About Chaska
The person behind the work
For 16+ years, I’ve designed websites that are accessible, intuitive, and genuinely useful — for small businesses, nonprofits, and creative entrepreneurs who need a partner, not just a vendor.
But most of what shapes my work happens outside of it. I’m also a filmmaker, language activist, and dancer — three different practices that all taught me the same thing: listen first, build second.
Design with a UX mindset
Good web design has always been about understanding people before touching pixels. Before I knew the formal language of UX, I was already doing the work — listening to clients, mapping their audiences, asking why before asking how, and designing experiences that guide visitors toward action.
I combine human-centered design with storytelling, cultural insight, and systems thinking to create meaningful digital experiences.
Additionally, my neurodivergence also helps me notice what others overlook and search for solutions that go beyond the surface level.
The right fit matters
I work across sectors — but I have a particular fluency with:
- Mission-driven orgs at the intersection of community and culture
- Nonprofits and community orgs — culture, education, language, social equity
- Small businesses that need a web partner to provide ongoing website support, updates, and maintenance.
- Creative businesses — artists, performers, photographers, architects
Professional Interests
- Product & Service Design
- Community-centered Design
- UX Research & Systems Thinking
- Accessible & Inclusive Design
- UX Psychology & Trauma-informed Design
UX for change
Beyond web design
Alongside web design, I’m also a multidisciplinary artist and activist. My creative practice spans filmmaking, photography, music, and dance — and my activist work is rooted in cultural revitalization and Indigenous diaspora. These experiences inform how I approach design, grounding it in empathy, narrative, and a focus on people and place. They give me a genuine understanding of the creative, cultural, and nonprofit spaces I often design for.