Nice to meet you! I'm Julia.
I strive to help all beings live life to their fullest potential - in both my personal and professional choices. I believe in kindess, equality and inclusion, and I see design as a powerful tool to make those values more accessible to everyone.
My Journey
I started out dreaming of being a singer — not for the stage, but to have a voice that could help others. That purpose has guided me through every chapter of my life.
The first time I truly encountered Design was in an Interior Design class, where something my teacher said on the very first day has stayed with me ever since and made me fall in love with it:
"Design is a solution. It's taking something bad and making it good, taking something good and making it better, and improving the lives of people along the way."
That quote stuck with me — and looking back, I realized that everything I’ve done has been driven by that mindset.
When I found UX, it brought everything together: empathy, creativity, problem-solving, and purpose. I’ve been designing ever since.
My background began in child development, and over the years, I’ve worked in customer service and volunteered with nonprofits focused on animal rescue, education, and civic tech. I’ve always been drawn to work that centers people.
Design is about solving problems and making life better. Every experience, every choice, and every interaction is an opportunity to improve the world around us.
Career Highlights
Here are some projects worth highlighting:
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MICROSOFT: Worked on internal enterprise tools as a contract Product Designer. Focused on streamlining workflows and improving usability within a fast-paced cross-functional team.
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SMASH: Led design thinking instruction for a cohort of 30+ scholars. Created new curriculum materials and helped students develop real-world problem-solving, collaboration, and presentation skills.
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Hack for LA: My first hands-on experience collaborating on a live product with engineers, designers, and PMs. I led design on VRMS (a volunteer management tool) and co-led our UX Community of Practice — where I built resources, ran events, and mentored new designers within the org.
Check out my featured case studies here or connect with me to find out more about these projects:
Side projects
Outside of work, I’ve participated in and won multiple design hackathons (including the Global Hackathon for Social Impact) and completed certifications in Human-Centered Design. These experiences sharpened my ability to collaborate under pressure and tackle real-world challenges with design early on in my career.
Beyond UX
Creative by nature — I enjoy 3D modeling, art, music, and other various forms of content creation. When I’m not designing, I’m exploring new places, doing Muay Thai, hanging out with my cats, or gaming.
My goals
My goal is to grow into a Senior Product Designer role, working on accessible, inclusive products — especially for marginalized communities and to serve those whose voices aren't heard. I want to keep learning, mentoring, and designing with purpose.