About Me
Hello!, Kumusta?, Hallo!
I’m Jayra, a user experience enthusiast and recent graduate at the University of Toronto.
My hobbies include writing, baking bread, suburban night driving, doodling, reading, learning history, and playing videogames. I also like listening to all kinds of music, but mostly sad or nostalgic music, ballads, and OPM (Original Philippine Music)!
Perhaps one of my greatest interests lie in learning the German language, which I began to self-study when I was around 17 years old. What began as a spontaneous hobby became the main motivator for me to really step outside of my comfort zone for the first time, starting at age 18. My love for this language has given me the push I needed to finally travel alone, study at another university abroad, and work abroad.
Education
University of Toronto (St. George)
2019 - 2021 · Toronto, Canada
- Bachelor of Information, Second-Entry Program in Information Studies
- CGPA: 3.92/4.0
- Graduated with High Distinction (Summa Cum Laude)
- Relevant Courses: How to Design (UX Research and Design); Designing Interactive Systems (UI Design); Information in the Cultural Imagination; Integrative Approaches to Technology and Society; Worlds Become Data
Universität Konstanz
Summer 2019 · Konstanz, Germany
- Course: C1 German
- Grade: A
- Regular and active in-class participation
- Conducted a seminar on universal basic income
- Wrote two exams that tested listening comprehension, reading, grammar, and writing
University of Toronto (Scarborough)
2017 - 2019 · Toronto, Canada
- Honours Bachelor of Arts, Specialist in Journalism and Minor in Media Studies
- CGPA: 3.96/4.0
- Relevant Courses: Critical Reading, Thinking, and Writing; Methods of Inquiry and Investigation; Fundamentals of Journalistic Writing; Contemporary Media; Introduction to Psychology; Visual Culture and Communication
Experience
AccuStack Inc.
June 2021 - Present · Remote
- Position: UX/UI Designer
- Designed high fidelity prototypes using Adobe XD for various web-based projects, including websites, admin dashboards, and payroll systems
- Worked closely with programmers to help develop websites that are both feasible and viable
- Created and modified visual assets using Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe XD
- Utilized GitHub, Discord, and Trello to effectively communicate with the team
- Created marketing materials using Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, and Adobe After Effects
- Tested systems and websites for bugs and used GitHub to easily communicate with programmers about the issues found
- Used Cockpit as a headless CMS to organize content into singletons and collections
My Lil' Health Bot
April 2020 - May 2020 · Remote
- Position: UX/UI Designer
- Designed medium and high fidelity prototypes for an online shopping and delivery mobile application using Balsamiq and Adobe XD
- Illustrated and animated the application's visual assets using Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and After Effects
- Iterated on design to the satisfaction of the team
- Presented ideas and designs virtually using both screen-sharing and video sharing methods
- Conducted intensive design research to compare and contrast existing similar applications on the market
- Ensured constant communication via email, Slack, and weekly Google Hangouts meetings
wellyou
May 2019 - August 2019 · Berlin, Germany
- Position: User Research and Branding Intern
- Developed branding guides to rebrand company based on market research, trends, and personas
- Designed personas on Xtensio, which included factors such as the personas' needs, pain points, and goals
- Presented personas to the team and created a follow-up training video to ensure team familiarity with the concepts
- Provided thorough and reliable substantive editing of scientific and nutritional texts in the English language
- Ensured team productivity by providing regular updates on Slack, Asana, and Skype meetings
- Cultivated a more positive and healthier office environment by developing and leading a daily stretching session that is open to everyone
- Successfully created, conducted, and analyzed a survey to help rebrand the company
- Revised preparation texts for the company's one-month program
- Developed a PR contact list for the company's app launch campaign
Varsity Publications
July 2018 - April 2019 · Toronto, Canada
- Position: University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) Bureau Chief
- Delivered accurate and prompt breaking news stories to Canada’s largest student newspaper
- Collaborated with other journalists in a professional, fast-paced newsroom to successfully reach the newspaper’s deadlines
- Improved campus coverage by investigating, pitching, and writing both high-profile and low-profile news on campus
- Distilled information into engaging and concise news stories
- Interviewed and developed understanding with diverse sources in-person, over the phone, and online
- Managed and trained new journalists to ensure journalism ethics and quality reporting
September 2017 - July 2018 · Toronto, Canada
- Position: Staff Copy Editor
- Edited factual and grammatical errors in articles to ensure the newspaper’s credibility
- Showcased dedication, efficient work, and communication skills by editing all articles the senior copy editor forwarded
Awards
- Goethe-Institut B2 Zertifikat (2021, Goethe-Institut Toronto)
- Bachelor of Information with High Distinction (2021, University of Toronto)
- Dean's List (2020, University of Toronto)
- Dean's List (2019, University of Toronto)
- University of Toronto Scarborough In-Course Scholarship (2019, University of Toronto)
- IBH Bodensee Summer School Zertifikat (2019, Universität Konstanz)
- Dean's List (2018, University of Toronto)
- University of Toronto Scarborough In-Course Scholarship (2018, University of Toronto)
- Historical and Cultural Studies Emerging Scholar Award (2018, University of Toronto)
- University of Toronto Entrance Scholarship (95% high school average) (2017, University of Toronto)
- Ontario Scholar (2017, Newmarket High School)
- Newmarket Mayor's Classic Grant (2017, Newmarket High School)
- English Award (2017, Newmarket High School)
- Family Studies Award (2017, Newmarket High School)
Courses
- C1 German, Speakeasy (May 2019 - July 2019 · Berlin, Germany)
- B2 German, Goethe-Institut (August 2018 · Bonn, Germany)
- B1 German, Goethe-Institut (August 2017 · Schwäbisch Hall, Germany)