My Journey
A little look into how I ended up here—figuring out design, taking risks, and learning (sometimes the hard way). It’s been a mix of passion, curiosity, and a whole lot of trial and error.
The First Spark
February, 2020
My love for design and coding started way before I even knew what UX was. In high school, I was obsessed with both—spending hours in my Design and Technology class, where my final major work was a self-stabilising spoon, and diving into coding, which led me to start 'Hack Club' to help other students learn to code. I loved building things that solved real problems, whether through physical products or digital experiences.
Studying Design
December, 2021
And so I was done with high school! And this passion naturally led me to study a Bachelor of Design Computing at the University of Sydney in February, 2021. Studying design at a university level helped me bridge the gap between creativity and technical problem-solving. It was here that I discovered UX design—a field that blended everything I loved into one space.
Learning the Ropes
February, 2022
I wanted to get serious about UX, so I joined UNSW’s Prodigi Client Innovation Program, where I worked on a design system for an EdTech startup. It was my first deep dive into Figma, UI libraries, and actually working with real stakeholders. Around this time, I also became a student fellow at Startmate, which helped me understand startups, strategy, and design beyond just the visuals.
First Steps into the Industry
June, 2022
Through joining programs and networking, I landed my first freelancing experience with BizKit Lab, designing investor pitch decks and digital assets for fintech and Web3 startups. It was here that I started to connect the dots between design and functionality, realising that design wasn’t just about aesthetics—it was about crafting experiences that made sense to people. That blend of creativity and logic? That’s what hooked me.
Diving into the deep end
November, 2023
Interning at Stan as a Product Designer was my trial by fire. I got to work on cross-platform experiences for the Paris 2024 Olympics, conduct user research, and tackle retention strategies. The learning curve was steep, but it was also where I saw my designs out in the real world, impacting thousands of users.
Finding my people
December, 2023
Somewhere along the way, I realized I loved not just designing, but also building communities. As President of SUEDE (Sydney University Experience Designers), I led one of the biggest student design societies at USYD, bringing together designers, engineers, and creatives to learn and grow together. We even won Best Design Club out of 200+ clubs—still one of my proudest moments.
A New Chapter
December, 2024
Canva. That’s it, that’s the tweet. Landing an internship here felt like a full-circle moment. I was 1 of just 3 interns accepted from a pool of over 6000 applicants, which made it feel even more surreal. I worked on improving the Canva Design School experience, collaborated with designers and engineers, and even presented my insights to the entire Product Design specialty. It was an unreal experience seeing how a product I’ve used for years gets built behind the scenes.
What's Next?
Present
Right now, I’m exploring. There’s still so much to learn, so many different ways to grow as a designer. I want to refine my craft, experiment with new ideas, and find new ways to make a meaningful impact. Whether it’s through design, leadership, or community, I’m keeping an open mind—curious about what’s out there and where I might fit next.