About me? Let’s talk about you.

One ordinary day when I was young, my ride was late, and I was asked to wait with the principal—a man popularly regarded as a strict disciplinarian and scary presence. When my ride arrived, the principal and I were deep in conversation. “Woof! The girl can talk,” he said. “Nothing but questions for the last hour.”

As I grew, social etiquette and self-awareness softened my proclivity to probe. Talking yielded to observation, and my curiosity found new life in creativity and exploration. This appetite for understanding is still what drives me today—to be a more thoughtful writer, empathetic designer, and caring human.

Woman stepping over a slot canyon at the Dollhouse in Canyonlands, Utah Photo credit: Dana Romanoff
A tree canopy with red and gold fall leaves in Madison, WI
An old, concrete, WWII bunker tagged with new artwork on a beach in Plage du Pin Sec, France
Image taken from a boat showing a green oar and blue-green water in Penn Yan, NY
A black donkey staring at the camera in Blue Diamond, NV
An old, grey barn in an open field with two tall trees in Ethan, VA

The way I see it, words give agency to ideas while design shapes the experience and impact of innovation.

In many cases, research is the foundation of both. How does this work? How does it feel? How might we improve the experience? By centering on human behavior, we can surface factors that enhance or hinder engagement, knowing that the viability of any endeavor can be improved with messaging, positioning, and design.

Group of four women skinning up a snow field in Glacier National Park, Canada
Boardwalk leading to the small, white, Castle Hill Lighthouse in Newport, RI
A tree covered in blue-green moss and flat mushrooms in Shenandoah National Park, VA
An Australian Shepherd dog standing at the end of a dock, overlooking Keuka Lake in NY
Close-up image of a green, saguaro cactus in Tuscon, AZ
Blurry image of a girl jumping with Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown, New Zealand in the background.

Like many people, I am happiest, scrappiest, and most satiated when working on projects I care about.

For this reason, I seek out companies that are up to cool things, an admittedly subjective criterion rooted in innovation and impact.

Social enterprises have shown that businesses needn’t be solely profit-focused to be successful, that cause-driven organizations needn’t be martyrs to have impact, and that sustainability can be more beneficial than growth.

I am idealistic, but I’m also a hard worker and understand that change takes time. Here’s what my co-workers have to say about who I am and how I work.

  • "Trystin is great to work with. She listens to what you are trying to accomplish and clarifies the ask, even directing you to another point of view."

    Senior Director of Customer Experience, Palmetto

  • "She holds herself accountable to her deliverables and delivers high quality work. I continue to see Trystin formulating new ideas that have a positive impact on the customer experience."

    Product Owner, Palmetto

  • "[Trystin is] kind with [her] teammates, yet firm with [her] beliefs, working with maturity to provide feedback while respecting team dynamics and showing strong interpersonal skills."

    Digital Marketing Director, Palmetto

  • "Trystin excels at thinking big and creatively. She isn’t afraid to suggest what she’s thinking, and is willing to work with others to find the best solution."

    Web Copywriter, Palmetto

  • "She is the consummate team player in that she goes over and above with her own work while also going out of her way to help others."

    Content Director, Palmetto

  • "[Trystin is] the perfect combination of intellect, humor, speed and talent. I appreciate [her] contribution, partnership and commitment."

    Managing Editor, The Edible Beat

Visit my resume to see how my values play out in my work.