CORIJADE

About.

Creating things is my passion. Whether it's pixel-pushing or baking elaborate cakes, I love the process of making something.

I'm motivated by a challenge. Give me a difficult ask or a problem to solve and I'm hell-bent on figuring it out. I don't think anything is impossible, some solutions just require a little creative thinking.

I am committed to continually learning, growing, and improving. Progress, not perfection. (well, maybe perfection too...)

I want to do work that has a meaningful impact. Creating products that are purpose-driven and make a positive difference in people's lives.

I believe in being intentional. Always seeking the `why` behind decisions and striving to articulate my design choices.

I work well with others. I think teamwork and collaboration are paramount and that empathy should just be a focus for users but for everyone we encounter in work and life.

I'm a boy-mom. When I'm not designing things, I'm driving carpool, watching baseball practice or fishing tarantulas out of pools as temporary `pets`.

In my spare time. Once in a blue moon, I'm able to grab my paddle board and get out on the lake. This typically includes more sitting on the board eating In N Out than actually paddling...

TL:DR. How I ended up here...

I’ve worked in real estate, marketing and design. I’ve stayed home to raise my 2 boys. Though it all, my thinking has always been focused on people. I’m fascinated by the ‘whys’ - how they influence people’s decisions and inform their actions.

As a mom, I try to see experiences through my kids’ eyes to better relate to them and help them navigate life. I have always told them that you can’t complain about something if you’re not also willing to take the initiative to change what bothers you (this philosophy is one of the things that made UX so appealing to me). If anything has taught me true empathy, it’s parenting.

As a Realtor, I wanted to understand what really mattered to my clients in order to put them at ease and ensure I was providing the results they needed. Managing marketing and social media, I strived to learn about what resonated with our clientele - resulting in a focus on body positivity and empowering women.

What ultimately led me to UX, was working as a graphic designer. I love creating, working with typography and aligning details down to the pixel...but I often didn’t have enough information about my clients. It limited my ability to create something meaningful for them and I found myself unknowingly making user personas in an attempt to design for them instead of based on my own aesthetic.

When I discovered user experience design it was that 💡aha moment - this is what I want to do! So I quit my graphic design job to study UX full-time, perhaps it was risky but life is short. I guess that sums me up: I jump in with both feet and don’t half-ass anything.