Why the switch?
I made the career shift from fashion design to UX design because I was curious. Could I draw from my fifteen years of experience as a designer and creative leader in the fashion industry and challenge myself to embrace a multidisciplinary approach in my career path?
As I moved up in my career and understood the product lifecycle from a 40,000 foot view, I realized that you could have the most phenomenal product out there but if the customer is not able to find it on the site, learn about why it’s so phenomenal or experiences difficulty with the transaction process, then how would anyone know exactly how great that product is?
Having always been a customer-led designer at heart, this became a rock in my shoe. Ultimately, success in the marketplace hinges not only on the quality of the product but on the user's ability to effortlessly connect with and appreciate its value. While fashion design honed my creative skills, I grew to crave a field that merged design with this type of problem-solving.
The parallels between designing clothing and user experiences, such as monitoring industry trends, sweating the details, leveraging data and customer insights to validate design decisions, and moving in and out of the iterative process, sparked my interest in applying these foundational design principles across diverse domains. This transition represents a quest for continuous growth and the exploration of new avenues for creative expression.
I spend a lot of my spare time with my partner and two kids, running and racing on the road and technical trails, and cooking. I also love to read, and recently finished the book On the Noodle Road: From Beijing to Rome, with Love and Pasta by Jen Lin-Liu.
What it’s like to work with me.
Vinod Sukumaran, Senior Product Manager • Marcel.ai
“Christine is one of those rare UX Designers who seamlessly blends creativity, empathy, and precision. Working with her at Publicis Groupe was an absolute pleasure, as she brought a deep understanding of user needs, a keen eye for design, and a structured approach to problem-solving.
Her patience in listening to customer and end-user challenges, brainstorming thoughtful solutions, and suggesting impactful ways to enhance engagement and usability set her apart. She meticulously documented user journeys, called out critical areas with clarity, and ensured that nothing was overlooked.
In our fast-paced, SAFe Agile environment, Christine’s ability to provide timely updates and proactive follow ups made our collaboration effortless. She was incredibly accommodating with the Indian timezone, further proving her dedication and flexibility.
Christine is not just an outstanding UX Designer, she’s a catalyst for better experiences, a problem solver who thrives in complexity, and a team player who uplifts everyone around her. Any team looking for a worldclass UX professional would be fortunate to have her.”
Matthew Weprin, Senior Manager UX Design • Workday
“I had the absolute honor and pleasure of learning with Christine as her mentor through her UX Immersion course at Thinkful. Christine is excellent, period. Her incredible background in fashion design was a perfect foundation for her pathway into User Experience Design. I have mentored hundreds of students through the years, and none have made as big an impression on me as Christine.
I always enjoyed her creative, sometimes unconventional approach, and her design ideas were exceptional. She is super creative, always thinking outside the box and coming up with cool new designs. She is simply a fantastic persona and designer with an endless capacity to develop unique creative ideas.
Christine is always open to feedback, whether critical or complimentary. She designs based on research and empathy, which seems almost natural for her, and creative abilities that are second to none. If Christine isn't working on one of my teams, I am confident she would make a fantastic addition to yours in any capacity.”
Shelley Baltazar, Senior Design Manager • Columbia Sportswear
“I could not have been happier to be managed and mentored by Christine while she was at Lands' End. She leads with compassion and clarity. She effortlessly guides her teams through any challenges that arise with positivity and transparency. Her ability to immerse herself in any customer and brand is an inspiration. It allows her to give clear feedback based on her strong ability to build a product assortment that will drive results. She works seamlessly with cross-functional teams to ensure we had the best processes and timelines, which created a positive work environment for all. I couldn’t say enough great things about working for Christine and I am fortunate she continues to support and guide me as a lifetime mentor.”
Erin Schulenberg, Senior Denim Designer • Macy’s
“I worked with Christine for over 2 years at Lands' End on the design team. She was and continues to be an incredible mentor, leader, and friend. She always lead with conviction, confidence, and compassion. I am honored to have been part of her team and see her vision in work. It isn't always that we get to work for and with individuals that continue to push boundaries and challenge expectations to make the world a better place. Thank you Christine!”
Teddy von Ranson, CCO • TEDDY VONRANSON
“I had the privilege of working with Christine while she was Design Director at Ralph Lauren. There I watched her lead a large team of designers and execute highly detailed product season after season with meticulous care and attention to detail. This level of work was equally matched by her impeccable taste level; which spanned high fashion to much more approachable or consumer driven design. I lament that I didn’t get to spend more time with Christine and that we aren’t geographically closer, otherwise she would be a consummate partner in growing my business.”
Experience
Senior Experience Designer, Apple (AmpXD)
/ October 2024 - present
Guest Lecturer, University of Wisconsin-Madison
/ October 2024 - November 2024
Product Designer, Marcel.ai
/ August 2022 - September 2024
Guest Speaker and Hackathon Judge for Thinkful Design Students
/ October 2023
UX/UI Design Immersion Student, Thinkful
/ March 2022 - August 2022
Career Transition
/ February 2020 - March 2022
Senior Design Director, Lands’ End
/ November 2016 - January 2020
Design Director, Ralph Lauren
/ May 2013 - October 2016
And a lot more! See it all here.