About  me

In my work, I love helping companies produce holistic, inclusive ecosystems of experience.

Personally, though, I love spending time with my doggo, Frank, nurturing my green thumb, and exploring different art mediums.
Oh
hello
Carissa and Frank (dog) on patio
This is Frank
and that's me!
About
Me
My happiest places are in the outdoors--camping, kayaking, biking, or hiking--preferably with Frank, my sweet doggo. I recently got into the camper game and can't wait to explore more national parks in the summers to come!

Traveling has opened my eyes to different ways of living and working. It's taught me to be open to new ideas and flexible in how I approach design challenges. I bring this open-mindedness to all my projects, aiming to make designs that are not only beautiful but also inclusive and accessible to everyone.

I'm a high input human and systems thinker who loves to consume media;  whether it's a science fiction adventure that takes me to another world or a non-fiction book that teaches me something new about our own, reading helps me stay curious. I also love podcasts! Favorites are Hidden Brain, People I Mostly Admire, and 99% Invisible.

And then there's Frank, my pretty pitbull and the light of my life! He's taught me a lot about patience, growth, and resilience--all while being the sweetest, funniest little nugget I've yet to meet:)
Daily Life
Carissa and family camping Carissa and friends hiking at Whitewater State ParkDog Frank in red coat on a snowy bridgeCarissa and dog Frank in snow outside houseRiver view with rocksCarissa at a desk with computer
River landscapeCarissa and friends at NorCal CoastCarissa in a gardenCarissa in a garden
Carissa at a desk with computerCarissa's shadow on Hawaii coastCNC in actionCNC in action
Polaroids of Halloween CostumesCarissa and friends on beach in NorCalDog Frank with a vest on a gravel roadRiver landscape
Past
partners

Some of the companies I've worked with:

My
Values
/01

Lead with grace

I believe (deeply) in leading with grace, the magical combination of confidence and humility. Be kind to yourself and those around you, the human experience is challenging enough--let's start with the question
"how we might be of service to those around us."

/02

Embody contagious enthusiasm

I *love*  learning about new or ambiguous new spaces, uncovering new findings, talking to new people, and connecting seemingly unrelated dots (artists, articles, podcasts, books, all of it!)

/03

Embrace experimentation

Riffing a bit on 'fail fast/early/often,' with a splash of 'progress over perfection,' I believe embracing experimentation and a sense of play with our work--while still being informed and crafting educated hypotheses--is one of the most exciting aspects of working in Experience Design. The best way to learn something is to f#*@& around and find out.

/04

Empower those around you

I am grateful to know and learn from some incredible humans. Creating environments where everyone can learn from each other and work together in harmony is a foundational goal wherever I am. It's not about one person having the best ideas, but rather creating an atmosphere of open collaboration where ideas can be shared and developed through symbiotic learning.

/05

Intentionally inclusive

My personal mantra is a saying from Paul Wellstone "We all do better when we all do better." I enjoy putting this into action, whether it's working with stakeholders, involving a diverse range of users in the design process, or creating inclusive teams and design practices. I firmly believe that inclusion helps us gain a deeper understanding and create more meaningful products, teams, companies, and societies.

/06

Practice with integrity

The field of ethics in technology is intricate and can often involve invasive and unintentionally exclusionary practices. As designers and creators, we bear the responsibility to approach each and every design decision, regardless of its size, with mindfulness, compassion, and a strong dedication to upholding ethical principles.