Hi! I’m Sylvia Liao, a third-year Bachelor of Information student at the University of Toronto. I’m applying for the summer practicum UI/UX team for the Accessible Spaces Database at the Innovation Hub. I believe I’m a great fit because my experiences and aspirations align with the Learning Hub’s commitment to improving campus life through student-centered design, accessibility, equity, and inclusion. I’m excited to contribute to projects that directly impact the student community and grow alongside a team that values curiosity, iteration, and shared learning. Through coursework (CSC 318, INF352, INF353) and involvement with UDesign Studio and the Bachelor of Information Student Association’s Information Systems & Design Committee, I’ve built a strong foundation in human-centered design, prototyping in Figma and Framer, and collaborating across disciplines. In my freelance UX work with Connect2 Talent Network, I learned to translate business goals into user flows and interfaces, balancing user needs with technical feasibility. I’m excited by the Innovation Hub’s collaborative, iterative environment and the opportunity to contribute to meaningful projects that impact the UT student community, while continuing to grow as a design thinker.

Sylvia Liao

Hi! I’m Sylvia Liao, a third-year Bachelor of Information student at the University of Toronto. I’m applying for the summer practicum UI/UX team for the Accessible Spaces Database at the Innovation Hub. I believe I’m a great fit because my experiences and aspirations align with the Learning Hub’s commitment to improving campus life through student-centered design, accessibility, equity, and inclusion. I’m excited to contribute to projects that directly impact the student community and grow alongside a team that values curiosity, iteration, and shared learning. Through coursework (CSC 318, INF352, INF353) and involvement with UDesign Studio and the Bachelor of Information Student Association’s Information Systems & Design Committee, I’ve built a strong foundation in human-centered design, prototyping in Figma and Framer, and collaborating across disciplines. In my freelance UX work with Connect2 Talent Network, I learned to translate business goals into user flows and interfaces, balancing user needs with technical feasibility. I’m excited by the Innovation Hub’s collaborative, iterative environment and the opportunity to contribute to meaningful projects that impact the UT student community, while continuing to grow as a design thinker.

Available to hire

Hi! I’m Sylvia Liao, a third-year Bachelor of Information student at the University of Toronto. I’m applying for the summer practicum UI/UX team for the Accessible Spaces Database at the Innovation Hub. I believe I’m a great fit because my experiences and aspirations align with the Learning Hub’s commitment to improving campus life through student-centered design, accessibility, equity, and inclusion. I’m excited to contribute to projects that directly impact the student community and grow alongside a team that values curiosity, iteration, and shared learning.

Through coursework (CSC 318, INF352, INF353) and involvement with UDesign Studio and the Bachelor of Information Student Association’s Information Systems & Design Committee, I’ve built a strong foundation in human-centered design, prototyping in Figma and Framer, and collaborating across disciplines. In my freelance UX work with Connect2 Talent Network, I learned to translate business goals into user flows and interfaces, balancing user needs with technical feasibility. I’m excited by the Innovation Hub’s collaborative, iterative environment and the opportunity to contribute to meaningful projects that impact the UT student community, while continuing to grow as a design thinker.

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Work Experience

UX Designer at Connect2 Talent Network Inc.
February 1, 2026 - April 1, 2026
Designed 102 high-fidelity Figma screens for job seekers and employers based on user research and competitive analysis; Collaborated with founders and software developers to define 11 core product features, aligning user needs with business goals and technical constraints; Led end-to-end UX iterations across information architecture and interface design, producing a site map, 2 low-fidelity iterations, and 14 high-fidelity iterations informed by stakeholder feedback; Documented design decisions and updates to ensure clear communication across founder, design and engineering teams.
UX Designer at Bachelor of Information Student Association, University of Toronto
October 1, 2025 - April 1, 2026
Designed a student association WordPress website to improve information accessibility for current and prospective students; Built a scalable design system, increasing design efficiency by ~50% and ensuring consistency across pages; Applied WCAG accessibility standards (contrast, keyboard navigation, readability) to support inclusive user experiences.
Business Relations Coordinator at UDesign Studio, University of Toronto
December 1, 2025 - April 1, 2026
Conducted research and outreach to 50+ Toronto-based organizations and industry professionals, building partnerships to expand student club access to mentorship, collaboration opportunities, and office tours in product, UX, and visual design; Led cross-functional execution between internal designers, treasurers, and external vendors to deliver branded merchandise (keychains, stickers, postcards) for a 60+ participant product design sprint, strengthening engagement within the UT design community.
Video Editor / UX Podcast Video Editor at The UX Lounge Podcast
May 1, 2024 - October 1, 2025
Led the video editing and review sessions of 30+ UX interviews in long- and short-form video formats using Adobe Premiere Pro, contributing to 1,500+ streams and downloads on Spotify; Collaborated with UX professionals to produce educational content across UX, UI, AI, and AR/VR topics, featuring specialists from Google, Meta, IBM, Amazon, and more.
UX Researcher at AI Literacy Training Platform (Designathon)
March 1, 2026 - Present
Conducted generative user research (interviews & surveys) to identify AI literacy gaps and overreliance behaviours in students; Synthesised findings into actionable product insights, informing feature direction within a 24-hour design sprint.
UX Designer, Team Lead at Cohort-Based Community App (Case Study)
October 1, 2025 - December 1, 2025
Led a team of five designers to design a mobile app from user research to final prototype delivery; Identified key user needs through secondary research, user research, journey maps, and prioritization methods; Facilitated usability testing and iterated on designs to improve feature clarity, usability, and overall user flow; Managed project timelines, delegated tasks, and ensured alignment with defined milestones.

Education

Bachelor of Information (Focus on UX Design) at University of Toronto
January 11, 2030 - June 1, 2027
Exchange/Joint Institute program in Mechanical Engineering at Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) – Joint Institute with University of Michigan-SJTU
February 1, 2025 - April 1, 2025

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Education, Software & Internet, Professional Services, Media & Entertainment