About Me

About Me

About Me

Hi, I'm Shelly. Nice to meet you! 😊

Hi, I'm Shelly. Nice to meet you! 😊

Hi, I'm Shelly. Nice to meet you! 😊

I'm an ex-middle school English teacher turned UX researcher. I'm currently pursuing my M.S. in Information Experience Design at Pratt Institute.

Growing up as a first-generation American in NYC and living abroad as an expat has shown me how complex and frustrating everyday systems can be. It always fascinated me how people found workarounds to make things work, when that shouldn't ever be the case to begin with. These experiences fuel my belief that things can be better if you involve the people using them, and why asking questions, researching, and observing come naturally to me.

Teaching showed me that observation and honest feedback are the fastest path to understanding what people actually need. I learned to spot patterns, see what isn’t working, and iterate based on evidence rather than assumptions. I'm able to take complex ideas and tell a story to different audiences. These are the skills I bring into every project.

Every project feels like a puzzle. I ask questions, find patterns, and make sure the people often left out of the conversation are centered in it. I thrive working collaboratively with designers, engineers, and stakeholders to fold in different perspectives so that I can keep the bigger picture in mind.

How I Work

πŸ—ΊοΈ

Think about the larger picture, not just problem solve

I think in connections. Before recommending anything, I consider how one decision ripples into the next, and what that means for users, stakeholders, and the product long-term. It's important to me that I consider and include everyone involved.

🌱

Explore with thoughtful curiosity and intent

I'm always always asking what else could be true, considering different paths before landing on an answer. I'm mindful about how I get there and think about what it means. AI can be a tool in my process, but it's not a replacement for my final judgement.

🀝

Bringing everyone to the table for richer results

For all my work, I aim to do it with people, not just about them. That means users, but also the engineers, designers, and PMs who shape the product. Every voice matters, especially the ones not yet in the room, and I advocate for inclusivity and accessibility at every stage. I'm still learning and I encourage my peers to learn with me.

Five Extra Tidbits

01
Deduction & Indie Game Lover
I love deduction, puzzle and story games. I also enjoy high energy games like Neon White (aim for the heavens!)
02
Escape Rooms to Board Games - Call me in for Co-Ops!
03
6 Years in South Korea
04
My son is a senior citizen
05
I'm trying to touch grass more.

Self-Study Materials: How I Built My Foundation

If you're looking for how I self-taught myself UX foundations, you can find the materials here. I haven't updated it since I started my masters at Pratt, but I hope this list helps you!

If you're looking for how I self-taught myself UX foundations, you can find the materials here. I haven't updated it since I started my masters at Pratt, but I hope this list helps you!

let's work together on

something cool (^_^)b

shellyguxn@gmail.com

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let's work together on

something cool (^_^)b

shellyguxn@gmail.com

Copied