My Story

From art to code

As a teenager, I was captivated by the vibrant world of street art and graffiti, which led me to become a muralist for the city of Boston at the age of 16. This early experience honed my skills in visual design, typography, and composition, setting the stage for my future interests in graphic design.

While attending Full Sail University, I chose to focus on digital media because of the program's diverse offerings. As someone who has always enjoyed tinkering, I knew that a broader skill set would be invaluable in the professional world. The digital media program taught me plenty, exposing me to a diverse set of skills such as graphic design, illustration, motion graphics and video production, to ultimately diving into the world of web development, where I discovered my passion for coding.

Creative Challenges

Initially, I concentrated on design and composition courses, believing they would guide my career. However, my path took an unexpected turn after I took a web standards course in my first year. The technical challenges were difficult at first, but I was determined to overcome those challenges.

After earning my Bachelor of Science in Digital Media in 2006, I started my career at Bose Corporation, creating Flash animations in Framingham, MA. This role introduced me to the world of coding, initially using Action Script, then paving the way for my deeper exploration of JavaScript and other web technologies.

Throughout my career, I've drawn inspiration from developers dedicated to making web development more efficient for projects of all sizes. A pivotal moment came in 2016 when I attended an "An Event Apart" conference, where I learned about the atomic design process from Brad Frost. This approach reshaped my understanding of web development, and I eagerly applied it in my development approach where I found a massive increase in productivity by developing component libraries.

The journey continues

Over time, I've taken on leadership roles, guiding teams in adopting development methods to create cohesive internal design systems. This experience has strengthened my passion for coding, particularly with modern front-end technologies like React and other JavaScript frameworks.

Today, I remain passionate about improving efficiency through technology. I'm committed to continuous learning and growth in my career, always embracing new challenges and seeking opportunities to enhance my skills.