About Aspen Ma
Hello! I am a Product Designer focused on creating intuitive systems with strong visual appeal. I use Figma to deliver user-centered iterative UI improvements, collaborating closely with cross-functional teams such as developers and QA testers to ease user pain points. I also use the Adobe Creative Suite to create print and digital marketing collateral. I've worked on a variety of different products: mobile-first consumer social apps, B2B SaaS dashboards for desktop, and responsive websites that hold a variety of user-generated content.
I'm a highly motivated, fast learner, and I'm good at putting on different hats based on the needs of a project. My background in industrial design gives me experience solving complex problems at the intersection between human behavior, technology, and art. I'm always interested in learning about new things.
Design principles I follow
Make sure you are solving the right problem at the right time
Design for the user as they are, not how you wish for them to be
User flow diagrams are great for clarifying where the problem is happening
From art school to digital design
At MICA, I studied industrial design, focused on the looks, feel, and use of physical products. There, I gained my passion for accessibility and emerging technology. I’m a strong proponent of the curb cut effect, where making something more accessible for one group brings benefits to many other groups who have reason to need the same features.
After graduating, I found that I enjoyed designing for web products, especially ones that foster engagement between users. I decided to upgrade my dabbling, and took a bootcamp in UX design at General Assembly.
As it turned out, many key considerations I learned about from industrial design transferred over to UX design. I meet the user where they actually are, not how I imagine them to be. Then I solve for the underlying problems that they have, even if it involves breaking out of the box to create something new. There are many different ways for a human to interact with a device, so I try to accommodate for as many of them as possible.
Other hobbies
In my free time, I read, write, and play video games. I’m an avid knitter who likes using repetition of simple motions to create beautiful patterns.
Awards
Honorable mention
Interested in how I can use my design skills to help you? I'd love to chat!