I'm Sahand, a product designer based in Denver, Colorado

About Me

Growing up, I constantly immersed myself in creative activities like drawing, painting, and exploring different mediums. I’ve carried a camera with me since I was old enough to know how to use one, documenting my adolescent years and evolving my skills through new technologies. As technology advanced, I began using software to edit my images, learning on my own through video tutorials. This blend of creativity and technology ignited my passion for the digital world, which has only continued to grow.

In my professional journey, I spent five years at Lockheed Martin as a Data Entry Administrative Clerk, where I honed my attention to detail and became proficient in different proprietary software. This experience sharpened my ability to quickly adapt to new tools, a skill I now apply to my work as a UX/UI designer. My approach to design is driven not only by precision but also by empathy. I believe that understanding users’ needs on a deep level is essential to creating seamless, user-friendly experiences. Whether I’m designing websites or mobile apps, I focus on crafting solutions that are both visually engaging and genuinely helpful.

My interest in UX/UI design was truly ignited during my time as a Horticulture Technician. Much of the job was done on paper, and I noticed how difficult it was to track the status of various plants efficiently. It was clear that this problem could be solved with a well-designed app, reducing the need for paperwork and cutting down on waste. This realization opened my eyes to the potential of digital solutions to improve processes and reduce environmental impact, inspiring me to dive deeper into UX/UI design.

Outside of design, my creativity continues to flow in different forms. When I’m not at my desk, you can find me out in nature, painting, watching anime, reading manga, skateboarding, learning to play bass, or spending time with my two cats. These activities, along with my passion for design and empathy for others, drive me to keep learning and growing, always ready to embrace new challenges and create meaningful, impactful designs that make a difference in people’s lives.

My Experience

  • June 2013 – Present

    Freelance Photographer | Denver, CO

    Worked closely with clients across various industries, including food, weddings, business, and personal portfolios, to deliver high-quality photography services. Utilized technical expertise in photography and post production to capture and enhance images that met client’s specific needs and aesthetic preferences. Maintained strong communication with clients to understand their vision, coordinate shoots, and ensure satisfaction with the final products.

    • Managed all aspects of photography projects independently, from planning to shooting to editing and delivery.

    • Captured and edited images for diverse purposes, including promotional materials, event documentation, and personal branding.

    • Developed and maintained positive client relationships, leading to repeat business and referrals

  • May 2023 – December 2024

    Horticulture Technician | Englewood, CO

    Collaborate with clients and team members to maintain the health and aesthetic appeal of plants in commercial and residential environments. Utilize expertise in plant care to administer appropriate watering techniques based on plant varieties and environmental conditions. Conduct regular inspections, pruning and pest management. Communicate effectively with clients to address inquiries and maintain positive relationships, while also coordinating with team members to facilitate efficient service delivery.

    • Monitor and maintain the health of 200+ plants daily, treating them for pests and diseases when necessary.

    • Managing daily routes independently, while remaining on schedule.

    • Communicated with point of contacts, owners, and management daily.

  • May 2022 - April 2023

    Sr. Project Operations Representative | San Francisco, CA

    Provide operations and policy training to direct and partner sales representatives via phone, email, and chat. Work with sales teams and internal departments to ensure solar projects are efficiently processed and completed. Serve as a point of contact for sales representatives, managing inquiries and escalations related to solar agreements and installations. Review and verify signed agreements and documents for accuracy, and act as a liaison to resolve any issues. Master internal processes and support the sales team on procedures and policies

    • Support sales representatives by providing guidance on sales tools, market-specific processes, and ensuring adherence to documentation compliance.

    • Manage customer accounts and project pipelines through Salesforce’s reporting and CRM software.

    • Utilized Brightpath to create customized solar panel designs aligned with individual customer preferences.

  • September 2021 – May 2022

    Field Service Coordinator | Denver, CO

    Work with field crews, leaders, and centralized support team to ensure jobs are ready to be actioned and completed to drive best possible customer experience. Serve as a point of contact to customers to effectively coordinate communications around routine Field Service activities and manage related customer inquiries and escalations as necessary. Initiate and create tasks to complete further work required on field service dispatches. Build relationships and work closely with customers, co workers and all levels of the organization in a positive manner to supply necessary updates and reporting as needed.

    • Created and dispatched customer appointments in conjunction with Tech routes, schedules, and utilization through Salesforce.

    • Prioritized customer escalations and adjusted schedules to work with leadership to determine priority jobs.

    • Completed daily tasks within pre-established timelines by appropriately prioritizing multiple tasks within or across projects or cross functional teams.

    • Support high call and email volume while providing accurate and up to date information.

  • July 2016 – August 2021

    Administrative Data Entry | Denver, CO

    Recover hardware of ex-employees and deliver surplus tickets by corresponding with the Human Resources department and managers. Fulfill retired staff or litigation holds Exit Checklist. Ensured system back on domain to reclaim data. Authorize requests for new hardware and inform customers of shipment arrivals. Arrange shipment deliveries, surplus pickup, and hardware refresh meetings with clients for technicians. Track misplaced leased property in asset management console and support technicians in locating as well as recovering missing assets. Perform software and driver installations on recently imaged systems for the computer refresh team.

    • Create and maintain documentation for hardware recovery, and managing asset inventories.

    • Correspond with HR departments, managers, and customers to locate missing assets.

    • Distribute licensed software using in house programs and coordinate hardware refreshes.

  • September 2015 – July 2016

    Salon Receptionist | Denver, CO

    Managed phone lines and scheduled appointments via telephone as well as in-person. Welcomed clients and effectively resolved complaints. Provided customer service-related information for future bookings. Performed cash management, credit reconciliation, and bank deposits. Relayed cancellations, additional services, and delayed arrivals to relevant staff. Managed sanitation and tidiness of the front desk area.

    • Manage phone lines and relaying information to staff. Welcome clients and resolve complaints.

    • Suggesting suitable products to clients and increasing retail customer service experience.

    • Scheduling appointments for multiple stylists and adapting to changes in appointments.

  • June 2015 – September 2015

    Senior Spa Associate | Denver, CO

    Coordinated store opening and closing activities. Designed digital and hand lettering art for marketing materials. Informed customers of current discounts, specials, and services. Updated appointment books and liaised with owners and colleagues regarding changing operational demands. Sold spa memberships, gift vouchers, and upgrades. Ensured meeting of hygiene requirements of facilities.

    • Welcomed clients, provided answers to questions, and anticipated guests’ service needs.

    • Selling spa memberships, gift vouchers, products, and upgrades using Millennium software.

    • Designed digital and hand lettering art for marketing materials.

  • October 2014 – June 2015

    Call Center Representative | Aurora, CO

    Answered all inbound calls to establish and resolve customer queries. Delivered technical support telephonically including troubleshooting network and hardware faults. Refunded suspicious purchases and cases of theft appropriately. Communicated with customers regarding enquiries via telephone, email, and chat. Solved customer issues pertaining to new and current accounts, website interface and reimbursements. Convey information to customers of varying technical proficiencies.

    Convey information to clients of varying technical backgrounds via telephone, email, and chat.

    Troubleshoot network and hardware faults, and solve issues related to product interface.

    Resolving escalated customer complaints using exceptional customer service.

Skills

Human-Centered design

Interaction Design

User Research

Visual Design

Prototyping

Usability Testing

HTML/CSS, Basic JavaScript

UX Writing

Tools

Figma

Figjam

Github

Canva

Photoshop CS5

Blender

What inspires my work

Intuition

The heart of my approach to UI/UX is creating designs that feel natural and effortless to use. I believe that the best interfaces are those that don't require the user to think too much—they just work. By focusing on intuitive layouts, clear navigation, and predictable interactions, I strive to design experiences that are user-centered and easy to understand, whether it's someone’s first or hundredth time using the product.

Iteration

I believe great design is never truly finished—it evolves through feedback and refinement. Iteration is key to my process, as I constantly test, gather insights, and adjust to meet users’ needs more effectively. This allows me to fine-tune designs over time, ensuring that each project is optimized and responsive to real-world challenges. By embracing iteration, I strive for continuous improvement and adaptability, creating designs that grow and improve alongside their users.

Impact

Design is about more than aesthetics—it's about making a difference. I am driven by my work to positively impact users' lives, whether by simplifying everyday tasks or creating meaningful interactions. I strive to design experiences that are both functional and emotionally resonant, ensuring that users walk away feeling understood and empowered. By focusing on the human side of technology, I aim to create designs that truly make a lasting impact.