About Me

Hi! My name is Kyla. I'm a UX designer currently residing in a Chicago suburb.

Before I found my way to UX design, I was a college student chasing my BFA in illustration and graphic design. I’ve always loved visual storytelling, and my art degree gave me plenty of practice in giving and receiving critiques—a skill that proved invaluable later. But timing wasn’t on my side; graduating during the pandemic made it nearly impossible to land a job in my chosen field. So, like many others, I pivoted. I took a cashier job at Whole Foods Market, quickly working my way up to Customer Service Supervisor. Along the way, I gained hands-on experience in leadership, organization, and prioritizing tasks on the fly. It was a fast-paced crash course in people skills, but something was missing. There were few opportunities to grow, little room to flex my visual design muscles, and limited chances to create a lasting impact. I realized that grocery store supervision wasn’t my destination—but it helped point me to the path I was meant to follow.

My sister had once mentioned UX design, a career that seemed to check all the boxes: creative problem-solving, visual design, and the chance to make a real difference. When I enrolled in UX Designlab Academy, I discovered just how well my experiences fit into this field. I had originally been drawn to the visual side of things—UI and usability made sense thanks to UX Foundations. But the deeper I dove, the more I realized how captivating user research could be. Talking to users revealed perspectives I hadn’t considered and uncovered problems I didn’t even know existed. It added a whole new dimension to my love for problem-solving.

A year from now, I hope to be working as a Junior UX Designer at a mid-to-large-sized company, surrounded by fellow designers I can learn and grow with. I want to tackle the everyday frictions we all face—like navigating public transportation or following an online recipe without destroying the kitchen. I also want to work on challenges that may not personally affect me but are crucial to solve, like protecting financial data or helping doctors track patient information. I’m looking for a role where no two days feel the same, where every project brings a new challenge, and where I can see the tangible impact of my work in people’s lives.

Outside of design, I love diving into new creative pursuits—whether it’s getting lost in a great book, baking something sweet, or making music at the piano. I’m also a huge fan of animated films and storytelling in all forms, always looking for new inspiration in the way stories are told.

Contact me: kyla.pei@gmail.com

Programs: Figma, Photoshop, InDesign, Procreate, Illustrator, Animate, Maya

Social Media: www.linkedin.com/in/kyladesigns