Jessica simply eats, breathes and sleeps design.
Strategizing and designing for various clients at ZURB—an interaction design consulting firm, I simply eat, breathe and sleep design. A few of my clients includes Samsung, SAP, JCPenney, and handful of growing startups and companies.
Aside from discovering various design solutions to create delightful and meaningful human-centered experiences, I enjoy learning just about anything, traveling the world, reading Fast Company, reflecting in nature and connecting with other passionate, curious-minded individuals. And as an ENFP, I love to inspire the world with a bit sparks, wisdom and personal thoughts.
Design Strategy
The brains of a product
It all starts with a lot of questions and conversations to understand the problem. Through researching and sketching (tons of them), we get an understanding of the user and the business, along with their goals, needs, and challenges.
User Experience Design
The soul & personality
With an understanding of the user and business, user personas are created to guide us with workflow, which are then translated into lo-fi sketches and intricate wireframes. And to validate interactions and workflows, user testing are performed.
User Interface Design
The face & beauty
After the ux process, this is where we get to explore the face of the product. This is where the creative direction is honed in from moodboard creations, and wireframes are then translated into polished design layouts, which best reflects the product.
Product Designer
ZURB
2013 - Present
Design Lead
Balsam Brands
2012-2013
Designer
Balsam Brands
2009-2012
Front-End Development
General Assembly, San Francisco
Summer 2013
User Experience Design
General Assembly, San Francisco
Fall 2012
Graphic Design, MFA
Academy of Art University, San Francisco
2010 - 2011 • Partial
Design Studies, BA
San Jose State University, San Jose
2005-2009
Preparing For a User Test
ZURB University, Silicon Valley
October 2013
Interface Design Sketching
ZURB University - Silicon Valley
December 2013 - Present
Ideation & Problem Solving Workshop
Inspire 9 - Melbourne, Australia
May 2014
What is Product Design?
99 Designs - Melbourne, Australia
May 2014
Photoshop Basics For UI Design
ZURB University - Silicon Valley
June 2014 - Present
The Hi-Fi Prototype
ZURB University - Silicon Valley
June 2014 - Present
I'm somewhat ambidextrous
Though a natural lefty, I browse the web and design on my computer with my right-hand. It’s pretty convenient to be able to sketch and take notes while browsing the web.
Every now and then, my southern accent comes out
Though born in San Francisco, I spent most of my childhood in a little small town called Gilbert, South Carolina. Every now and then, a southern accent comes out and sits on top of my asian accent (Vietnamese is my first language).
I've designed top-selling products for Balsam Hill & Treetopia
No, these were not digital solutions. I had the opportunity to design physical luxury home decor products. Among many, a few of my favorites are the Mountain Meadow, Heritage Spice and the California Baby Redwood™ Rustic Collections.
Once a fashionista, I was featured in Metro Silicon Valley & SanJose.com
Once upon a long time, I was a fashionista and was featured on Metro Silicon Valley, SanJose.com, and Helium Magazine for my fashion blog called MyBFCloset, which inspired and empowered young women be creative and confident in their boyfriend's clothing. The blog no longer exist today, but checkout remnants of it.
I once slaved on a car assembly line, building hundreds of Toyota Camrys & Pontiac Vibes
Encouraged by my father, for two summers I worked at NUMMI, a car factory (now the Tesla factory). Besides learning the nuts & bolts of a car, here's where I learned quite a bit about consistency, quality and empathy. And most importantly, my father wanted to teach me the importance of higher education.
"She not only can deliver incredibly strong & beautiful designs, she also exhibits some more-rare qualities that make working with her a joy."
—Carl Winter, UX Manager at Balsam BrandsJust shoot an Email
jessicakynaphan@gmail.comPick up the phone
(408) 693 - 1081
Colossians 3:23