About
I'm a critical creator who cultivates potential in products and people. When I'm not bringing the ideas of tech startups to life, I'm dedicated to nurturing emerging creatives and technologists.
Work Experience
Firesite Studio is a website design & development studio specializing in no-code. We work with tech startups, VC funds, and other innovators to ignite their presence online. Our bespoke websites are where ideas not only live but also thrive.
Select clients: BOOQED, Gentree Fund, Metaportal, Nick Ducoff
I was mainly responsible for UX research, conducting and analyzing around 50+ user interviews to produce report of feedback and suggested features. I also oversaw the product's ambassador program by sourcing and interviewing potential applicants, along with creating graphics and captions for the ambassador package. I also supported other graphic and product design work through making promotional materials, wireframes, etc.
A Learning DAO building the Liberal Arts for Crypto.
I designed materials for our Semester II, where we provided exclusive + intellectually rich workshops, electives, and discussions for our students (e.g. course posters, NFT collectibles). I'm also currently designing the Lexicon, an open-source public good that aims to curate all the best information in the Web3 space.
Researching on interorganizational networks, advised by Sir. Eos Trinidad
Surge is a female-led community focused on educating and securing women’s place in Web3. I created Surge's brand identity and also helped design its NFT collection's website.
Spearheaded Webflow development and facilitated IA workshop for the UX+ Resource. Oversaw student initiatives: customizable name cards and educational career content. Created flows and templates for 100+ partnership emails.
Generalist at a venture builder. Led end-to-end design for insurtech startup. Oversaw user research and co-developed site for e-commerce startup.
Redesigned and developed website of premiere career blog for Filipino Gen Z. Realigned with updated brand and improved usability & accessibility.
Volunteering
Reboot is a publication and community reclaiming techno-optimism for a better collective future.
I joined the community as a Student Fellow in 2021, where I was able to spend weeks reading and writing about tech x labor. Since then, I've contributed various critical essays on education, tech, and power.
Developh is a community for intersectional technologists creating better futures for the Philippines. For the past few years, I've worked as a generalist: I've led user research on community, and taught design, ethics, & career development through creating learning experiences for members (i.e. facilitation, workshops, mentorship). TL;DR just helping this tender community thrive.
Spearheading design education for student-led design organization and consultancy. Designed and held workshops to over 100+ attendees. Oversaw curriculum of case competition for 50+ participants.
Education
with tracks in Information Design and Computer Science: Programming + minor in Education
Cum Laude
A community of mission-driven technologists. 5% annual acceptance rate.
A peer-to-peer learning community for exploring + creating in Web3.
Speaking
I was invited to be one of the youth leaders reacting to the agenda's launch, representing my community Developh.
Awards
1 of 10 in Adobe's inaugural scholarship for undergraduates in design, chosen from 1000+ worldwide.
Speculative designathon. Bested 30+ worldwide.
UX case competition. Bested 30+ schoolwide.
Writing
Envisioning a radical new future for education and the internet where student agency takes charge
A deep dive into edtech programs like MOOCs and bootcamps, and how their empowerment of students can often be masqueraded exploitation
How creative industries exploit maintenance work in the Global South
Side Projects
As my attempt to dive into the world of academic HCI, I'm currently working on a research paper that aims to investigate how generative AI can best support the design futuring process.
I presented the draft of my work-in-progress paper at the first CHI MNL Transforming HCI Research in the Philippines Workshop (CHIRP 2024) on May 9, 2024.
E-MAHINASYON is a virtual exhibition website that explores various technological futures conceived by Filipinos. It aims to spark discussion about the social, cultural, and ethical implications of emerging technologies in the Philippines through design and storytelling.
E-MAHINASYON was my undergraduate thesis project. I was solely responsible for qualitative research, website design, and no-code development.
Features
The Circum Podcast aims to cover the people & projects using the tools of web3 to make the world a better place.
Episode 01 is all about The Philippines. Podcast host Guy talks to Rachel Chak & Bianca Mikaila about their projects and interests, participating in web3 from a Filipino perspective, the Filipino presidential election, extreme weather in the Western Pacific, etc.
The empowering stories of Nikki Datlangin, Bianca Aguilar, Dona Marabe, and Tricia Cabais prove that you can do anything as long as you set your mind to it.