Exploration in Design

Throughout my coursework and personal projects, I have collected a wide range of iterations and final deliverables that, while not compiled into a single case study, meaningfully contribute to my growth as a designer. Each piece reflects an evolution in my skills and understanding, capturing the creative processes and insights I’ve gained along the way. Although these projects stand alone, together they demonstrate my ongoing exploration of different areas of design, layout, and emerging technical skills

Progress Tracker

This project explores how neumorphism can be applied within a digital interface to create a soft, modern, and visually appealing user experience. I experimented with light, shadow, and depth to achieve the unique effect, focusing on how these stylistic choices impact clarity, hierarchy, and usability. The goal was to strike a balance between a sleek, tactile aesthetic and practical interface design; ensuring that the layout remains intuitive, organized, and supportive of efficient user interaction.

Interior Design

Worked collaboratively with a team of five to redesign a guestroom for Cornell University’s Statler Hotel, applying UX strategy and service design thinking to a real-world hospitality challenge. Our task was to elevate the guest experience so it matched the sophistication of upscale Manhattan hotels while still feeling distinctly Cornell.

We designed for three key user personas—visiting parents and friends, first-time speakers or interviewees, and alumni returning to campus—and explored how each persona’s emotional journey could shape the room’s sensory, functional, and narrative touchpoints.

Our concept, “Approachable Luxury,” blended the refined character of NYC 5-star hotels with the warmth and authenticity of Upstate New York. We emphasized brighter, welcoming lighting; a cleaner visual language; and a more open spatial layout to support comfort, discovery, and connection.

Beyond the physical environment, we mapped service touchpoints across the entire two-night stay, ensuring consistency between spatial elements, guest interactions, and brand storytelling. Our final design demonstrated how this guest-room experience could extend throughout the hotel to reinforce a cohesive and emotionally memorable brand identity.

Product Design

Worked with a team to design a cohesive line of three Cornell Store gift products tailored to distinct customer personas: new students, visiting parents and families, and trustees/senior alumni. Using design thinking and UX research methods, we created empathy maps, personas, and journey maps to identify each group’s needs, motivations, and pain points.

Our final collection, Gorges Gifts, transformed Cornell identity into meaningful, story-driven gift boxes:

Gorges Student’s Box:
A compact bamboo picnic kit designed to spark early friendships, exploration, and memorable first-year experiences.
Gorges Parents’ Box:
A wine-and-warmth themed box centered on connection, celebration, and helping parents feel rooted in their student’s Cornell journey.
Gorges Trustee’s Box:
A golf-themed, heirloom-quality office set symbolizing mentorship, philanthropy, and Cornell legacy.

We also designed a McGraw Tower Lamp concept as a bonus item, bridging generations of Cornellians through a symbolic, timeless keepsake.

The project culminated in a 24×36 professional poster and stakeholder presentation highlighting our research insights, product rationale, and journey-aligned touchpoints. Together, these products demonstrate how user-centered design and Cornell storytelling can elevate typical retail merchandise into emotionally resonant, memorable gifts.

Visual Branding

Worked with a team to develop a unified visual identity and suite of promotional materials for Cornell’s Making a Difference by Design course. We began by crafting a geometric, interlocking logo that symbolizes the interdisciplinary backgrounds of students in the class. Its form and color palette were intentionally tied to the College of Human Ecology to reinforce the course’s roots in collaborative, impact-driven design.

We produced both digital and print deliverables, each tailored to a specific communication goal:

Digital Flyer: Created for online promotion, featuring a bold red–purple gradient and curved line motifs inspired by Human Ecology’s visual language. This version focuses on eye-catching branding, clear messaging, and strong visual hierarchy to attract prospective students.
Informational Poster: Designed for physical spaces around campus, offering a more detailed overview of the course, student takeaways, and its emphasis on design for social good. Its clean layout supports easy readability for passersby.

Together, these materials form a cohesive brand system that highlights collaboration, creativity, and positive change—core values of the DEA1110 course and the Human Ecology community.