00 — Hello
Not a portfolio.
This isn’t a tour of my product or UI work. It’s five minutes on the chapters that shaped me — where I come from, what I’ve made when nobody asked me to, the leaps I’ve taken, and the people at the center of it all. If you know me from design, this is the rest of the picture.
01 — Roots
Creativity started with not having much.
My mom was a single mother and an immigrant from Vietnam with no college education. We didn’t have much growing up, so she taught me how to make the most with what we had — and how to be creative.
02 — Fashion dreams
I chased fashion — then shut it down.
Growing up, one of my dreams was to become a fashion designer. In college, a best friend and I started MyBFCloset — DIY-ing men’s clothes into something ours. Local publications picked it up. I shut it down after a bad breakup with the boyfriend who inspired it.
03 — Assembly line
The assembly line taught me to finish.
In college I worked at a car assembly plant. My stepfather wanted me to learn the importance of school. What I really learned was how to seal a car, install an ECU, bolt seatbelts — and stay resilient enough to take things to the finish line.
04 — First job
My first job: design trees in China.
My first job out of college was at an artificial Christmas tree company. I wore so many hats — favorite among them: going to China to design physical products. These are some of the wreaths and garlands I designed.
05 — Side hustle
Stickers for coffee money.
Early in my career I had such an addiction to coffee that I needed passive income. I designed stickers, sold them on Etsy, and felt a little less guilty about every latte. I’ve made more animals over the years — and now I give them away to friends. Come ask me for one.
06 — Burnout reset
Burnout sent me back to making.
After Balsam Hill I worked at a design agency. When I burned out, I left and took time off to draw — and to code.
07 — The leap
I took the leap with nothing next.
I left ZURB with nothing lined up. Formatted my laptop, packed my pens, and walked out. Reflecting and writing about that season opened a lot of new opportunities.
08 — Writing
I wrote about feng shui for Fast Company.
That chapter led to writing for Fast Company — including how feng shui principles could help build better products. If it isn’t obvious: I’m genuinely intrigued by feng shui.
09 — Travel
Travel keeps me amazed on purpose.
The world keeps amazing me — people, culture, landmarks, history. I travel to understand and experience it, and to encourage others to go explore too.
10 — Hathorway
My ring made it to Netflix — and SFMOMA.
I design jewelry on the side. Fun fact: one of my rings was featured on the leading lady in Netflix’s Clickbait. Some pieces were also displayed and sold at SFMOMA after I persistently emailed the buyer.
11 — OpenSea
One Saturday hack pulled me into crypto.
Somewhere between starting my jewelry brand, a friend called: we’re doing a hack with the CEO and Co-founder of Figma, OpenSea, and OpenRouter. That was the day I got into crypto, and converted to Figma.
12 — Ritual Meals
I built the postpartum support I couldn’t find.
While freelancing with OpenSea — and after being pregnant with my first — I saw how little support existed around postpartum nutrition. I co-founded Ritual Meals: brand, marketing, content, code. I stepped down when I was pregnant with my second and needed something less hectic and more stable.
13 — Theo & Bonnie
The best things I’ve made.
Of everything I’ve created, these two are probably the best: Theo and Bonnie. Besides feng shui, I’m fascinated with astrology — I even timed their years for family harmony. A few weeks off on birth month. Still perfect to me.
14 — Home
We’re building our house by hand.
The latest project: this house we’re working on — wiring, framing, and all.
15 — Partner
He makes room for every curiosity.
Last but not least: my husband. We met at a friend’s wedding — he was a groomsman, I was a bridesmaid. While we were paired together, he actually had a crush on the other bridesmaid. Fast forward: we’re together. He’s given me the space and encouragement to explore every curiosity that sparks.
16 — In short
What it adds up to.
I design, build, and start things when a gap or a spark shows up — then finish them with the same grit I learned on an assembly line. Along the way I’ve leapt when I needed to, written when I had something to say, and wandered far enough to stay amazed. At the center of it all: family, and a partner who makes room for every curiosity.
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