Smiling woman with long curly hair wearing a beige tank top and a necklace with a small pendant.

Designing systems that reduce cognitive load in high-stress, emotionally strained, and attention-fragmented states moments.

Focused on state-aware digital systems that support clarity, regulation, and decision-making under cognitive strain.

Explore Work

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Design Framework

Most systems assume users are clear, focused, and ready to act.
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In reality, people often interact while overwhelmed, distracted, uncertain, or cognitively overloaded.

I design systems that restore clarity before expecting action.

01. Stabilize

Reduce overload before interaction begins.

02. Orient

Create clarity through structure and sequencing.

03. Enable

Support confident action once cognitive load is reduced.

Areas of Exploration

High-Stress Systems

Designing intake and decision-support systems for cognitively demanding environments.

Focus:
- cognitive load reduction
- structured entry flows
- clarity under stress

Behavioral Systems

Reframing engagement loops from external pressure toward identity and capability formation.

‍Focus:
- motivation systems
- behavioral reinforcement
- applied learning interactions

State-Aware Systems

Designing interfaces that respond to attention, overwhelm, and emotional variability.

‍Focus:
- adaptive interaction pacing
- attention restoration
- cognitive stabilization

Selected Work

Designing for Emotional Overload

Designed for moments when users cannot self-regulate effectively

Four mobile screens showing a mental health app providing real-time micro-interventions with options to check in feelings, a breathing timer, a small outdoor step suggestion, and progress from overwhelmed to slightly calmer.

Emotional Design

Behavior Change

Micro-Interactions

Clarity-First Government Intake System

Designed for users making critical decisions under cognitive strain

Three mobile screens showing an application process: instructions with steps and tips, a confirmation prompt with thumbs up and pause icons, and an application summary with sections to start.

Civic Tech

Accessibility

Information Architecture

Identity-Driven Learning System

Designed to replace extrinsic reward loops with intrinsic identity formation

Four smartphone screens from a language learning app showing achievement of Unit 1, progression to ordering food and drink practice, a Spanish dialogue ordering steak and juice, and a character celebrating being restaurant ready.

Habit Formation

Behavioral Design

Gamification