I’m a scientist turned creative. Before I moved to the United States from Romania I received my master's degree in Climatology and Hydrology, with undergraduate studies in Geography. Since then I’ve adopted a more creative path with further studies in design, both graphic and UX, working freelance since 2018. There’s actually a lot of common ground between the two, with both having their own patterns and methods for finding understanding. Bridging the gap between data and presentation is where I find my true passion. 

As a child, I was drawing and painting before I learned to read and write. Those things remain pastimes along with photography. I dove into earth sciences because I always found things like clouds, the weather, and Geography fascinating (and still do). Unfortunately, professional challenges after moving to the United States forced me to find a new path and the world of design grabbed my interest. 

In Climatology and Geography, one of the biggest challenges is putting all the pieces together. Understanding the soil is its own discipline, as is the water or the clouds. The reality is that all of those systems interact with one another, sometimes in surprising ways. Breakthroughs often happen when those interactions are studied. These discoveries require gathering and interpreting data in new and interesting ways. 

Similarly, design often isn’t a purely creative exercise. There might be challenging data to interpret or technical ideas to convey. My design heroes strive to present information as clearly as possible and I operate the same way. The world of UX is even more data-driven; research drives decisions. My scientific background gives me a different perspective on that and I’m hungry to explore it further in my career. Whether it’s graphic design or UX, the most important thing I want to provide is clarity. 

Outside of work you can find me hiking, gardening, reading, watching films, or spending time with my family. And, of course, I still paint, draw, and do photography!