and feel meaningful.
Mission
As a trans person, I care a lot about designing for people who are often overlooked. Whether that's in healthcare, accessibility, or community-centered spaces, I aim to create experiences that empower individuals of all abilities and backgrounds. I believe that storytelling and interaction can transform something ordinary into something memorable and even healing.
Experience
I've worked across coding and design roles before realizing my biggest impact came through advocating for users with research. My journey has taken me from creating data visualizations at NASA JPL, to leading product design and managing a team of four designers at CuraJOY, and most recently conducting research across healthcare and conservation with Fred Hutch Cancer Center and Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Merlin Bird ID team. These experiences have shaped how I think about empathy, impact, and evidence-based design.
Process
At my core, I'm a collaborator. I love working across disciplines, partnering with designers, engineers, stakeholders, and researchers to turn complex problems into thoughtful solutions. Data is truly powerful, and finding those small yet impactful moments when design can make a difference is what fuels me.
Play
Outside of work, I'm usually spending time in nature or working on some kind of creative project such as game design. I've been playing games since I was a kid, and they've shaped so much of how I see the world. Games taught me to solve problems, collaborate with others, and appreciate the impact of thoughtful design. I believe games are a powerful tool for learning, connection, and empathy.
If you're interested in building thoughtful, inclusive, and impactful experiences lets talk.
With love,
Jax
Four pillars of my work
Empathy
I center participants’ lived experiences. Through qualitative research and focusing on participatory design, I uncover nuanced insights that reflect real needs and inform human-centered design decisions.
Curiosity
I'm a detective at heart. I question assumptions, probe more deeply, and uncover unexpected insights. This helps uncover underlying motivations and generate richer, more meaningful design opportunities.
Equity
The world is nuanced, and I use the goal of equality to inform how I recruit, design, and interpret research. I prioritize diverse perspectives and support inclusive, accessible, and socially responsible design outcomes.
Joy
I center joy in my research by identifying opportunities for delight. This is paired with the fact that I only research because it brings me joy in my work, which fuels curiosity, connection, and more impactful findings.
Hey! That’s me
Welcome to my internet home!
I'm Jax! A UX researcher and creative currently in the MHCI+D master's program at the University of Washington. I'm driven by cross-functional knowledge coming from a background in informatics and design, along with a passion for making things that truly help people in their day-to-day lives. This shows up in my work through a focus on inclusive, accessible, and playful experiences that function well and feel meaningful.”
Mission
As a trans person, I care a lot about designing for people who are often overlooked. Whether that's in healthcare, accessibility, or community-centered spaces, I aim to create experiences that empower individuals of all abilities and backgrounds. I believe that storytelling and interaction can transform something ordinary into something memorable and even healing.
Experience
Before grad school, I led product design at curaJOY, a behavioral healthcare nonprofit, where I built gamified wellness tools for both B2C and B2B audiences. Since then I've redesigned digital experiences for the Urban League, built the mobile front-end for the Odyssey App, and created data visualizations for NASA's JPL for the Earth-observing SMAP satellite. These experiences have shaped how I think about scale, impact, and responsibility as a designer.
Process
At my core, I'm a collaborator. I love working across disciplines — partnering with designers, engineers, stakeholders, and researchers to turn complex problems into thoughtful solutions. Data is truly powerful, and finding those small yet impactful moments when design can make a difference is what fuels me.
Play
Outside of work, I'm often drawn to creative projects — whether that's through game design, art, or just exploring new ways to bring ideas to life. I believe games are a powerful tool for learning, connection, and empathy. if you're interested in building thoughtful, inclusive, and impactful experiences lets talk.
My work is centered around
Empathy
I start by understanding your brand, audience, and goals gathering insights and sparking ideas that will shape the foundation of the design.
Curiosity
I start by understanding your brand, audience, and goals gathering insights and sparking ideas that will shape the foundation of the design.
Equity
I start by understanding your brand, audience, and goals gathering insights and sparking ideas that will shape the foundation of the design.
Joy
I start by understanding your brand, audience, and goals gathering insights and sparking ideas that will shape the foundation of the design.
A Peek Into My Life
Peek into my life
Hey! That’s me
Welcome to my internet home!
I'm Jax! A UX researcher and creative currently in the MHCI+D master's program at the University of Washington. I'm driven by cross-functional knowledge coming from a background in informatics and design, along with a passion for making things that truly help people in their day-to-day lives. This shows up in my work through a focus on inclusive, accessible, and playful experiences that function well and feel meaningful.”
Mission
As a trans person, I care a lot about designing for people who are often overlooked. Whether that's in healthcare, accessibility, or community-centered spaces, I aim to create experiences that empower individuals of all abilities and backgrounds. I believe that storytelling and interaction can transform something ordinary into something memorable and even healing.
Experience
Before grad school, I led product design at curaJOY, a behavioral healthcare nonprofit, where I built gamified wellness tools for both B2C and B2B audiences. Since then I've redesigned digital experiences for the Urban League, built the mobile front-end for the Odyssey App, and created data visualizations for NASA's JPL for the Earth-observing SMAP satellite. These experiences have shaped how I think about scale, impact, and responsibility as a designer.
Process
At my core, I'm a collaborator. I love working across disciplines — partnering with designers, engineers, stakeholders, and researchers to turn complex problems into thoughtful solutions. Data is truly powerful, and finding those small yet impactful moments when design can make a difference is what fuels me.
Play
Outside of work, I'm often drawn to creative projects — whether that's through game design, art, or just exploring new ways to bring ideas to life. I believe games are a powerful tool for learning, connection, and empathy. if you're interested in building thoughtful, inclusive, and impactful experiences lets talk.
My work is centered around
Empathy
I start by understanding your brand, audience, and goals gathering insights and sparking ideas that will shape the foundation of the design.
Curiosity
I start by understanding your brand, audience, and goals gathering insights and sparking ideas that will shape the foundation of the design.
Equity
I start by understanding your brand, audience, and goals gathering insights and sparking ideas that will shape the foundation of the design.
Joy
I start by understanding your brand, audience, and goals gathering insights and sparking ideas that will shape the foundation of the design.
A Peek Into My Life