👋 Hello, I'm Q!

I believe UX has made me a better mother, friend, and human.

So you want to know more? 

My real name is Raquel, but I go by Q.

After a successful career operating my photography business, I now focus my design efforts on creating inclusive products that honor users’ lived experiences.

My greatest passions are creativity, figuring out what makes people tick, and making order from chaos. I seek situations that help me learn and grow, where I can harness my creativity for good.

Path to UX

Pre-UX, my jobs were all iterations of making a small difference in people’s lives.

• As a photographer, I collaborated with stakeholders to create imagery that resonated with their story.
• When I bartended, I worked with guests to craft that “perfect” drink.
• In Japan I taught English, tailoring each lesson to individual students’ needs.

Why UX?

I love that, in UX, "failure" doesn't exist. "Failure" is information, and information is good. Design thinking has helped me see every day as an opportunity for iterating, and I like this as a framework for living a better life.

Education

In 2020, I graduated with a UX Certificate from the School of Visual Concepts. I also have a B.A. in English from the University of Washington, and a B.S. in Photography from Seattle Central Community College.