Hi, I’m Ellen! I am a dedicated UX designer-in-training with a background in photography and advertising. I have a strong aptitude for synthesizing research findings into insights, and prioritizing and refining ideas generated from research into gratifying design directions. I’m grateful for my creative past, having worn many different hats, and having done so much artistic, solution-oriented work in prior roles: all work that would inform and empower my newly-minted UX/UI skills.
Before joining the student body at Designlab’s UX Academy, I was running my own successful photography business out of NYC: my works were published in The New York Times, Vice Magazine, Thrillist, and more. My tenure as a photographer laid the groundwork for my future in UX & UI, from working creatively within the constraints of the viewfinder to working creatively within the constraints of wireframes, so many fundamentals of photography can be applied to UX design.
Prior to my photography career, I also worked in the advertising department of The New York Times as a Sales Development Manager, collaborating with a strong team of innovators and creating advertising solutions for clients. This gave me a solid foundation for the problem solving and planning side of UX: I learned how to design continuously delightful experiences for both the user and advertiser across several pages/sections, while also considering the delicate balance of maintaining the journalistic integrity of NYT’s brand. The Times trained me to see the importance of storytelling, to use data-driven methodologies to solve problems, and to always plan ahead. I worked closely with NYT engineers to create native advertising solutions, using the same technologies as their award-winning digital stories.
As my UX skill set continues to develop, I hope to find myself in a job that is collaborative and exciting, and to work with innovative, seasoned UX professionals who can continue to broaden my horizons. I enjoy the energy of companies driven by important missions, or young companies just figuring out their footing. I love being creatively tested, and I love working towards goals that will make the world a better place. My personal mission in UX is to be discovering and solving problems as often as possible, and I would love to work in a place that will continue to push my design skills to the absolute best they can be.
