A Childhood Dream & the Path Forward

As a kid, I dreamed of becoming a carpenter. There was something about building things—turning raw materials into something purposeful—that fascinated me. This love for creation later found its way into drawing and storytelling, shaping how I saw the world.

Before high school, I was part of the Art Club, a space where I could freely express my creativity. But once I entered high school, extracurricular activities leaned more toward religious and technical fields. It felt like I was being nudged in a different direction.

When it was time for college, I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted. However, my growing love for math led me to take up BS Mathematics, majoring in Actuarial Science.

Finding My True Calling

College was a time of constant second-guessing. I still enjoyed math, but my heart was always drawn to art and design. I even admired a classmate who had the courage to shift to advertising in her third year, starting over just to follow her passion. I wished I had that same courage.

After graduation, I landed a job as an Actuarial Associate at Solutions Incorporated, a small but growing healthcare and insurance consultancy firm. While I tried to love the work, I knew deep down it wasn’t for me. So I began exploring new things—3D modeling, web design, development, and even writing poetry and stories.

Where Logic Meets Design

My first big career shift happened when I joined BUILD, a startup specializing in websites and apps for real estate. This was where I truly combined logic and design, taking on multiple roles and learning new skills in development. As employee #1, I gained hands-on experience that shaped my portfolio. Even though my time at BUILD didn’t end as expected, it was the stepping stone to what came next.

One of the biggest lessons I took from BUILD came from my mentor and friend—the value of serving others. That lesson stuck with me, and in June 2020, I put it into action when I joined Raketeer, a startup focused on helping out-of-school youth and MSMEs. I worked with student developers to bring their UX vision to life. While it didn’t turn out as I had hoped in the end, it reinforced what I wanted—to serve and create meaningful solutions.

Having worked across different disciplines, I later landed a role at Yempo, where I worked on Baxter IP, an Australian intellectual property firm. Later, Baxter IP transitioned under Emapta, but Yempo was the one that originally gave me the opportunity.

At Baxter IP, I became more immersed in digital marketing and SEO. While I still worked on design and development, my focus shifted toward content strategy, analytics, and optimizing online visibility.

A Leap into UI/UX & Arcadian

After the COVID-19 pandemic, I started thinking about my career path. The idea of returning to an office didn’t sit well with me—once you’ve worked remotely, it’s hard to go back.

That’s when I found Arcadian (formerly Black Diamond), a startup looking for a UI/UX Designer. While I had experience in UI design from BUILD, I had never formally called myself a UX Designer. But looking back at my work, I realized I had been practicing UX principles all along.

Taking a leap of faith, I applied. Ian Wood from Sony Pictures Entertainment saw potential in me, and now, here I am—continuing to shape digital experiences at Arcadian.

In August 2023, another opportunity came my way. Initially, I was contracted to develop a website, but I was later brought on as part of the team. Now known as The Focused Guide, this e-learning platform provides commercialization guidance for individuals and institutions. It was another step forward in blending my skills with something impactful.

UI/UX Design & Development

Today, I work as a Senior UI/UX Designer for Arcadian, leading the design and user experience strategies for Sony Pictures Entertainment’s streaming platforms. My role involves:

• Designing and optimizing UI/UX workflows for OTT streaming services across Bravia TVs, PlayStation, and mobile applications.
• Ensuring seamless and consistent user experiences across different platforms and input methods (remote, controller, touch).
• Collaborating with product teams, developers, and stakeholders to enhance accessibility, usability, and engagement.
• Conducting UI/UX research, competitive analysis, and A/B testing to improve user interactions and retention.

Specialties & Skills

With over a decade of experience in UI/UX, Web & App Development, and Digital Marketing, my expertise spans:

• Web & App UI Design (Adobe XD, Figma)
• Responsive Web & Mobile Design
• Website Development & Front-End Technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP/MySQL, WordPress, Webflow)
• SEO & Digital Marketing (Google Analytics, Search Console, Content Optimization)
• Graphic Design & Branding (Logos, Business Cards, Brochures)
• Data Visualization & Analytics

I use both analytical and creative approaches to help businesses organize, analyze, and visualize data. I focus on designing seamless user experiences and developing high-performing websites, ensuring that every project is intuitive and impactful. I take pride in delivering high-quality, detail-oriented work while adapting to both independent projects and team collaborations.

A Work in Progress

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that no story is ever truly finished. I’m still learning, still growing, and still chasing ideas worth sharing. Whether it’s through a new UX project, a poem, or an idea waiting to be sketched, I’m always working on the next chapter.

Let’s connect and bring ideas to life—whether it’s a story, an experience, or a whole new way of seeing the world.