Ideas turned into real-world solutions.

The problem

Existing tracking devices prioritize function over form — bulky, obvious, and socially uncomfortable to wear. Growing data privacy concerns have further eroded trust in location-based tech. Users want safety and peace of mind without feeling surveilled, stigmatized, or aesthetically compromised.

Key design decisions

SafeCharm embeds secure GPS tracking, geofencing alerts, movement detection, and jewelry-removal sensing into a fully customizable charm bracelet. The core design constraint was invisibility: every sensor had to fit inside a charm housing no larger than a typical pendant, mounted on a custom PCB (18×12×4mm). Privacy was non-negotiable — end-to-end encryption, no third-party data selling, and an optional local-only tracking mode.

What I learned

Designing hardware is a UX problem. Every component choice — from the BNO055 IMU to the magnetic reed switch clasp detector — had a direct impact on what the user would feel and trust. The most important insight: in wearable safety tech, trust is the product. Transparency about what data is collected and who controls it matters more than any feature.

The brief

During my time as Publicity Chair, I worked on numerous designs and rebranded the chapter's public image — creating a visual identity that represents NSBE @ UCI with pride and cohesion.

Scope of work

Logo redesign, chapter quarter-zip designs, and general member t-shirts. Each piece balanced NSBE's national brand with UCI's local chapter personality — professional but distinctly ours.

Impact

Members wore the merchandise to national NSBE gatherings, making the chapter more visually unified. The rebrand became the foundation for all ongoing chapter communications and event collateral.

The brief

Create merchandise, products, and full-scale designs that represent the UCI Rocket Project Liquids team and their mission — from lab installations to wearable gear for the 24-25 cohort.

Scope of work

A physical lab timeline, mission patches in two colorways (Earth & Mars), 2025 senior stoles, and a front-and-back hoodie design for the full team cohort.

What I learned

Designing for engineers meant every asset needed to earn its purpose. The timeline wasn't decoration — it was a communication tool. Function first, aesthetics in service of that function.