I was raised in Hanoi, Vietnam. I attended the University of Rochester in upstate New York, and studied Digital Media, Computer Science (Human-Computer Interaction focus), and Visual & Cultural Studies. 

Broadly, I am interested in the “idea delivery” problem – how humans communicate with other humans and with software, and why. 

I believe that technologies help us become more human. Software and digital media should encourage users to be kinder towards themselves, empathetic towards other humans, and empowered to do good in their communities. That is my philosophy as a designer. I aim to create thoughtful, scalable designs that communicate complexities and ensure equal access to information for users of all backgrounds.

Much of what I’ve learned about feedback seeking, evaluation, and communication comes from supporting 150+ students over 4 years as a writing consultant at my college.

Beyond product design, I have a special interest in how the personal archive is transformed in the age of algorithmic artifacts—from Spotify daylists to Twitter explore feeds. What does the convergence between family albums and Instagram photo dumps look like? Is there a way to articulate ourselves with all of our digital belongings, to embrace rather than resist our newfound cyborg-ness?

other interests: 60s-70s US television history, particularly surrounding the Vietnam War. writer voice and rhetorical grammar. vernacular photography, particularly family photo albums. typography (I go to bookstores often for graphic design lessons). overthinking interactions afforded by digital platforms, particularly how viewers/users co-create meaning through personal associations and tactile interactions—so... phenomenology in the world of digital interfaces.

currently reading: Metaphors We Live By (George Lakoff and Mark Johnson), How To Travel With a Salmon (Umberto Eco), and (re-reading) Regarding the Pain of Others (Susan Sontag).

my useless superpower: Growing up, I played in a band with my friends in Hanoi. We got to play Hanoi Rock City a few times; I was on keyboard. I don't play anymore, but I retain the rarely-handy ability to tell whether a V-shaped electric guitar is the ESP Alexi Laiho or not.