ABOUT ME
welcome
Hi, I’m Vanessa — a civic designer, UX strategist, and creative problem solver passionate about designing systems, services, and digital experiences that actually work for people.
My career has evolved from healthcare and occupational therapy into civic innovation, human-centered design, and digital strategy, where I now help local governments tackle complex community challenges through research, facilitation, storytelling, systems thinking, and co-creation. My work sits at the intersection of government innovation, equity, economic mobility, housing, environmental health, and community-centered design.
Outside of my civic design work, I also run a creative side business helping local governments, nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations create modern, aesthetically pleasing, and user-friendly websites that balance beauty with real business and community needs. Check out meduvo.co for more details.
I’m especially passionate about helping others transition into the design field from nontraditional backgrounds — particularly healthcare professionals — and often mentor aspiring designers navigating career pivots into UX, service design, and innovation work.
At the core of everything I do is a belief that thoughtful design can make systems feel more human, accessible, and hopeful.
