as a child of immigrants, i inherited a trait that has the potential to do some major damage: sticking to the safest route. my parents always tried their best to convince me that becoming a doctor, lawyer, or engineer would keep me secure and stable for life, something they strived for after leaving their home country and starting over on new land. but i always knew that route wasn’t meant for me—hence my journalism degree. because that path felt too unstable to them, it somehow evolved into a compromise: i was going to work in social media.

fast forward a few years and a few open doors, and social media is exactly where i landed. part of me knew i had placed myself in that realm because it made my family feel secure. i would probably still be there if a grueling two-plus-year job hunt didn’t force me into a massive realization. this job market pushed me to finally admit what i actually want: to pursue my master’s in color and materials design.

my background is entirely rooted in storytelling. studying journalism taught me how to dig into research and find the core of a story, while marketing allowed me to translate those narratives in ways that connect with others. but as tech and ai reshape everything, i've realized i don’t want to spend my career behind a screen forever. i find myself longing for a hands-on, analog life—back when that was just everyday reality, rather than a trend labeled as “vintage.”

you’ll see that paradox reflected in my portfolio. the work here is digital; it’s where my skills live right now. but if you look closer, you’ll see it’s really an exploration of structure, color behavior, and layout, with a sprinkle of playfulness. this is the start of my shift: using what i already know to learn how to bring stories off the screen and into the tangible, material world.