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My CV/Resume

Hi, I'm Sakura, a game UX/UI Designer from Ireland with both Irish and Japanese heritage.

 

With a lifelong passion for art, I began my creative journey through graphic design and digital illustration while working as a restaurant floor manager. Over time, this passion grew into a career as I focused on honing my skills in UX and UI design.

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My background in psychology - with both a Bachelor's and Master's degree from Trinity College Dublin - has strongly shaped my design approach. It gives me a research-driven perspective, helping me solve complex problems and make informed design decisions that put the player first.

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In 2021, I completed a Professional Diploma in UX Design with the UX Design Institute (credit-rated by Glasgow Caledonian University), and since then I have specialised in applying UX to games.

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I am currently the Game UX/UI Designer at Vela Games, where I have designed, documented, and implemented a wide range of player-facing systems in Unreal Engine 5, including HUDs, store and vendor screens, reward flows, dialogue and localization systems, matchmaking, and progression interfaces. I have also adapted and optimised the UI for both keyboard/mouse and gamepad navigation, contributing directly to the launch of a live PC title.

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As a passionate and hands-on designer, I'm constantly expanding my skillset and exploring new ways to bring together psychology, visual design, and gameplay. My goal is always to create intuitive, immersive, and player-centred experiences.

AnnaSakuraPhoto

WORK EXPERIENCE

2021 - current

Game UX/UI Designer

Vela Games

Dublin, Ireland

As the sole UX/UI designer at the company, I have worked closely with various teams both within and outside the organisation to translate design ideas and concepts, based on user research and feedback, into clear wireframes and prototypes using various design software. I then implement these designs into Unreal Engine 5.

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Duties include:

  • Develop interactive prototypes to effectively demonstrate user flows and complex functionalities.

  • Consistently produce high-quality, visually appealing UI assets.

  • Design and implement widgets and features in Unreal Engine, incorporating 2D animations and screen transitions.

  • Adapt and optimize UI to be navigable using both keyboard/mouse and gamepad, implementing these features in Unreal Engine 5 to enhance user experience across different input devices.

  • Document comprehensive design guidelines in a coherent UX/UI style guide.

2018 - 2021

Graphic Designer & Social Media Content Creator

Yamamori Restaurant Group

Dublin, Ireland

As the graphic designer for the company, I was responsible for a wide variety of projects where I managed and coordinated projects from concept through completion.

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Duties include:

  • Developed food, drink, and dessert menus for three restaurants, creating print-ready files using Adobe Creative Suite under tight time constraints..

  • Collaborated closely with Head Chefs and managers to edit, proofread, and produce high-quality menus.

  • Conceptualized and designed takeaway packaging labels, ensuring alignment with the company’s brand style.

  • Partnered with the marketing team to develop creative social media content and managed the day-to-day operations of the company’s social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram.

2021 - 2021

Freelance UX Designer

Dublin, Ireland

Since becoming certified in UX research and design, I have taken on part-time UX freelance work and have worked on a project involving designing a website for an upcoming restaurant in Dublin.

As I was the sole designer for this project, I was responsible for carrying out all roles while closely following the UX process.

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Duties include:​

  • Conducting in-depth research using interviews, usability tests and competitive benchmark analyses.

  • Producing high-quality prototypes and detailed annotated wireframes to be provided to a development team.

  • Taking the client's budget and requests into account while working efficiently to meet tight deadlines.

2013 - 2021

Restaurant Floor Manager

Yamamori Izakaya

Dublin 2, Ireland

A fast-paced and busy restaurant specialising in Japanese cuisine in a relaxed fine-dining environment with warm service. I started my employment here as wait staff and gradually moved up through positions within the organisation becoming Head Waitress in 2017 and Floor Manager in 2018.

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Duties included:

  • Oversaw daily opening and closing procedures of the restaurant while supervising and training employees, ensuring high standards of service.

  • Assigned tasks and coordinated dining room activities to provide prompt and courteous service to patrons.

  • Utilised effective communication skills to resolve challenging customer complaints, enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty.

  • Managed payroll and timekeeping, handling all necessary paperwork for new hires and terminations.

  • Handled guest inquiries, customer service requests, and reservation bookings using ResDiary, optimizing dining room flow to achieve two to three table turns each night, accommodating up to 240 guests simultaneously.

2015 - 2017

Research Assistant

Infant & Child Research Lab

Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

Working with other academic members of the research team, I was responsible for data collection, interpretation and the presenting of findings in the form of a written research report.

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Duties included:

  • Collected data by testing both children and adults through the administration of psychological evaluations.

  • Input data into specialist research software, coding it, manipulating it and producing reports. 

  • Transcribed and coded the material collected using CLAN programs and INTERACT Mangold. 

  • Provided ready access to all experimental data for supervisors.

EDUCATION

February 2021 - June 2021

2016 - 2017

2012 - 2016

Professional Diploma in

UX Design

Master of Science in

Applied Psychology

Bachelor of Arts in

Psychology

UX Design Institute, Dublin / Glasgow Caledonian University

Overall percentage: 93%

Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

2:1 Honours

Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

2:1 Honours

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

As a UX/UI Designer with a background in psychology, I have a diverse set of skills that include research methods, analytical tools, design software and prototyping apps. While I am proficient in a wide array of softwares, I am also a fast learner, eager to learn and add to this skillset.

Adobe Creative Suite

Other Programs

Research

I have extensive experience using a range of Adobe programs including:

  • XD

  • Photoshop

  • Illustrator

  • InDesign

  • After Effects

  • Acrobat Pro

  • Unreal Engine 5

  • Figma

  • Miro

  • Microsoft Office​ Suite

  • CLAN

  • Interact Mangold

  • SPSS

  • Interviewing skills

  • Usability testing

  • Competitive benchmarking

  • Affinity Diagrams

  • Reporting skills

  • Academic research

  • Coding & transcribing

  • Data validation

PERSONAL SKILLS

Willingness to learn

Detail-oriented

Active listener

Since childhood, I have been extremely curious and eager to learn new things. More recently, my dedication to grow has taken the form of expanding my digital and research skills, having enrolled in courses and attended webinars in whatever spare time I have.

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My willingness to learn is also enhanced by my ability to grasp new concepts quickly as well as my ability to adapt to new conditions.

I pride myself on my keen eye for detail which has been crucial to my success throughout the years. My passion for high-quality work and ability for noticing small details regardless of the task has allowed me to excel at the work that I do.

​As a designer, I believe it is imperative to try be able to see things from the user’s perspective. My background in psychology as well as extensive experience working with the general public has allowed me to build empathy skills and understand the importance of being an active listener.

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