Hi, I’m Amy!
Who I Am as a Strategic Designer
My work centers on belonging—not as an abstract ideal, but as a practical, strategic design principle. Drawing on 12 years as an educator and a lifelong commitment to human dignity, I help organizations build environments where people feel understood, capable, and connected.
I specialize in translating complex human needs—especially those shaped by trauma, exclusion, or systemic inequity—into clear, effective systems that strengthen culture and drive sustainable organizational growth.
I don’t design learning for the sake of learning.
I design the conditions where people can thrive.
How I Approach Design and Organizational Work
My work starts with understanding the real human needs inside a system—especially the ones people rarely name out loud. I look for the subtle signals, emotional patterns, and invisible barriers that shape how people experience their work. From there, I translate those insights into clear, inclusive structures that help teams feel capable, grounded, and connected.
Core Design Principles
These are the non-negotiable foundations of my work:
I design for dignity first. I integrate trauma-informed practice and psychological safety into every layer of the system. Clarity, agency, and stability aren’t add-ons—they are the conditions that allow people to contribute fully.
I am a perception-shifter. I help people notice the human needs, contexts, and invisible pressures that often go unseen. Through storytelling, reframing, and perspective-shifting, I reveal the conditions that shape behavior so teams can understand—not assume. When organizations learn to see the deeper story, collaboration strengthens, conflict decreases, and people feel genuinely understood. This work helps people see what they’ve never been taught to notice—so they can finally design for the full human experience.
I translate complexity into action. Whether I’m building learning journeys or organizational processes, I turn complex human challenges into clear, actionable structures that make belonging something people can practice—not something left to chance.
Design Signatures
Each signature demonstrates how these principles come to life in my design practice:
Human Needs Spotter
Looks past surface-level problems to identify real human needs—emotional, social, and cognitive. Uses empathy, observation, and listening to design learning that feels supportive, inclusive, and grounded in real experiences around the world.
Equity Planner
Designs experiences with equity at the center—removing barriers, increasing access, and adapting structures so learners with diverse backgrounds, abilities, and lived experiences can fully engage. Anticipates friction and plans proactively for fairness and representation.
Empowerment Architect
Builds pathways that help learners feel capable, informed, and prepared. Combines clear structure, supportive scaffolds, and real-world application so people can make decisions, solve problems, and navigate complexity—whether they’re frontline workers, youth, or global teams.
Culture Strategist
Uses learning as a lever to shift organizational patterns, reinforce core values, and build trust. I focus on the systemic connection between individual growth and organizational culture, helping teams collaborate, communicate, and evolve together across various contexts—from local nonprofits to global workplaces.
What We Can Achieve Together
I approach every project as a partnership rooted in connection, clarity, and shared purpose. My work helps organizations create environments where people can do their best work—because they feel safe enough, supported enough, and valued enough to show up fully.
Together, we can build systems that:
Strengthen culture by embedding inclusion into everyday norms
Boost retention and engagement by ensuring employees feel seen and valued
Reduce friction and conflict through trauma-informed communication structures
Support managers with practical tools that promote dignity, clarity, and fairness
Transform learning into a lever for organizational belonging and performance
My goal is simple: create the conditions where people can succeed—and where leaders can confidently support them.
Who I Am Behind the Screen
Curiosity is the deep thread running through everything I do. I’m drawn to the patterns beneath the surface—the emotional cues, the untold stories, and the unexpected details that reveal what people need to feel grounded and connected. Outside of design, I write, learn, and create alongside my kids. I pay close attention to the small moments that make us feel human: a shared laugh, a piece of music, or a question that opens a new door. Those moments of attentiveness strengthen the way I design for dignity, clarity, and belonging, and I bring that same sense of wonder into every partnership and every project.