I’m Ellie, The techno-designer.

Photo of Elena Hoshizaki by Johnny Thanphachanh

I currently work at Apple as a Human Interface Designer. I obtained a master’s degree (MDes) in Design with an emphasis in New Media from UC Berkeley in 2024. Previously, I was a Senior Software Engineer and worked at Disney for 7 years. My undergraduate degree is in Architecture from UCLA.

My work ranges from physical computing in the realm of AI/ML to graffiti art. Art is my lifelong passion. I find delight in playing with craft, color, and whimsy.

📷 Photo by Johnny Thanphachanh

FAQ

What is techno-design?

Technodesign = technology + design. I am a mixed media designer, senior software engineer, UX designer/engineer, and artist. My specialty is creative technology, including Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML).

Where are you from?

I am half Japanese-American, half Italian + German-American, and a native Angelena — born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Are you open for new projects?

Currently I work full-time and have limited bandwidth for taking on new projects. Nevertheless, please feel free to reach out with inquiries.

Experience

    • Led end-to-end design of digital and physical product experiences, from defining user-centered requirements and developing interactive prototypes to delivering polished visual, sound, and haptic interfaces—collaborating closely with cross-functional teams in hardware, software, and engineering.

    • Transformed complex interaction concepts into intuitive, inclusive, and high-impact design solutions, leveraging advanced prototyping, storytelling, and design tools to communicate vision, validate ideas, and deliver exceptional user experiences under tight deadlines.

    • Conducted research on emerging technologies in AI, Computer Vision, and digital 3D scanning, contributing to a curated, web-based repository of intersectional/feminist 3D objects.

    • Developed and implemented curriculum on Computer Vision, 3D modeling, generative AI, design software, and iterative design processes for class of 40 students.

    • Collaborated with researchers from Google and Meta to design and develop the Inclusive Language Framework and other custom web experiences, emphasizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) for the Center for Equity, Gender & Leadership (EGAL).

    • Integrated user-centered design principles to create reusable Webflow component library with documented styleguide of interaction details and design specifications, ensuring accurate implementation and usability for engaging, accessible web applications.

    • Built new features in an agile environment for major domestic and international Disney sites including Disney.com, StarWars.com, and Disneyland® and Walt Disney World® official websites

    • Developed and launched Unison, a unified suite of internal tools for Marvel, National Geographic, and ABC News digital products

    • Collaborated with Product, Design, UX and QA to build interactive guest experiences with an emphasis on performance and responsive design

    • Led engineering for A/B testing product concepts, including Ads and UI redesigns, to find promising directions that address both guest and business needs

    • Mentored junior developers and onboarded new engineers

    • Interpreted UX designs to build creative web experiences with a keen eye for visual design and user interaction

    • Co-founded and oversaw the Women + Tech Brown Bag Lunch Series, a monthly open forum to discuss topics relevant to women and technology

    • Drove and developed projects from concept to production, working closely with product managers and designers

    • Developed and maintained extensible cross-browser, cross-device code to build scalable applications and reusable modules

    • Relaunched Disney’s flagship eCommerce website, shopDisney.com, featuring a responsive redesign and PCI compliant checkout experience written in React

    • Developed front-end code to launch new user-facing websites including MediaHound.com and DateNightMovies.com

    • Created low to high fidelity wireframes and prototypes

    • Partnered with Creative Director, Stakeholders and engineering team to build compelling user experience solutions

    • Administered, monitored and validated automation tasks

    • Collected data from reports and queries to support team efficiency

    • Built a system of templated spreadsheets to arrange, manipulate, format and prepare large amounts of information

    • Exercised graphical input and creative knowledge daily while utilizing proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop

    • Administered company operations - from collecting orders, to sending orders to the in-house production team for large-format CMYK printing, to summarizing consumer feedback

    • Managed and co-managed 30+ projects ranging from minor Single Family Dwelling remodels to entire new site construction

    • Designed and developed project proposals with lead architect

    • Liaised and delegated tasks amongst clients, lead architect, engineering team, contractor, and City Planning offices

    • Expedited drawings to LA Department of Building and Safety

Education

Seal of The University of California, Berkeley, featuring an open book, a star, and a banner with the motto 'Let There Be Light', encircled by the university's name and founding year 1868.

Master of Design (MDes)

Emphasis in New Media

UC Berkeley

2024

Logo featuring a red gear shape with the letters 'GA' inside in black.

Web Development Immersive

General Assembly

2014

UCLA Extension logo with white text on a blue background.

User Experience Design

UCLA Extension

2013

The seal of the University of California, featuring an open book with a star above, a serpent wrapped around a staff, and a banner with the phrase 'Let There Be Light.'

Architectural Studies (BA)

UCLA

2011

Seal of Santa Monica College, California, featuring a torch with flames, a book, and the year 1929, surrounded by the text 'Santa Monica College California' and the Latin motto 'Humanitas Veritas Munus.'

Philosophy (AA)

Santa Monica College

2008

Leadership

Creative Co-Lead

Disney PRIDE

2021-2022

Membership Chair

Disney Women + Tech

2016-2017

Administrative Officer

UC Berkeley MDes Student Association (MDSA)

2022-2023

Mentor

Disney CODE: Rosie

2016-2019

Skills

Creative

Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, After Effects, Sketch, Figma, Procreate, Autodesk AutoCAD, Fusion 360, Rhinoceros 3D, AGI (Midjourney, Dall-E, ChatGPT) prototyping, wireframing, interaction design, illustration, painting

Engineering

HTML, CSS/SCSS, JavaScript, React, Angular, Bootstrap, Node, Underscore, Google Ad Manager, Google Analytics, Docker, Python, PHP, WordPress, Git(hub/lab), Raspberry Pi, Arduino, AI/ML/DL, Computer Vision, photogrammetry