Lost in the Woods
There is no better reset button than fresh air. Camping has become my favorite way to slow down. Fresh air, campfires, and slow mornings remind me that not every problem needs an immediate solution.
Here are a few things that keep me grounded.
Debugging Dough
Every other Sunday, you'll usually find me baking. My husband and I are currently obsessed with tiramisu and pound cake. It’s messy, it’s loud, and it’s the best part of my week.
Refactoring Clothes
I love understanding how garments are constructed and how individual pieces come together to create movement and structure. I really enjoy modifying thrifted dresses to give them a new life. It teaches me patience in a completely different way. (Currently searching for a repair shop for my beloved, broken machine!)
Current Thoughts
My best thinking happens when I'm not trying to think at all—during a crowded subway ride or while walking with music. Those quiet moments leave room for questions that rarely fit into everyday conversation. I don't expect to have the answers. I simply enjoy following the logic wherever it leads. These are the questions I am currently pondering...
"What does the constant birth of new brands reveal about the conditions under which brands can survive?"
"What makes consumers pay for meaning instead of savings?"
"When governments profile by race, do they unintentionally preserve the roots of racism?"
"If storytelling is everything, why have we become better at consuming stories than authoring our own?"
Curiosity doesn't just shape the questions I ask about the world—it also shapes the questions I ask about myself.
As part of a branding psychology project, I explored how perceptions of me change across different levels of social closeness. Isurveyed 21 people—from strangers to close friends—to understand how relationships shape personal brands. The findings revealed both expected patterns and surprising blind spots in how I present myself.
The Perception Spectrum
Hover over the rings to see the data on the right.
The Surface
What strangers & acquaintances see.
Visual
Cute, Short
Kinesthetic
Chill, Adventurous
Conceptual
Curious, Smart
The Vibe
The energy shared with friends.
Extraversion
Bubbly, Cheerful, Energetic
Agreeableness
Friendly, Lovely, Delightful
Affective
Caring, Considerate
Cognitive
Smart
The Core
The deep traits unlocked by intimacy.
Warmth
Cheerful, Caring, Thoughtful, Sincere, Easy-going
Competence
Smart
"ME" BY MYSELF
Smart, Cheerful, Caring
Most people typically mentioned positive traits in the first few words, and some of them with higher levels of closeness mentioned negative traits. While I already see myself as clumsy, sensitive, and a perfectionist, being described as moody was something I had not considered before. Initially, this surprised me, as I do not consciously perceive myself that way. However, reflecting on it further, I realized that my indecisiveness, especially when friends ask to make spontaneous plans, might come across as moodiness. In those moments, my uncertainty often reflects my fluctuating energy rather than a clear yes or no. This insight helped me understand how others might interpret my behavior differently from how I experience it internally.
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Whether I'm interviewing users, reading psychology papers, or wandering through the woods, I'm fascinated by the same thing: understanding why people think, feel, and behave the way they do. That curiosity is what I hope to bring to every research project.