Alison Shum

UX & UI DESIGN

Effortless and exhausting can describe the exact same product.
I make that struggle disappear.

The world doesn't slow down for anyone. Good design should. Every frustrating moment is asking for something better. I pay attention to what others overlooked, and turn it into something nobody saw coming.

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SELECTED WORK

Case Studies

Case Study Template

Brief description of project.

Flush

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Venmo

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ABOUT ME

Different by design.

I can't say I ever chose UX, it chose me. I grew up alongside technology and would always notice when things didn't fit. As a neurodivergent woman, I've spent a lot of time figuring out how to navigate a world that wasn't always built for me, and it turns out that's not a bad thing to bring to design. I take problems seriously, I don't trust easy answers, and I genuinely care about the person on the other side of whatever I create.

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HOW I THINK

What are we here to solve?

The brief is a starting point, not an answer. I want to understand what's really being asked before I form any opinions. Sometimes the problem on paper and the problem people are actually having are two different things entirely.

Who is really struggling, and why?

I want to know who this is hardest for. Not just who it's designed for. When I understand where people are getting stuck and why, the direction becomes a lot clearer. I pay attention to what they're doing instead, because that usually tells what I need to know.

What's worth trying?

I look at what exists, what's working, and what isn't. Then I start asking what if. I think about the person who usually gets left out of the equation. I can't bring myself to stop at good enough. Committing too early is how good ideas get left behind.

Did it work The way i EXPECTED?

Watching someone use something I made is a humbling experience. The solution that seemed obvious to me doesn't always work the way I expected. Testing is how I get out of my own head. It shows me what people actually do, not what I assumed they would, and that's almost always more interesting than what I planned for.

What did I learn?

I look at what worked and what didn't with the same amount of honesty. What fell short doesn't bother me as much as not understanding why. I'd rather sit with what went wrong than brush past it. That's what moves me forward.

LET'S WORK TOGETHER

Got a problem
worth solving?

I think carefully, I work hard, and I don't stop until it's right. If that sounds like someone you want on your team, let's talk.

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