The discipline of a musician.
The mindset of a builder.
I'm Ayana—a product designer who builds from zero.
The Musician
Before I was a product designer, I was a nationally recognized classical flutist. I won 1st prize in the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Senior Woodwind National Competition, 1st prize in the National Flute Association High School Soloist Competition (plus the award for best performance of newly commissioned work), and 2nd prize in the National Flute Association Young Artist Competition.
I was a YoungArts Competition winner and was featured on NPR's From the Top during their national tour in Kentucky. At the University of Michigan, I won the Undergraduate Concerto Competition and attended on a full merit scholarship for flute performance. I've performed at the International Thy Chamber Music Festival, Aspen Music Festival, and was a Fellow at the Music Academy of the West.
Music taught me what it means to pursue mastery—practicing the same passage hundreds of times until every note was perfect. That obsession with craft now drives how I approach design.
The Transition
I transitioned to product design because I wanted to build things that impact people's lives at scale. The same discipline and attention to detail that made me a successful musician makes me the designer I am today.
Through General Assembly's intensive 400+ hour bootcamp, I worked with venture-backed startup clients on real projects—learning to turn ambiguous problems into shipped products.
"I care deeply about the products I build because the user experience directly determines how well you execute on your mission. When the experience is broken, your mission fails. When it's seamless, your impact multiplies."
My Journey
The Musician
Years mastering the flute at the highest levels—competing nationally, performing internationally, learning what excellence requires.
The Designer
Bringing the same discipline to product design—turning vision into shipped products that users love and investors fund.