Maker, Explorer & Giver

I'm a UX designer that’s passionate about understanding the narrative of individuals. With my educational background in psychology and love for understanding human behaviour. I focus on truly understanding individuals, what motivates them, their needs and grounding myself in their truth to help solve their problems. That is why I love the field of UX, I can channel my passion into meaningful and impactful work that positively affects people around the world.

Over the past year, my experience in UX has grown significantly, as I've worked on projects involving mobile experience, designing a web platform and carrying out user research and usability testing. I have also developed great diplomatic skills, such as patience to listen and understand with a non-judgmental lens, and the ability to make just about anyone feel comfortable so that it allows us to connect on a human level.

I was born in Kosovo, my family and I came to Toronto as refugees back in 1999 as an escape from the Kosovo-war.  I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to visit during the summers where I connected with my ethnic culture, family and developed new perspectives.

During my time in Canada, I focused on my education with the goal of becoming a psychotherapist. I have always wanted to help others, especially since i'm able to connect and understand their needs. I completed my undergraduate degree in psychology where I focused on personality development and counseling. While completing my undergraduate degree, I began working as a research assistant and learned that psychotherapy counseling wasn't meant for me. I decided not to pursue it any longer and then began thinking of what I can do to allows me to connect and help people, while feeling satisfied at the same time.

I continued exploring during the summers where I bartended at the Kafanas (Café during the day, bar during the night!) and took every opportunity to visit a different country, even if it was for the weekend. I have always been inspired by nature, different cultures and people. This has nurtured my curiosity by being able to let go of what I knew; stepping away from the rigid, black & white thinking that was instilled in my mind and learning that there are different and better ways of living.

Having visited numerous countries (China being my favorite!), I have gained a great appreciation of the comfortableness Canada has to offer but I feel there is much improvement to be done here! Aside from China’s delicious food, and amazing entertainment they have to offer, China is a great example of how the digital world is bridging the gap between the hundreds of millions of people and their needs; making their lives and the economy more efficient.

Things I love to do in my spare time - specially as selfcare - include dancing. I will dance with anyone, anywhere. I believe the body needs movement to express what the mind cannot speak; and through movement, a connection can be made between the selves.

I also love to read. When its not related to UX, I’m reading topics on mental health, psychology and philosophy. In our fast-paced society i'm also developing a greater appreciation for Stoicism and Taoism.
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I love taking photos, they are a gem to me. I even have a yearly physically-printed photo album of almost all my treasured moments. There's just something about the irony of a photographer and their photos. Only they knew what it took to capture the photo, what was going on during that situation, and what is happening behind what the lens couldn't capture (literally).