I explore and transform ideas into real-world impact through a blend of

design

Hello! I'm a design strategist + researcher with an entrepreneurial mindset.

Currently a Master of Design student @ the Institute of Design, Chicago.

Previously @ Deloitte Consulting, Relish Works, FEG DRIVE, and ChiByDesign

with a background in Business Economics, Entrepreneurship, and Digital Humanities @ UCLA

Along the way, I’ve built brands, launched ventures, and helped organizations navigate ambiguity.

Companies I've worked with, places I've learned from…

🌟 selected work

Projects done between 2022 - 2025

Below is a collection of my favorite design & innovation projects: complex problem-solving with thoughtful research, synthesis, and impactful storytelling

Equipped the product and design team with a blueprint, 6 design principles, and 2 user models that clarified key gaps, exposed challenges, and laid the foundation for future development.

What could an end-to-end online counseling experience look like for working adults in Taiwan?

MIND+ BLUEPRINT

Product Design & Strategy

Blueprinting

Design Research

Boosted survey participation by over 55% and delivered a store employee engagement framework adaptable to broader uses — as a bonus!

How can a global coffeehouse chain boost store employee survey participation?

INCREASING SURVEY PARTICIPATION

Mixed-Methods Research

Innovation Strategy

Design Strategy

Coming Soon

Built a growth toolkit for a 3,600-participant program across 65 sites — informing future fundraising, workstreams, and strategic initiatives.

How might we develop a growth framework that helps an aging-in-place program to scale sustainably?

CAPABLE GROWTH MODEL

Growth Strategy

Design Research

Systems Mapping

Coming Soon

Launching to 30,000+ users in 2026, phasing out the current app.

What kind of mobile banking experience can help a rural Indonesian bank become the top choice for everyday transactions?

LESTARIGO

Product Design

Digital Strategy

UX Research

Check back soon to see the impact of this work!

How might we design an inclusive and anti-racist early childhood services for the state of Illinois?

SERVICE DELIVERY FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD

Service Design

Co-Design

Design Research

Coming Soon

Over the years, I've developed a community of 10K+ creatives on my Instagram page, @sammys.journal, where I share my illustrations, journal pages, and other creative pursuits.

Sammy's Journal: My Creative Community

Visual Art

Content Creation

An interactive game as a learning companion for 6th-graders learning biology . Students learn through a combination of digital and tactile experience, optimized for immersion and inclusivity. The experience is delivered on an tablet-based app and physical gameboard.

Bloxology: Inclusive Design through Gaming

Inclusive Design

Game Design

A TV remote that mirrors the clickable parts of your TV’s interface using novel haptic technology, creating a dynamic, tactile surface that acts as your TV remote. What possibilities does this unlock for entertainment creators and consumers?

Morph: TV Remote Reimagined

Emerging Tech

Concept Design

A company centered around memory keeping, created to empower people to preserve their memories through storytelling. Launched in December 2020, now our photo journals are loved in 8,000+ homes and in 26 countries.

Project Memory: A photo journal brand

Business Venture

Brand-Building

Before I found my way into strategic design, my first love was creative entrepreneurship. Even as a kid, I was drawn to creating things and building around them. These explorations are no different. Some emerged from my design work, others from curiosity and moments of inspiration.

🌱 side quests & explorations

🛠️ This part below is currently under construction. Feel free to explore, but pardon the odd bits!