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Hello World, I'm Karina Chow ๐
I'm a Bay Area native, born and bred, and the child of immigrants from China and Germany. I apply a global lens across from three continents to my thoughts and perspectives.
Much like my heritage, my approach to life and areas of expertise are also often dialectical. I often find myself sitting right inbetween opposing forces, whether it is as the mediator between contradictory cultures, the ambassador between enginering and design, or the liason between the logical and the emotional, science and art.
Currently, I am pursuing a Masters in Professional Studies in Interactive Telecommunications at New York University. Essentially what that means is that I'm spending the next two years in Brooklyn, studying the intersection of art and technology through examining and learning about emerging technologies like mixed reality, e-textiles, algo/AI art, projection mapping, and so on.
Prior to starting graduate school, I spent a decade as a software engineer in the San Francisco tech scene. I've worked in social networking, non-medical home care, and the creator economy space. I've spoken both at tech conferences about frontend infrastructure and design systems as well as at conferences about disabilities, accessibility, and mental health. My work has ranged from software engineering, to UX research and design, to graphic design and illustration, to pitch deck preparation, to animation work. I've also worked as a consultant and freelancer in these areas of expertise, and continue to do so parttime while in school.
On Medium, I write about trends in tech and design, as well as principles in psychology. I also have a burning passion for immersive and interactive art, martial arts, and video games. Like many, I also occasionally write unrelated pieces with personal observations. If you follow me, you can expect to read about each of these subjects individually, but also about their intersections!
If you find me elsewhere online, you'll often see the tagline "Screw the rules, I have green hair", which is both a meme and a nod to a certain content creator. This has become my life's motto and catchphrase.
It's fitting because I've rocked green hair for 12 years and counting, and it references my die-hard support for content creators. Most importantly, though, it describes my general attitude toward life:
As time marches forward, rules are often meant to be broken to make way for new rules and realities. I'd like to think that sometimes, it just takes one green haired chick to help pave the way.
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