As a child, when Elyssa was asked as what she wanted to be when she was older, her answer was a UX designer; or it would have been had she known the terminology at the time. What Elyssa wanted to be able to do was cause users to feel strong emotions when playing video games or watching an advertisement, just like she did.
Elyssa's strength is empathy, which she translates through accessible and inclusive design work. One way in which this shines through is her interest in designing for children, and children at heart. She is driven, and likes to solve problems when she finds them, even if it requires drawing wireframes in the sand at the beach. Her style is sharp, and yet others are always able to find a sense of flow in her projects.
Being authentic is important to Elyssa, and thus, she could work in a variety of design fields if they meet her most important criteria: her ethical code. Elyssa dreams of creating connections through UX design, and one day mentoring other designers to find their reason to create.
Elyssa was a UX Designer at ADP, before her role was impacted by layoffs and hiring freezes. She is currently a Product Designer & Social Media Specialist at Jakeman's Maple Products.
Further Details & History about Elyssa
The Grace Hopper Celebration 2023
Elyssa was sponsored to attend the Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC) Conference 2023 out of 500 people, thanks to Seema Bansal, GHC Speaker, and Product Manager at Microsoft. The University of Waterloo then awarded Elyssa the Ginny Dybenko Experiential Learning Fund Award, to fund her travel and accommodation costs.
Elyssa & The GHC Sign
Elyssa on the GHC 2023 'The Way Forward' Stairs
![Seema Basal [Elyssa's Sponsor] on Stage](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3cc5ab1e-5f75-479c-a2d1-40ad91f9dcba/6c64413c-b0d1-4e94-be7a-216ef68d1777_rw_1920.jpg?h=b6383359bbf381a24ab6d16a87f68cb0)
Seema Basal [Elyssa's Sponsor] on Stage
Elyssa & The Google Sign
Elyssa Listening to Affirmations from Women in Tech
Elyssa Eating a Google Cookie and holding a Plate with a Bag of Peanut M&M's on it.
ElyssaSitting with Plants and a Red Painted Brick Wall Behind Her
Lead Faculty of Arts Ambassador @ The University of Waterloo
Since August 2020, Elyssa has been a Faculty of Arts Ambassador for the University of Waterloo. In August 2021, Elyssa became a Lead Arts Ambassador.
She loves to help incoming and perspective students understand what their university experience could look like at Waterloo. She has volunteered at the Ontario University Fair and multiple of the Arts Open Houses.
Check out this Waterloo Wednesday Webinar where Elyssa talks about her experience in the program, her team's project Brainiac and her advice to students.
S:\HA<KS 2021 - Scotiabank Pilot Program
In September 2021 Elyssa was accepted to be a hacker at S:HA<KS. Her team created the Scotiabank Pilot Program which helps entrepreneurs in rural and indigenous communities across Canada overcome the digital divide.
The team was awarded 2nd place for the Scotiabank Pilot Program and Elyssa was also presented with the most engaged award.
Check out the winning pitch where Elyssa shows the prototype and explains more about the stakeholders.
Sportsnet Hockey Hack Powered by Rogers 5G
In this Hackathon Elyssa received guidance from experts, mentors, and feedback from end consumers including; Rogers, The Rogers 5G Create Lab, Sportsnet, NHL, Intel, GEDI, Concept and the University of Waterloo School of Interaction Design and Business.
The Problem Statement
How might we provide Sportsnet and NHL fans (existing and new) an unmatched viewing experience that delivers immersive, social-safe, and fun engagements both inside and outside the physical arena, by leveraging 5G?
Second Place Solution
The 5 G’s solution was Fan Fortune, a new micro-betting experience for fans inside the arena and at home to predict next actions in hockey games.
"This collaborative, week-long hackathon offered a unique opportunity for participants to work with Rogers’ groundbreaking, low latency 5G technology. Using real on-ice tracking data from NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs games, participants will devise innovative ways to increase audience engagement and enhance the fan experience for Sportsnet viewers". - Concept
Opportunities for Canadian Businesses in the United Kingdom
This assignment from early 2021 is one of the major international business assignments in the GBDA program.
Elyssa explains the current business environment in the UK, top trading partners, culture and customs, the MoU and TCA, and promising potential business opportunities for Canadian businesses in the United Kingdom.
Quarantine Hobbies
In fall 2020 Elyssa and her team created a short documentary about quarantine hobbies using DSLR cameras, Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe Audition.
Check out Kalyani Menon talk about her hobby: witchcraft and reading tarot cards.
Graduation Awards
Elyssa's high school commencement was on Thursday, June 27, 2019.
She was presented with:
Ontario Secondary School Diploma
Ontario Scholar
University of Waterloo President's Scholarship
Woodstock Student Civic Award of Excellence
Edge Imaging Award
Joan Horner's Scholarship
UNIFOR Local 636 Bursary
Woodstock District Chamber of Commerce Award
Lion's Club of Woodstock Scholarship
W.A. Magill Scholarship
Woodstock Rotary's "Service Above Self" Award
Spirit Award
Civic Award of Excellence
In 2019 Elyssa was awarded the Civic Award of Excellence by the City of Woodstock.
The people that live in Woodstock help to shape our community everyday. Their actions have contributed to our title as the "friendly city" and we think it's important to recognize those citizens that give back to our city.
- City of Woodstock
Performing Arts Council & Yearbook President
Elyssa was the President of the Performing Arts Council at her high school which created a haunted house during lunch on Halloween day for all students. The Performing Arts council also hosted other events such as Band Concert nights and the Christmas assembly.
Elyssa was also President of Yearbook Club. She created the layout, theme, chose fonts, and organized other photographers tasks and deadlines for photoshoots. She also organized the gathering of graduation quotes and was the main sales person once yearbooks were available for pre-order.
STAGES Theatre Company
Elyssa was an actor at STAGES (formerly known as CAST) for 8 years from 2011 to 2019. Elyssa's new brand name, STAGES was selected to replace CAST when it changed management in 2016. STAGES is supposed to signify how we all go through different stages of life, just as we go on different stages for shows. Below is a list of shows Elyssa has been in:
Captain Louie Jr.
The Frickle Monster
Annie Jr.
The Jungle Book Kids
The Velveteen Rabbit
How to Eat Like a Child
Fame Jr.
Rockin' Around the Clock (A Blacklight Show)
Legally Blonde Jr.
STAGES Thru Canada
Peter Pan Jr.
Grease