Talks

I like having a good conversation about art, design, books, UX - you name it . And sometimes I give talks on said topics, which gives me the chance to converse and share ideas with whole new groups of people. My previous public speaking engagements have covered the worlds of graphic novels, how to improve collaboration across teams, and vision boarding during a pandemic. Find a full list of my talks below.

Vision boarding during a pandemic

I recently gave a talk at our monthly Ladies That UX virtual meetup to talk about the future. In a pandemic. Where so many things have halted to a standstill, where plans have to be put on hold - how can we continue to pursue our dreams? This talk was an especially fun experiment using visual storytelling, as I drew all of the illustrations myself.

Usability Testing 101

In this lightening talk, I aim to break down what usability testing is and how to do it in under 5 minutes. Following more of an interactive teaching model, I employ the “Say, See, Do” method with my audience - encouraging them to apply what they’ve learned throughout the presentation. In it, I discuss how to create a research plan, recruit target users, and conduct an in-person or virtual test.

How information architecture can improve collaboration

In February of 2020, I was honored to present at World IA (Information Architecture) Day, hosted by the University of Michigan. There, I spoke on how to facilitate creativity within a team by better architecting the ways we communicate and collaborate. I drew largely from my experiences directing UX for a small, Detroit-based startup called PawnGuru.

How graphic novels empower us to resist conformity

In this super nerdy talk, I geek out about some of my favorite graphic novels and their celebration of alternative narratives. From books on cross-cultural exchanges to werewolf-fighting women warriors, I discuss how each story illustrates new ways for us to learn, love, think, and lead. I’m especially passionate about this subject and have had the honor of presenting this talk twice so far - once for my local library at their annual Ignite event, and the other during Ann Arbor Nerd Nite.

My journey from dentistry to design

During my 2017 graduate career fair, I gave a talk detailing my professional journey to the world of UX design. I originally started my career in the health space, and have taken some twists and turns since then. Here, I reflect on joys of exploration and the skills I’ve picked up along the way.