Nice to meet ya. I'm Xia /see-yuh/.
I’m a product designer and strategist who helps shape digital products that balance usability and business impact — from startups to scale-ups.
I studied psychology in college (yes, I actually dissected brains), then started my years as an entrepreneur building a language school. I wore every hat imaginable—teacher, team lead, graphic designer, social media strategist, event producer, you name it. Teaching helped me translate psychological theories into real-world applications, while scaling a business taught me to keep one eye on user needs and the other on business goals. Through all these different roles, one thing remained constant: my fascination with understanding people and creating something genuinely useful for them. That's what ultimately led me to commit fully to human-centered design.
I completed a Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction at the University of Michigan, where I deepened my understanding of user research methodologies, design systems, and the psychology behind great digital experiences. These days, I work as a product designer bringing a unique blend of design craft, product strategy, and growth thinking to each project
Outside of work. I love making things—3D design, illustration, oil painting, doodling, AR/VR experiences, whatever sparks joy. I’m also a big fan of stories, the kind of storytelling that pulls you out of the world for a little while. Whether it’s an abstract painting, a photograph, a good book, a movie, or even a conversation, I love seeing how stories can live in all kinds of forms.
If you have a good story to share, or want to create one together - let’s chat!
Design rarely comes with a straightforward path—and that’s what I love about it. I thrive on untangling complex problems and finding clear ways to reach the goal.
Design isn’t always the loudest voice, but I’m passionate about ensuring it has a seat at the table—whether by educating stakeholders, advocating for users, or reminding teams why design matters.
I prioritize clear communication and documentation to keep teams aligned, support decision-making, and ensure design intent carries through to the final product.
Design and technology evolve fast, and I like to stay current without chasing trends. I focus on designing with intention, ensuring each decision serves the user and the problem we’re solving.
In 2020, I co-founded a Chinese language school with an experienced educator who had perfected her craft over years of teaching but hit a wall when it came to growth. My role split into two parts: teaching and building the business.
I've always been drawn to understanding what makes people tick, and teaching gave me the perfect opportunity to put psychological theories into practice—skills that now inform every design decision I make. Teaching over 100 students from more than 20 countries meant constantly adapting to different learning styles, dreams, backgrounds, and motivations.
The challenge was fascinatingly similar to what I do in design today:
How do you understand people's needs when they don't always say them directly?
How do you create something that works for a Brazilian engineer and a Swedish artist?
How do you find the common threads that connect seemingly different audience?
Every class became a lesson in user empathy—reading between the lines of what students said they wanted versus what they actually needed, then designing experiences that felt personal while serving a diverse group.
The business side became equally compelling and taught me lessons I use in every product strategy today. We had this amazing product that was changing lives, but how do you scale genuine human connection?
We grew our social media to over 10,000 followers. We hosted events that connected people. Our marketing campaigns with the city's largest web magazines expanded our community above and beyond.
Each initiative was really an exercise in experience design. By the time we'd grown the company 3x, I realized I wanted to create impact at an even larger scale. That's what drew me to product design: the opportunity to apply these same principles of human-centered thinking and systematic empathy to reach millions of people instead of hundreds.
Product Designer
Led 0→1 design of a smart home companion app for Lasso's recycling appliance for material scanning, appliance operations, and recycling data tracking features.
Developed core branding assets that supported fundraising efforts.
UX Project Consultant
Managed 100+ UX project partnerships between UofM and client companies- defined project scope and built strong client relationships across tech companies (Google, Quora, GitHub), non-profits (Library of Congress, NOAA), local businesses, and early-stage startups.
Product Design Intern
Redesigned the 15 Seconds of Fame experience within the Pistons app by leveraging mixed-method research (data analysis of key user engagement metrics, survey, user interview, usability testing, field study). Delivered UX recommendations and partnered closely with the dev team for rapid iterations that drove increased user engagement.
Product Designer (Contract)
Modernized AIRSAT's data tracking platform interface to align with brand identity. Established a design system for use across the company's platforms that ensures consistent user experience and faster feature implementation.
Cofounder & Experience Lead
Co-founded a language school, taught 100+ working professionals across 20+ countries. Managed client relationships and led growth strategy across brand design, social media, and marketing campaigns, expanding the business 3x.
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
University of California, Davis
University College Cork, Ireland
