Hey there! My name's Carter and I'm a designer and builder based in Los Angeles. I'm currently a Senior at USC studying Computational Linguistics, Business, and Design. My approach to design is holistic and values storytelling and community.
Who am I?
Growing up, I simply just tried new things. Whether it was freelance photography, random design gigs, a new language, or bits of programming, I was constantly chasing that feeling of taking something abstract in my head and turning it into something people could actually see or use.
When I got to USC, I had my sights set on becoming a full on software engineer. But somewhere around my sophomore year, I realized that as much as I loved the technical side, I craved more creative ownership. I didn’t just want to build systems; I wanted to shape how they looked, how they felt, and how people experienced them, so I began my journey in Product Design.
My passion for design was truly cemented when I joined LavaLab, USC’s premiere startup incubator, and co‑founded Catalyst, a lab inventory management system. As the sole product designer, I had six weeks to turn scribbles and conversations with researchers into an MVP that could actually be used in real labs, and seeing it launch in pilot programs at USC research labs was one of those moments where design no longer felt like just pixels on a screen but something that generates real impact.
My design work has always been tied to community, especially in Asian American spaces. Through the Asian Pacific American Student Assembly and partnerships with organizations in Little Tokyo like the Japanese American National Museum and Little Tokyo Service Center, I’ve used design, photography, and visual storytelling to support events, health fairs, and grant work that directly serve the people I grew up around.
If there’s a thread through all of this, it’s that my core values are creation and community. Over the years, I’ve built a toolbox that lets me quickly turn ideas into products, interfaces, visuals, and experiences, but the part that matters most to me is who those things are for and how much impact they can have on the communities I care about.
My Approach
(a)
Cross-functionality
I have experience in design, development, and product, and understand how they work together to create strong products. This allows me to collaborate closely and understand deeply with PMs, developers, and designers.
(b)
Innovation
I constantly look for ways to integrate new technologies, approaches, and styles into my work. Whether it means experimenting with new AI tools, rethinking hierarchies, or trying entirely new mediums, I try to bring the future into the present.
(b)
Curiosity
Ask questions– always. I treat every project as a chance to explore something new. I believe lessons are gained from both successes and failures.
Experience
My skillset spans across design, development, and product management. I am fluent in multiple softwares and am able to smoothly design, build, and ship.
