About David

Great design happens when you deeply understand both the problem and the people you're solving it for.

My Path to UX Design

My journey into UX design began with a personal understanding of how poorly designed systems can devastate families. Early experiences with predatory lending and confusing healthcare interfaces during my father's cancer treatment showed me that design isn't neutral—it either helps or harms.

This led me from an interdisciplinary foundation at Hampshire College—where my work with Syrian refugees at Jordan's Za'atari camp revealed critical gaps in emergency response systems—to pursuing my Master's in Human-Centered Design & Engineering at the University of Washington. UW's HCDE program, recognized as one of the world's leading HCI programs, shaped my approach to bridging rigorous research methodology with real-world impact.

Today, I bring this combination of lived experience, interdisciplinary training, and engineering-level systems thinking to complex digital products, always asking: "How might this help or harm someone navigating a difficult moment?"

Education & Continuous Learning

Building a foundation of knowledge and constantly evolving my craft

Master of Science in Human-Centered Design and Engineering

University of Washington, 2023

Thesis: "Empowering toddlers with amblyopia and their family through age-appropriate, anti-supressions tools for vision therapy"

Bachelor of Arts in Public Health, Design, & Anthropology

Hampshire College, 2017

Thesis: Emergency Response Systems in Refugee Settings: A Human-Centered Analysis of the Za'atari Camp

Professional Development & Awards

  • Advanced Design Systems Certification, Nielsen Norman Group, 2024

  • Mobile UX Masterclass, Interaction Design Foundation, 2023

  • Accessible Document Specialist (ADS), 2023

  • Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC), 2022

  • Five College Consortium Certificate in Culture, Health, & Science, 2018

  • MIT Hacking Medicine Grand Hack – 1st Place, 2017

  • Hampshire College Seed Fund for Innovation Grant ($8,000), 2016

  • TechSpring Healthcare Innovation Residency, Baystate Hospital, 2016

  • HampHack – Viacom Choice Award, 2016

What Drives My Work

I believe that great design isn't just about making things look good—it's about creating systems that genuinely improve people's lives, especially during their most vulnerable moments. Whether I'm reducing the steps it takes a Veteran with PTSD to access mental health services or helping refugee families navigate resettlement systems, I'm motivated by the real human impact of every design decision.

My interdisciplinary background gives me a unique perspective: I approach design challenges with both analytical rigor (thanks to my public health training) and deep empathy (from my anthropology and design studies). This combination, forged through personal experience and international fieldwork, helps me navigate the complex stakeholder needs and technical constraints that define most enterprise software projects.

I'm particularly drawn to organizations that understand design as a force for equity—where thoughtful systems can reduce barriers rather than create them.

Beyond Design

When I'm not designing digital experiences, you'll find me

  • Throwing clay at my pottery studio, where the tactile process of wheel throwing reminds me that iteration is the heart of all good design—and that embracing failure as part of the process leads to the most beautiful outcomes.

  • Perfecting my morning Aeropress ritual (I'm slightly obsessed with single-origin beans and can talk brewing techniques longer than anyone wants to hear). There's something about the precision and consistency required that appeals to my systematic approach to problem-solving.

  • Xeriscaping our native garden with my wife, designing drought-resistant landscapes that thrive in Colorado's climate. It's taught me that the best solutions work with existing constraints rather than against them—a philosophy I bring to every design challenge.

  • Volunteering with the Douglas Public Library to help make technology more accessible for everyone, because I believe design should be inclusive not just in theory, but in practice through community action.

David and his wife, Ishanee, at the Denver Botanical Garden plant sale - always on the hunt for the perfect drought-resistant additions to our xeriscaped garden.

Let’s Connect

I'm always excited to connect with fellow designers, product leaders, and anyone passionate about creating meaningful digital experiences. Whether you want to chat about design systems, share coffee recommendations, or explore how we might work together, I'd love to hear from you.