From fixing my blender to learning to code, I’ve always been curious about figuring things out for myself. That same curiosity has pushed me to talk to new people, say hello to strangers at coffee shops, and even move to Mexico for a year without speaking Spanish. I did learn Spanish while I was there, mostly by talking to people and making plenty of mistakes. When I get stuck, I like to assume someone, somewhere has probably run into the same problem and figured it out before. So I look for them, ask questions, learn from their experience, and keep going. Along the way, strangers have become lifelong friends, and mentors have taught me new skills that helped me pivot from graphic design to web development. When I look back, I can trace almost everything I know and so many of my favorite experiences to the people who took the time to help me.
I’m Kayla Roy. By profession, I’m a web developer and UX/UI designer. At heart, I’m a curious creative, a peaceful problem solver, and an experience-seeking explorer. I’ve always liked thinking outside the box, questioning the usual way of doing things, and seeing what happens when you try something different. I’m at my happiest when I’m surrounded by people who are willing to throw ideas around, look at a problem from different angles, and see where it takes us. Maybe that means digging into the analytics, asking a client what they really need beyond the original request, picking a designer’s brain, or grabbing another developer to see if an idea is actually possible. I like when everyone gets a seat at the table, because that’s usually when the interesting stuff starts happening.
I’ve always had more creative ideas than I know what to do with. If I see a better way to do something, I’m probably going to ask, “What if we tried this?” I love turning complicated things into experiences that feel simple, intuitive, and welcoming. Because when you’re on the other side of a screen trying to figure something out, the last thing you need is more confusion. I like Donald Miller’s line, “If you confuse, you lose,” and it’s something I come back to often. Good design should make you feel like someone thought about you being there. I’m happy to dig in and figure things out on my own, but I also know when to ask for another perspective. I’ve gotten pretty far by staying curious, asking questions, and being willing to see what happens next.
