My strength lies in translating data into enlightening, relatable stories that help businesses understand their customers. My research leans on 17 years of experience compelling policy and cultural movement through captivating journalism and also distilling the pain points of consumers into physical product solutions as an industrial designer. I translate data into action through storytelling.

As a photographer and journalist, my entire working career was user research: observing scenes, anticipating how people will react to catch a moment, assessing light, digging into the details of a narrative and discovering  the essence of a person to define them in a still moment. 

Similarly, my passion for wild foraging relies on thorough research. I pour over guidebooks to identify plants and log data to map fertile hunting grounds.  I’ve learned to read the stories the weather and environment tell to locate edible mushrooms. Never eat the finds of a mycologist who can’t back their identifications with reliable data! 

Design Thinking was my specialty for 14 years as an athlete, captain and coach of roller derby both in the US and in Norway, including on Team USA. I was featured in the documentaries Derby Baby; filmed skating for a commercial for Nikon; photographed for the books Scars & Stripes and No Mercy, and have been interviewed in print and television including The Sun Times, Chicago Tribune, The Red Eye and The University of Chicago’s Magazine The Core. The best coaching is all about the best UX.  For a team to operate at its most competitive flow, each member must be engaged, understand the prompts, and feel empowered to play the sport in a good headspace.  Designing successful teams requires empathy for each player’s fluctuations and using data storytelling to drive home areas where they can improve.  Developing strategies requires conveying information that players can understand and act upon intuitively, oftentimes under pressure.

In 2017, I started a small business in Chicago, Life on Mars Goods, making functional leather bags.  I design and construct the pieces myself, testing prototypes and gathering feedback.  Listening to what people need from their everyday carry, is a deep look into the human condition. Applying human-centered principles, I have grown my humble company’s sales by a minimum of 30% year after year.

Hard work is tenet of my family and I pride myself on an undeniable work ethic. Throughout my career, I have always worked freelance or volunteered while holding a full time profession. While I was exclusively working as a photography contractor, I started my own bag manufacturing business at the same time. I reached the highest levels of my sports career while simultaneously working in journalism, traveling as a professional sports coach and taking freelance journalism gigs. Complacency is foreign to me and I thrive on consistently challenging my personal growth.

Connecting with people is my life’s work…and motivation.