My Story
Design found me, and I’m grateful to have made it my career. Born and raised in Bucharest, Romania, I always knew I wanted to be an artist. But I also knew that to pursue a creative career, I had to leave. After high school, I moved to Toronto without my family, learned English through work and school, and earned a Bachelor’s in Design from OCAD, majoring in Illustration.
Freelancing in illustration was fulfilling but felt limiting—I wanted to solve bigger problems. After years of freelancing and living abroad to an island, I returned to Toronto in 2014 and split my creative path into two: design and art. Since then, I’ve worked across the entire design spectrum, from print and packaging to web design, while building a fine art practice.
Designing my first e-commerce website made me question how decisions were being made—marketing and branding were the focus, but what about the users? That curiosity led me to UX, where I found a way to merge creativity with problem-solving. After working as a product designer, curious to deepen my expertise, I earned a UX diploma from BrainStation.
As a UX designer, I've learned to prioritize strategic decisions that align user needs with business goals. I thrive in complex environments, working with cross-functional teams to build alignment, improve collaboration, and guide product decisions through design thinking.
My Design Philosophy
To me, art and design aren’t separate—they're two expressions of the same creative impulse. Both are guided by social impact, ethics, and the pursuit of beauty and order. Whether shaping a digital experience, refining a service, or crafting a visual system, I approach design holistically, balancing creativity with strategy. My work is driven by curiosity, problem-solving, and a deep understanding of people.
I’m naturally curious, empathetic, and passionate about what I do. As a people person, I find this career incredibly rewarding—not just for solving design problems, but for making a meaningful impact. Whether it’s mentoring a new designer, challenging stakeholders, guiding senior leaders to view things from a different perspective, or advocating for the product vision and its users, I embrace every opportunity to contribute. The impact may be subtle or obvious, but it always matters.
Most recently, I’ve been building ClaraAi, a concept-stage platform that helps artists connect with galleries more easily using AI-supported tools. It’s an ongoing exploration of how design can reduce friction, empower creatives, and improve access — and a way for me to apply product thinking, UX strategy, and research in a space I care deeply about.
My Values
Empathy
I listen deeply and cultivate emotional connections. I challenge my ego and create a safe space for genuine feedback and open dialogue.
Transparency
I believe in clear and open communication at every stage of the process to avoid confusion. When challenges arise, I strive to articulate them openly and address them directly.
Collaboration
I embrace our differences, valuing diverse viewpoints and skills. I don’t believe in competition; I believe that collective progress is where true growth and success happen.
Trust
I build relationships based on trust, not micromanagement. I perform at my best when empowered to take risks, innovate, and collaborate with others.
Why work with me?
With 15+ years in design and art, I’ve worked across industries, teams, and cultures, collaborating with both small, intimate groups and large enterprises. Moving across continents taught me resilience and adaptability, often stepping up to lead when needed. I focus on what works, always aligning my efforts with the people and goals behind them.
I’m especially drawn to product teams with strong design culture, UX maturity, and complex challenges to untangle.
