Oh Hey!
I'm a UI/UX Designer, with a low-carbon take.
My work is primarily digital, but I've also been exploring applying it into analog methods.
My superpower is reaching out and inspiring people to do good in the world.
I believe that everything amazingly genius starts with the intention to do them.
I'm an optimist-realist and always wonder "how can I make it better?"
I have two rambunctious boys under 10 named Ali and Baki.
If I could name one food I've recently had a hankering for, it would be "ayskrambol".
My Climate Journey
Alright, picture this: A koala clinging to a burning eucalyptus tree like it's the last avocado toast at a brunch buffet. That's pretty much the climate crisis in a nutshell. Terrifying, right? But am I scared? Please. Let's just say I'm more the type to grab a fire extinguisher than run screaming. And my weapon of fire suppression? Design. Though lately, I've been upgrading my arsenal. You could say I am trading in the hose for a high-powered, water-conserving, super-soaker of change.
Forget pixel-pushing for the sake of another pointless app. Forget endless lines of code with more classes than a community college course catalog. I'm a Climate UI/UX Designer now, which basically means I'm trying to make sustainability look less like a chore and more like, well, something you'd actually want to do. Think of me as a slightly-less-annoying climate warrior meets a design nerd, with a dash of dark humor and a sprinkle of animation magic, because who says saving the planet can't be a little bit fun? Gamification, people, it's not just for The Sims anymore. And yes, I actually know a thing or two about climate action, unlike some of these "eco-friendly" influencers.
Remember that time you thought about growing organic kale in your window box but then realized you couldn't even keep a succulent alive? Yeah, me too. That's the kind of challenge I love. Last year, I teamed up with InPlanet, a startup that's basically vacuuming up planet-killing carbon from the atmosphere with some crazy rock-weathering tech that sounds like straight-up science fiction. And as their CMS Developer? Let's just say I wasn't just building another boring website – I was crafting a digital experience that might actually, you know, make a difference. Maybe. Hopefully. We'll see. I am trying to remain optimistic despite, you know...gestures wildly at everything.
And right now? I've been lending my, ahem, considerable climate-focused design and development talents to Hello World Labs, Katie Patrick's climate action platform. I'm building the digital dojo where Katie's meticulously crafted learning paths will live, so that everyone can up their climate game. Think of it as empowering people to take meaningful action through the magic of engaging digital experiences. Or at least that's the hope.
So, what's the takeaway from all this? Basically, I'm a design chameleon, always learning new tricks, always trying to stay one step ahead of the apocalypse. Motion design, gamification, the latest climate jargon that makes me sound like I know what I'm talking about - you name it, I'm probably trying to incorporate it into my work, with the hopes it will spark action, not just another yawn. I'm not afraid to call out the BS, either, and I firmly believe that design can help nudge humanity towards a slightly-less-dystopian future, one click, one animation, one playful challenge at a time. Or at least that's what I tell myself to get out of bed in the morning. It is important to have goals, no matter how far-fetched they may seem.
Design Tech Stack
good at creating...
proficient with...
ON TOP OF being a UI/UX designer, I am...
a Front end Developer
Okay, so, design's my main squeeze, obviously. But I've also become weirdly good at wrangling code. I'm talking clean, well-commented code, the kind that doesn't make other developers want to tear their hair out. I can build websites from the ground up, like some kind of digital architect, except with less concrete and more existential dread about the future of the planet.
Git? Yeah, I speak Git. I can branch, merge, and commit with the best of them. It's like version control for my sanity, which, let's be honest, is hanging by a thread most days. And responsive design? Please. I can make a website look good on any screen, from your grandma's ancient desktop to your fancy foldable phone that's probably going to be obsolete in six months anyway. Planned obsolescence, gotta love it.
And because staying still is basically the same as moving backward in this industry, I've been dipping my toes into the Webflow and Framer waters. Gotta stay relevant, you know? Even if "relevant" these days seems to mean learning a new platform every other week. It's all part of the fun. Or at least that's what I tell myself while I'm banging my head against my desk, trying to figure out the latest no-code craze. But hey, at least it keeps things interesting, right? And who knows, maybe one of these new tools will finally be the one that lets me design our way out of this climate mess. A girl can dream, can't she?
If, for some inexplicable reason, you're interested in seeing the front-end stuff I've been slaving over (while simultaneously trying to save the planet), here's the portal.
a Climate Designer
I'm one of those rare designers who actually believes brands can be a force for good. Crazy, I know. But these corporations have the power to influence a ton of people, so why not use that power to do something good for both people and the planet? And, shocker, it is even possible to do that without tanking profits. I'm all about applying my design skills to a company that genuinely cares about inclusion, equity, diversity, and sustainability - and not just as empty buzzwords on their website. A company that actually lives these values, a company that truly walks the walk.
As the Philippine Hub Lead for the Climate Designers org, I'm also trying to build a community of local designers in my country. Through events and workshops, I'm attempting to rally the troops and get them thinking about how we can design our way to a more sustainable future. It's a challenging but hopefully rewarding process. Think herding cats, but with a shared sense of purpose and a whole lot of passion for saving the planet. I am trying to be optimistic that our work will catch on.
My current project involves trailblazing the use of Green Design Principles with startup brands, both global and Filipino. I'm on a mission to show these companies that sustainability isn't just a trend, it's a necessity. It's a lot of hard work, a lot of educating, and a lot of hoping these brands will actually take this to heart. But hey, I'm giving it my all, and maybe, just maybe, we can make a difference, one sustainably-designed brand at a time. Or this will be a complete waste of time and I will have to rethink my life choices. Either way, it should be interesting.
Want to see what our band of climate-focused creatives is up to? Hit the button below.
a Motion Designer
So, apparently, motion design is the hot new thing. Newsflash: I've been geeking out over this stuff since before it was even called motion design. While my design peers were busy churning out static mockups like it was still 1999, I was already playing around with micro-interactions and animations, basically making websites do the digital equivalent of a happy dance. I've always been a bit ahead of the curve, even if that curve is currently hurtling towards a climate-induced existential crisis.
These days, I'm practically living in Adobe After Effects, Premiere Pro, and Animate. I'm building up my motion design chops one mini-project at a time, because who needs sleep when you can be making pixels dance? I'm also throwing in a dash of behavioral design, you know, that psychological stuff that makes people click on things. And because data can be beautiful, too, I'm adding data visualizations into the mix. All this is served with a side of playful illustrations, because even the end of the world deserves a little whimsy. It is all very exciting, even though it can be exhausting.
Basically, I'm turning into a full-blown motion design nerd, and I'm not even mad about it. It's like all my favorite things - design, animation, and a touch of psychology - rolled into one. Plus, it's a handy skill to have when you're trying to convince people to care about the planet. A little bit of visual flair can go a long way, or at least that is what I am banking on. Who knows, maybe I can even animate our way out of this mess. Or at least make the apocalypse look a little more interesting.
a Leader & Team Player
Okay, so I'm not exactly your typical rah-rah, let's-have-a-trust-fall kind of leader. I'm more of a 'let's-get-this-crap-done-efficiently-and-maybe-save-the-planet-while-we're-at-it' kind of leader. Back in the Philippines, I'm heading up this little climate design community, which basically means I'm part organizer, part mentor, part therapist for a bunch of talented designers who are all trying to figure out how to use their skills for good. It's a lot of work, a lot of juggling, and a lot of reminding people that deadlines still exist, even when the world is falling apart. But also a ton of fun.
That being said, I'm also a pretty solid team player. I know, shocking, right? A cynical, slightly-jaded designer who actually plays well with others? Believe it or not, I'm a firm believer in collaboration. I truly value the importance of teamwork. Different perspectives, shared knowledge, and the occasional heated debate about the merits of a particular shade of green - that's where the magic happens. As long as everyone's pulling their weight and not just phoning it in, I'm happy to be part of the team. In fact, I thrive as part of a team.
At the end of the day, it is about finding that sweet spot between leading and collaborating, between taking charge and listening to others. I strive to be a leader who empowers, not dictates and a teammate who contributes, not coasts. Whether I'm leading the charge or working alongside my fellow designers, I'm always focused on the bigger picture: creating meaningful work that, hopefully, makes a positive impact. And if we can have a few laughs along the way, even better. Because let's face it, we all need a little levity when we're staring down the barrel of an impending climate catastrophe.
WHEN I'M NOT IMMERSED IN ALL THINGS DESIGN...
I am a mom to digital natives, who assume that when somebody orders online, the toys would magically appear in our living room out of thin air.
Home improv, road trip dreaming, and Claes Bang make up my mom porn.
I used to have dreadlocks that reached the back of my thighs. You wouldn't have known it. Now you do!
Exploding Kittens and Bears vs Babies are our Family Game Night favorites.
I've been making it a point to hike or rock climb every other weekend. With the kids. Yes, I'd like to be considered a tough broad.
Agatha Harkness is my favorite MCU character.