Meet the Team!
Creative X is a community of aspiring designers at Rutgers, although you’ll find that many of its members are pursuing a variety of different careers, majors, and goals. It was officially approved to be a club in October 2020. Throughout the semester, Creative X held panels with industry professionals, skill-building workshops, and even hosted its own design-a-thon, createRU. Creative X has accomplished so much in such a short time frame, and none of this would have been possible without its amazing e-board :) We wanted to give a moment of fame to everyone on the e-board and share a little about their aspirations, interests, and general facts about them!
Sarah Ng: Co-President
Sarah is a rising senior double majoring in Information Technology and Informatics and Cognitive Science. One of the original founders, she created Creative X because she was interested in UI/UX but didn’t know where to start.
“I didn’t know anyone who was interested in design until I met the lovely people on our E-board. I knew that feeling of needing a sense of community, especially since in design it is important to get feedback, learn from others, and engage in intriguing conversations. With Creative X, I wanted to take what I learned and share it with others who feel/felt the same way. While I’m still learning and growing everyday, especially from the Creative X community, I hope to help others find their place, learn, and join a design family here at Rutgers.”
What else are you involved in?
Along with Creative X, Sarah is also the Co-President of Rutgers Fashion Organization of Retail and Marketing, a brother in the Alpha Phi Omega Professional Service Fraternity, and a mentor for Rutgers WITI this past semester.
What are your post-grad plans?
Sarah plans to be a UX or Product Designer for Disney or Spotify and also hopes to travel.
Hobbies/interests or current projects?
Some interests include painting, playing the ukulele, piano and Nintendo switch, hanging out with friends/family, listening to music, and fashion. She is currently working on a project with Rutgers IDEA and the US EPA to create Clean Air Hero — a game for young students to learn about bus emissions and its effect on air quality.
Willow Yao: Co-President
Willow is a rising junior similarly double majoring in ITI & Cognitive Science. She decided to join and found Creative X to meet amazing students that are also interested in design.
What else are you involved in?
Willow does research for the HCI lab and women in tech.
What are your post-grad plans?
Working as a Product/UX designer in the healthcare/education/community-building space, traveling a lot, and mentoring young designers!
Hobbies/interests or current projects?
Willow is interested in drawing people, watching cat videos, and eating too much spicy food. Currently, she is learning more about 3D design.
Najia Khan: Design Director
Najia is a rising senior majoring in ITI and minoring in Computer Science. She helped create and joined Creative X to be a part of a welcoming community of designers where she could learn more about the field and skills to become a better designer.
“I wanted to help create a chill environment where students struggling to learn UI/UX design, graphic design, etc. could come and meet fellow designers and improve their skills.”
What else are you involved in?
Najia is a part of the website team for Douglass where she helps design and develop the new website.
What are your post-grad plans?
She hopes to get a job at a design agency or company as a user experience designer.
Hobbies/interests or current projects?
Najia loves to create digital illustrations using Procreate and Illustrator and also likes to read in her spare time.
Andy Hwang: Community Director
Andy is a rising senior majoring in ITI and minoring in Psychology. Another original founder, he wanted to foster a design community at Rutgers that wasn’t really here before and empower young and new designers such as himself to create and build creative things.
What else are you involved in?
Creative X is currently the community Andy is focusing on. Before, he used to help out at Hilltop Embrace which is a community organization at Rutgers that feeds the homeless as well as helps them with their fight against systemic homelessness in New Jersey.
What are your post-grad plans?
He aims to get a design job and hopefully continue to be able to contribute to community wherever he goes.
Hobbies/interests or current projects?
Andy likes to play electric guitar!
Samir Patki: Industry Director
Samir is a rising senior double majoring in Cognitive Science and Psychology. He started Creative X to aid in establishing a community of designers on campus that are eager to grow together and level up their design skills.
“Previously, many of us on the e-board didn’t know each other or anyone else pursuing this path and felt like Rutgers was lacking in the design opportunities.”
What else are you involved in?
On campus, Samir is involved in the HC Student Wellness Committee, Hindu Students Council and Road to Silicon V/Alley Program.
What are your post-grad plans?
Samir’s post-grad plans are to be a product designer crafting solutions that are simultaneously beautiful, ethical and empowering for people. He believes we need to put the humanity back into design and tech.
Monica Ghosal: Projects Director
Monica is a rising junior double majoring in Design & ITI. When she first learned about UI/UX, she was extremely intimidated. With a background in visual design, she quickly realized that User Experience isn’t as straightforward as other fields — there was so much for her to learn.
“I joined/created Creative X to grow as a designer amongst my fellow peers. Moreover, I joined Creative X to help cultivate a safe space for designers in and out of Rutgers. Design can be daunting, but a community like Creative X can help designers grow together.”
What else are you involved in?
Currently, Monica is a UX Design Intern at Ethos Group. On campus, she is involved in Rutgers Blueprint and The Percentage Project.
What are your post-grad plans?
She hopes to work full time in a UX designer position after grad :) Aside from work, she also wants to continue to serve as an active member of design communities by mentoring young designers!
Hobbies/interests or current projects?
Monica is an avid coffee drinker (oat milk lattes have her heart 💕), loves listening to podcasts, watching documentaries, reading Medium articles, and going on walks! 😌
Jason Lei: Logistics Director
Jason is a rising junior double majoring in Business Analytics & IT and Finance. They first joined Creative X because they wanted to test the waters, and see what product design and UIUX is all about.
“There’s not much at Rutgers, and in general, students don’t really have the time (or initiative, for lack of a better word) to try something new. The community is very welcoming, and over time, I began to really enjoy the events, creating my own prototypes, and also helping others learn more about UI/UX. It really was the perfect intersection of creativity and technology, but also gave me a lot of agency as a product designer to have fun and advocate for the users I am designing for.”
What else are you involved in and out of campus?
On campus, Jason is a part of Routure, Rutger’s fashion magazine, as an editor and graphic designer. Other clubs and communities they are involved in are Out4Tech, Out4Business, BITS, the Marching Band and Pep Band.
What are your post-grad plans?
“Post-grad is really open for me, and I think that is ok.”
Jason just started their journey at the middle of sophomore year, and the rest of the time will be taking business related courses while developing their skills and portfolio on the side. They are considering applying to higher education, or maybe finding a job that pays well and is stimulating. Never having been the “typical” person, Jason does not expect their post-grad plans to be typical either.
“I want to be involved in the community, wherever I decide to go. I want to be able to connect with people, uplift voices and advocate for what’s right. I feel that there’s no “typical” job or path that can offer me that; I’ll just do what feels right and true to myself like I have always have.”
Hobbies/interests or current projects?
Currently finding ways to connect with their community, maybe through a podcast or blog. In their free time, Jason is always reading, doodling, exploring themselves and the world. Jason has been reading more about prison abolition, astrology, and of course, sci-fi. These are just some of the things they are interested in; either making a better today, or dreaming about a better future.
