Tanuja Shastri

Linear

06:31:42

PST

Open for work

Tanuja Shastri

PST

Open for work

Tanuja Shastri

Linear

06:31:42

PST

Open for work

How I got here

How I got here

I didn’t grow up calling myself a designer. It really started back in school when a teacher handed me an art test. I didn’t think much of it then, but that’s basically how painting became my thing.


Then I did the predictable “good student” move and chose engineering. Pretty quickly, I realized it wasn’t for me. I tried front-end development thinking it would feel creative, but writing code wasn’t exactly exciting either.


During COVID I picked up painting again. Shared my work online, sold my art, and slowly found my way into digital design and freelance. It reminded me how much I love making things from scratch.

By 2022 I was doing both at once. Developer by day, designer by night. I was not waiting to become a designer. I just started doing the work.

Eventually I realized I did not just want to switch careers. I wanted to get really good at this. So I quit my job, flew countries, and started my Master's in HCI at the University of Maryland.

Now I’m deep into UX, doing what I love the most, exploring how systems, accessibility, and creativity fit together. Still the same person who loves figuring things out and making things look and feel better, just with more purpose and slightly better tools.


I do a lot.


I’ve always been someone who thrives with multiple things on my plate, there’s always something new I’m picking up. I love spending my time on traveling to new places, rebranding anything that looks slightly outdated (Inlcuding my portfolio twice a year), cooking, learning new tools just for fun, and DIY-ing my way through random projects at 2 a.m.

I am a current HCIM masters
student @UMD, College Park

Where
I’ve been

The Peaces Collective

Design Intern

Summer 2025

Speakaboo (Benvision)

UX Research Apprenticeship

March 2025

SuperReply

Product Designer

May 2024

IQVIA

Associate Software Developer (Yeah lol)

2022 - 2024

I am a current HCIM masters
student @UMD, College Park

Where
I’ve been

The Peaces Collective

Design Intern

Summer 2025

Speakaboo(Benvision)

UX Research Apprenticeship

March 2025

SuperReply

Founding Product Designer

May 2024

IQVIA

Associate Software Developer (Yeah lol)

2022 - 2024

I am a current HCIM masters
student @UMD, College Park

Where
I’ve been

The Peaces Collective

Design Intern

Summer 2025

Speakaboo (Benvision)

UX Research Apprenticeship

March 2025

SuperReply

Product Designer

May 2024

IQVIA

Associate Software Developer (Yeah lol)

2022 - 2024

Still here?

I know you want to

Work with me.

© 2025 | Definitely not my first draft.

Still here?

I know you want to

Work with me.

© 2025 | Definitely not my first draft.