I designed and coded an AI-powered task widget that feels like paper for students who'd given up on apps.






UX/UI Designer
You trust the products you use without ever noticing why. That’s the part I work on.





Maryam is one of the most thoughtful and curious students I’ve worked with.
She always brings positive energy and a fresh perspective to the team.
Working with Maryam was always easy. She listens well and brings great ideas to the table.
She’s a natural leader who somehow keeps every project on track without ever losing that collaborative, everyone’s-in-this-together spirit.
She’s reliable, respectful, and really easy to work with. She communicates well and gets along great with both faculty and her peers.
People say those things because of how I work
© 2026 Maryam — designed & coded with love.
I believe good design is more than looking beautiful. It’s about understanding what people need, what makes them feel good, and why they keep coming back to an experience.
I started with objects.
Industrial Design backgroundCreating products that solve real needs
Then I became curious about people.
UX Design, MFA @ SCADUnderstanding users before designing solutions
Now I design experiences.
ResearchInteraction DesignHuman-centered thinking
Still learning.
Always curious Always building
When I was about three years old, I lost my father. As the youngest daughter in my family, I grew up wanting to be helpful rather than create more problems for my mother. I learned to notice what was difficult and ask myself what I could do about it.
I remember my mother needed a sewing table. Her back hurt, and sitting on the floor made sewing difficult. But there wasn’t a table that really worked for her.
So, when I was eighteen, I designed one.
With my uncle’s help, I turned my idea into a real table, one that could fold away, take up less space, and make sewing more comfortable for her.
She was happy. She was proud of me. That was one of the first times I understood what designing something for someone could really mean.
That small sewing table eventually led me to Industrial Design. I wanted to create things that responded to real needs. After graduating, I spent several years working in the design industry, where I learned that design was more than creating 3D models. I was always drawn to new challenges, unfamiliar problems, and finding better ways to solve them.
I discovered The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman , and it changed the way I looked at design. It introduced me to UX and helped me understand the importance of knowing people before designing solutions for them.
I continued learning through Google’s UX Design Certificate , and gained experience in this field. Eventually, I wanted to study UX more deeply and professionally, which led me to pursue my MFA in User Experience Design at SCAD.
Asking questions. Listening. Finding the details that are easy to miss. Then turning those insights into experiences that feel clearer and easier.
Today I’m pursuing my MFA in User Experience Design at SCAD, where I’ve worked on projects with Microsoft, NASCAR, Savannah on Wheels and Vinnie Van Go-Go.








My work with Microsoft also made me think more deeply about the gap AI can create between people and technology, and how designers can help make these experiences more understandable and human.
I believe the world is already complicated enough. As technology and AI become part of more of our everyday lives, I want to be the kind of designer who helps make that complexity feel simpler.
Someone who looks beyond the surface, asks deeper questions, notices the tiny details, and turns complicated problems into meaningful experiences.
My work has also been recognized through design awards, including the Rookie Awards and other honors that continue to push me forward.



Outside of design, you’ll usually find me somewhere in nature. I love hiking and being in the mountains. Reaching a summit after struggling your way up never gets old. Every climb teaches me something new, patience, persistence, and the value of continuing when the path gets difficult.



Maybe that’s why I enjoy design so much, too.


When sticky notes work better than apps
70% of students still scribble on sticky notes because every task app is either too complex or missing what they need. Noty closes that gap, speak a task or snap a photo of a note and it's captured instantly.
My Role UX Research & DevelopmentConducted interviews, surveys, and user testing; used Miro for brainstorming and designed and built Noty’s widget with Electron and Claude Code. Used daily by 40+ students.



Turning a local landmark into a clear digital story
Vinnie VanGoGo's was a local landmark, but its digital presence didn't reflect it. The redesign introduced clearer navigation, authentic storytelling, and a welcoming hero section that communicates the restaurant's identity.
My Role Team Lead & UX ResearchLed 30 interviews and card sorting, then shaped the sitemap, UX writing, content strategy, and SEO around tourists’ search behavior.



Reducing hesitation in asking for help
Linko addresses why students hesitate to seek academic help, even when support is available. Through research and testing, it was shaped to make peer support clearer, safer, and more approachable.
My Role Team Lead & UX DesignLed affinity mapping, interaction design, and branding, using Figma to organize research and develop design solutions. Managed team tasks and project progress in Jira, keeping the team aligned and on track.

Turning Foot Pressure into Action
Improper foot placement can go unnoticed until it leads to pain or injury. SYNC uses pressure sensors to track how weight is distributed across the foot during walking and running, then turns that data into clear visual insights and personalized recommendations.
My Role Interactive Design & DevelopmentDesigned the 3D model and visualization, prototyped the pressure-sensing system with Arduino, and developed interactive visualizations in Processing. Tested the prototype with 20 runners and presented the concept to stakeholders.
Case study coming soon
Making secondhand shopping easier
Finding the right secondhand item can be challenging when filters are difficult to navigate and important product information is unclear. Our project explored how a more structured filtering experience could help shoppers find suitable items faster and make more confident decisions.
My Role UX Research & Usability TestingConducted moderated and unmoderated usability testing with 12 participants using Maze, identifying key usability issues and translating user feedback into design recommendations.
Case study coming soon
Making bike repair more connected
Managing bike repairs can be challenging when information is scattered across paper receipts, whiteboards, and spreadsheets. Our project explored how a centralized service system could improve communication between staff, reduce missed information, and create a smoother repair experience for customers.
My Role UX Research & Service DesignConducted interviews with 4 staff members and 10 customers, analyzed current service processes, and used mind maps and user journey maps to identify communication gaps and translate insights into service improvements and digital touchpoints.
Case study coming soon
Eco-friendly Google Nest
Reimagines the shared office thermostat, where comfort and energy efficiency often conflict. Traditional thermostats are rigid and impersonal. This redesign replaces forced control with personalization, smart automation, and playful energy-saving interactions for a more comfortable, sustainable office.
My Role Systems & Interaction DesignDesigned the system architecture and interaction model behind ThermoPal's personalization and automation features.
Case study coming soon
Making environmental AI accessible through design
Presented at ICCV, this research combines AI and vision-language models to forecast air pollution from sky images. I collaborated with ML engineers to design an app that makes these predictions clear and accessible to everyday users.
My Role UX DesignCollaborated with ML engineers to design an app translating AI-driven air quality forecasts into accessible insights.
View paper
Embedding ethics into fast-moving AI design
AI is evolving faster than design processes can keep pace, leaving teams without the tools to build human-centered experiences. In partnership with Microsoft BIC, this led to Mictreesoft, a lightweight toolkit that embeds ethical, human-centered principles into real-world AI design.
My Role Design Strategy & Research LeadReviewed 30+ research papers and conducted interviews with 2 Microsoft managers to uncover gaps in AI design collaboration. Used affinity mapping and brainstorming to synthesize insights and developed 6 ethical design principles for engineers. Created a game-based activity to help teams apply these principles and presented research findings to stakeholders.
Under NDA — case study not shareableShaping immersive race viewing through research
This project reimagines the future of race viewing through a portable XR/AR experience. By combining motion platforms, LED-wall environments, and a personalized companion app, the concept creates a more immersive way for fans to experience the energy of live racing.
My Role UX Research & App DesignLed research, brainstorming, and ideation to shape the concept. Designed a companion app that captures fan preferences before races and creates personalized XR/VR engagement experiences during events.
Under NDA — case study not shareableNothing in this category yet.

An all-in-one workspace for home-based tailors
Home-based tailors often struggle with disorganized, inaccessible workspaces. ErgoSew addresses this with an ergonomic, space-saving sewing table that integrates sewing, ironing, and cutting into a single, efficient unit — streamlining the workflow and keeping tools within easy reach. The design was successfully brought to mass production.
My Role Industrial Design (Independent Project)Conducted research with 50 home-based female sewers and reviewed 10 ergonomics studies to inform the design. Created the 3D model in Rhino, developed a 1:1 functional prototype of a multi-functional ergonomic sewing table, and presented the concept to 20 manufacturers for mass production.

From concept to mass production
I led a design team at Azar Bita Tabriz Factory through a six-month development process, balancing functionality with aesthetics. The project successfully transitioned from concept to mass production, resulting in a product launched and made available for customer purchase.
My Role Design LeadConducted research and product development, creating 15 prototypes and 20 design iterations to refine the concept. Developed 3D models in Rhino and later led the design team during manufacturing, adapting the product to production constraints and supporting scalable production.
Task-management desktop widget & app



70% of students still scribble on sticky notes, not from habit, but because every app they've tried is either too complex or missing what they actually need. Managing tasks across classes, projects and deadlines feels overwhelming, and no app has ever given them that satisfying snap of crossing something off.
Noty was built around that gap. Speak a task or snap a photo of a handwritten note and it's captured instantly. Projects break into subtasks automatically, and completing one feels just like paper, but smarter. Built from real student research, designed around how students actually work.
As UX Lead and Developer, I took Noty from research to reality. Through interviews, surveys, and user testing, I identified that students needed their tasks to stay visible and accessible without getting buried under open tabs. I designed the desktop widget in Figma and built it in Electron with Claude, adding AI-assisted task breakdown and voice/photo capture. The result: 40+ students use Noty daily.
Problem statement
Students juggle tasks across too many tools and lose any clear overview, because each one takes too much effort to manage.
Main insight
"Look at my calendar, it's so overwhelming."Interview participant
"Crossing off a task on paper gives me a strong sense of completion, digital can't replicate that feeling."Interview participant
70% of students still haven't found a task-management tool that works for them.Survey
"There are too many apps, either it does too much or not enough, so I just give up."Interview participant
"It's always there. I don't need to open any app to know what to do."Interview participant
Ideation
We sketched multiple directions for how Noty could work, then voted to find the strongest ideas before moving into design.
We mapped the core flows before visual design, how a task gets added, how the widget sits on screen, and how completing one should feel. Simple, and focused on what students actually need.
Testing #1
Users were given specific tasks — adding a task, creating a project — while I observed without instruction. Afterwards, SUS and NPS surveys measured usability and satisfaction.
Iteration
After testing, we refined the wireframes to reduce confusion and improve flow, updating interactions, replacing icons, and simplifying layouts to make everything more intuitive.
Testing #2
After refining the prototype, I ran a second round of usability testing. Participants navigated the experience with ease, were excited about Noty, and several said they'd share it with friends.
"I could actually see myself using this every day, it's always there."
Following development, Noty was tested with 40 students in real academic conditions. They used it daily and every single one stayed.
Drawing from real student research, we designed Noty to be simple, immediate and satisfying, a tool that fits how students actually work, not how apps expect them to.
01
Before Noty, tasks were scattered across sticky notes, reminders, emails and mental lists. Important things slipped not because students didn't care, but because there was no effortless way to capture them in the moment. Noty gives every thought a place: spoken, photographed or typed, tasks are instantly captured, organised and ready to act on.
02
Large assignments feel overwhelming when students see the whole challenge at once. Noty turns intimidating projects into manageable steps, breaking them into actionable subtasks so students can focus on the next step and build momentum.
03
Digital task managers made checking a box possible, but rarely made progress feel meaningful. Noty brings back the emotional reward of completion, a task crossed off, a small moment of celebration, the feeling of moving forward. For students managing endless deadlines, these small wins create the motivation to keep going.
04
Many students start the day unsure where to begin. Noty creates a clear starting point, bringing deadlines, projects and daily tasks into one focused view. They can quickly see what needs attention, what they've done, and what comes next, the confidence to move forward.
Simple enough to start.
Smart enough to never miss a deadline.
The oldest pizza restaurant in Savannah

Vinnie VanGoGo's was a local landmark, but its digital experience failed to reflect it. Poor information architecture, cluttered content, and limited context made it difficult for tourists to discover what made the restaurant unique.
The redesign prioritized what tourists needed most through a clearer information architecture, authentic storytelling, search-driven content, and a welcoming hero section that immediately communicated the restaurant’s identity.
I led UX research through interviews, insight synthesis, and card sorting to define the site’s information architecture. I also owned UX writing and content strategy, aligning the experience with tourists’ search behavior.

Problem statement
Tourists visiting Savannah seek authentic, historic dining experiences, but often struggle to find clear information about a restaurant’s story, atmosphere, and local identity.
+30Interviews
5Hours of Observation
“We looked at their website and thought they hadn’t updated it.”Tourist
“We didn’t know this restaurant had a website.”Local Resident
I don’t just want a good meal, I want to feel the story behind the place.
“We saw someone recommend this place on TikTok.”Tourist
“I saw this place has a high rating on Yelp through Apple Maps.”Tourist
We initially assumed locals were the primary website users. Research revealed that tourists relied on the website to decide whether Vinnie VanGoGo's was worth visiting. This shifted our focus from online ordering to creating a digital experience that helps visitors discover and connect with the restaurant.
Understand what the restaurant offers
Learn its story and historic identity
See the atmosphere and visual character
Find nearby landmarks and attractions
Plan the trip with location and details
We used card sorting with tourists to uncover how they think about and organize information. These insights revealed what mattered most and guided the foundation of the new website structure.
Tourists prioritized menu, location, story, and nearby attractions, shaping the new information architecture.
Based on these findings, we reorganized the sitemap around the tourist journey, creating clearer paths to discover the menu, understand the restaurant’s story, and plan a visit.
Before designing the interface, we explored multiple concepts through sketches and wireframes to organize content, simplify navigation, and create a clearer experience.
SEO and UX writing
I researched the phrases tourists searched most such as “best pizza in Savannah,” “historic Savannah restaurant,” and “things to do in Savannah.” Those keywords shaped the headings, navigation, and UX writing, while a friendly tone made the restaurant feel more welcoming.
Based on tourist feedback and visual preference research, We selected brick red, warm cream, and vintage-inspired tones to reflect Savannah’s historic character and create the feeling of the restaurant before the visit.
Testing #1
We tested the first prototype with 5 tourists across 3 key tasks to understand if the experience matched their needs. The results revealed areas where visitors struggled with navigation, finding key information, and planning their visit.
Iteration
User testing revealed where tourists needed more clarity when discovering the restaurant and planning their visit. We refined the design to make key information easier to understand and access.
Replaced the image to better capture the restaurant’s historic atmosphere and first impression.
Added “Explore Our Menu” and “Visit Us” to help tourists quickly access the information they need.
Changed “Connect With Us” to “Visit Us” to better reflect how visitors plan their trip.
Testing #2
A second round of testing confirmed that the redesign better supported tourists in discovering the restaurant, finding key information, and planning their visit.
of participants completed the tasks successfully
The redesign removed key barriers for first time visitors by improving discoverability, clarifying the restaurant’s identity, and making it easier for tourists to confidently choose Vinnie VanGoGo’s.
93% of users successfully completed key tasks during testing.
How A clearer information architecture helped users quickly find the menu, location, story, and essential details.
Visitors understood what makes Vinnie VanGoGo's unique.
How The hero section, historical imagery, and storytelling highlighted its heritage and Savannah character.
Tourists could discover more around the restaurant.
How The Explore Nearby feature connected Vinnie VanGoGo's with nearby historic landmarks.
The experience better matched how tourists search online.
How UX writing and SEO improvements aligned content with visitor search needs.
This project helped me understand the importance of structuring information and designing clear information architecture. I learned that even simple content becomes difficult to use when it is not organized around user needs, especially for first time visitors.
Peer-Powered Academic Help




A student gets stuck on an assignment and needs help, but doesn't know who to ask or where to start. Academic support is scattered across emails, group chats, and discussion boards, while many students hesitate to ask questions for fear of judgment. The result is delayed help, missed opportunities, and unnecessary stress.
A peer-powered platform where students can ask anonymously, connect with classmates, and find the support they need all in one place.
Being UX Lead meant more than designing screens. I made sure every team member had a voice, balanced tasks around each person's strengths, stepped in when deadlines slipped, and kept decisions grounded in research. Along the way, I led the affinity mapping, site map, interaction design, and branding while helping the team move forward together.

Problem statement
College students need a trusted way to ask for academic help because existing resources are fragmented, leaving them overwhelmed, unsure where to ask, and hesitant to reach out.
Asking for help feels like I’m bothering someone.
Student
of students said they preferred help from peers
I’d feel comfortable learning from a peer.
Student
Main research insight
Students were far more likely to ask classmates they knew or who had taken the same course. They wanted a centralized, judgment free space where asking for help felt safe, especially during stressful moments.
Students need a centralized, trustworthy platform for both academic support and emotional connection.
Personalized, visual and interactive learning keeps students engaged and motivated.
Quick, convenient tools like chat or video build confidence and reduce hesitation.
Peer-led, low-pressure environments make asking for help easier and more effective.
Mentorship and shared experiences help students feel empowered and less isolated.
Our research showed that students needed more than a place to ask questions. They wanted to discover, connect, and participate, so we built the experience around five core areas: Home, Events, Ask, Groups, and Profile.
Once we mapped the experience, we used Crazy 8s to explore eight directions for key interactions, including navigation. We then developed the strongest ideas through sketches, low-fidelity wireframes, and high-fidelity screens.
User testing · Round 1
We tested the first prototype with 18 students to understand what worked, what didn't, and where the experience needed to evolve.
System Usability Scale average out of 100 — solid, but short of the 85 we wanted.
Net Promoter Score — students saw the value but weren’t yet ready to recommend it.
Four recurring friction points surfaced across the sessions, each one actionable.
Round 1 · Kept
Round 1 · Fixed
Iteration
The first round of testing showed us where students hesitated, what felt unclear, and which interactions needed more focus. We turned those findings into targeted design changes across Linko.







User testing · Round 2
Across every task, 12 students found Linko clearer, faster, and more welcoming—the redesign turned first-round friction into a more confident, satisfying experience.
SUS score
NPS
The result
Linko brings peer support, communities, and campus opportunities together in one place, making it easier to ask, discover, and connect.
Post a study question to the right community and tags, keep it public or anonymous, attach photos or videos, and let AI tidy up your grammar and tone before it goes out.
Search or scroll the feed, read a quick AI summary before the full thread, then like, save and comment — or jump in with an answer of your own.
Join the groups that fit your major and interests — or ones AI suggests — and browse every question neatly sorted inside each community.
Discover events by major, software or group, see how far away each one is, and drop the ones you like straight into your calendar.
Skill points, badges, certificates and classes all live on one profile — and anonymous mode keeps it private whenever you'd rather not be seen.
Get a nudge when someone invites you to answer or connect, and keep the conversation going with one-on-one chat in your inbox.
The outcome
Two shifts came through in the second round of testing — one emotional, one practical.
Feeling alone Feeling connected
Linko gives students one trusted place to ask questions, discover opportunities, and build meaningful connections with their campus community.
Confusion Clarity
Events, communities, and campus resources became easier to find, helping students stay informed and engaged throughout campus life.