I’ve always been drawn to design—it runs in my blood. Growing up, I watched my father, a graphic designer, blend creativity with precision, and I was lucky enough to learn alongside him from an early age. By the time I was in my teens, I had already honed my skills in Photoshop and Illustrator, contributing to his design firm with tasks ranging from logo creation to label design. The tech-savvy nature of my work felt natural to me, and as I entered high school, my interest in visual arts expanded to include photography. This passion ultimately led me to Columbia College Chicago, where I initially pursued a major in photography and interior design.
Yet life, as it often does, had other plans. For personal and financial reasons, I decided to pivot and enter beauty school, where I could express my creativity in a way that allowed for quicker career entry. As a licensed cosmetologist, I spent over a decade building my hairstyling business, Reed Hairstyling. It wasn’t the most creative business name, but I stand by it. I got the chance to combine my love for design with my business. I created my own logo, designed my website, and even helped colleagues develop their digital presence by setting up booking systems and creating customized websites.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought an unexpected halt to hairstyling, but also a new creative opportunity. I started my Etsy store, Reed.Custom.Art, where I experimented with photo editing and illustrations, eventually finding a niche designing pet portraits from customer-provided photos. During this time, I also designed several websites using platforms like Wix and Squarespace, rekindling the spark for digital design.
This was the turning point in my career. UI design was a natural progression for me. It allowed me to blend my artistic background with my love for technology, while also satisfying my need for problem-solving and creating intuitive, user-focused experiences. I completed my certificate in UI design, and I can’t help but feel that I’ve found the perfect blend of creativity, empathy, and logic that I’ve been seeking all along.
As a UI/UX designer, I draw from a diverse range of experiences—from graphic design and photography to running a small business and building websites. I approach each project with attention to detail, a deep understanding of user needs, and a passion for creating designs that improve everyday interactions. I look forward to being part of a team that shares this passion and is dedicated to crafting meaningful, user-centric designs that make technology more accessible and enjoyable for all.
