What Gets Me in the Zone
Work where I can see it helping someone. I ask myself, "If I had this, could I actually use it?" Then I think through everything that might get in the way and find a way around it.
About Me
I found my way to UX in a non-traditional way, and found that the part I loved most was always the people.
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Hi! I'm Alyssa, a UX researcher and designer in Irvine, California. People who know me would call me hardworking and courageous. My sister says I'm the best in the whole world, and I'm not going to argue with her. By day I coordinate projects at Ramboll, and I'm working on my M.A. in Design & Innovation at Cal State Northridge.
Things I Love
Scary Movies
I get scared every time, and I keep coming back for the rush. Call me crazy. Exorcism movies are where I draw the line.
Writing Fiction
My first story was "Johnny and the Spirits." One page, grammar errors everywhere, and it made no sense. I've been writing and reading fiction ever since, including a Twilight fan fiction era on Wattpad. I also keep a journal for my mental health.
Makeup and Wellness
Makeup lets me express myself. Skincare lays the base for the full beat, and the routine itself feels therapeutic. I love anything that helps people feel good and confident. It's a big part of why I'm building Cuidance.
Photography
I spend most of my day at a computer, so I love getting out and seeing the world as it is. Life around me is beautiful, and I try to catch it. Shot on my Sony a6100 and iPhone 17.
Coffee
Vanilla flat white, oat milk. Ride or die.
Muffin and Butters
My cats, who mostly supervise from the floor.
Shot by Me
Working with Me
How I Take Feedback Best
Kind and specific. Tell me what's working, then help me reframe what isn't. I bring compassion to my team and do my best work when it comes back.
Fun Fact
When I was 7, I asked for a pogo stick for Christmas. I used it once and never saw it again.
My Path
I studied Cinema & Television Arts at Cal State Fullerton and read scripts for a film development team, where I learned to ask what an audience feels at each moment. Then I worked in operations and saw how a process breaks when real people use it. UX is where both habits meet. I'm early in my career, and I'd rather show you what I've tested and what I haven't than pretend otherwise.
FAQ
What kind of roles are you looking for?
UX research, UX design, product design and design strategy roles. I'm also open to creative operations or brand design coordinator roles. I'm especially drawn to beauty and entertainment/media, and I'm open to any team doing people-first work.
What tools do you work in?
Figma and the Adobe suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop) for design, plus Canva. For research I use Miro, Dovetail, Typeform and Notion. I also use Claude, ChatGPT, Perplexity and Figma Make, and I check what they hand me.