From Doodles to Design
My path to becoming a designer started the way many do: as a kid, I was always sketching, drawing logos and cartoons just for fun. From that creative spark, my journey took a scenic route. I started my career with a degree in Computer Science, but my artistic side won out, leading me to jump headfirst into the design world in India. I began as a Junior Graphic Designer at Extentia Information Technology and eventually worked my way up to Graphic Designer. It was there, with baby steps in UX and heuristic evaluation guided by my mentor Manali Mitra, that I found my true calling.
A Leap Across the Globe
Wanting to understand the bigger picture, I decided to blend my design skills with business smarts. I took a leap of faith and flew to New Zealand to get my Master's in Business Management from the University of Waikato. I completely fell in love with the culture and the people, finding friends who quickly became my Kiwi family. I knew I had to stay.
Forging a Path Down Under
Soon after my Master's, I landed a role as a Digital Consultant at Human Digital, where I was lucky enough to be mentored directly by the CEO, Ben Van Rooy. From there, I ventured into the freelance world, working with amazing clients across New Zealand and Australia and leveling up my skills with a Google Foundations of UX Design certification. During this time, I conducted a UX audit for HonourThem that reduced load time by 3 seconds and redesigned a mobile-first website for Better Packaging Co, decreasing the bounce rate by 15%.
Mastering My Craft
My next big step was a full-time UX/UI Designer role at HealthPost, where I truly hit my stride. I specialized in Conversion Rate Optimisation, helping to build a culture of experimentation and running design thinking workshops. This role was a fantastic period of growth, where I led end-to-end UX projects that resulted in a 25% increase in user engagement on the blog and a 20% CVR increase on the homepage. I also earned a certification in UX Design mentored by a product designer at LinkedIn and another in Design Thinking from the Design Thinkers Academy.
Beyond the Pixels
When I'm not pushing pixels, you’ll find me behind a camera, on a soccer field, or getting my fitness fix with a CrossFit session. I also love to unwind with a paintbrush. Through it all, my family is my pillar of strength and my biggest inspiration. My long-term dream? To take everything I've learned and start my own agency, creating digital experiences that genuinely make a difference.