Maija is a product designer with a cognitive scientist’s brain and a
performer’s heart.
Hi there, it's nice to meet you! My name is Maija, and I'm a junior at Northwestern studying Cognitive Science and pursuing certificates in Human-Computer Interaction and Digital Design.
My path to design wasn't linear—and that's the point. I trained pre-professionally in dance for 10 years, which taught me to be detail-oriented, resilient, and endlessly iterative. I fell in love with the rehearsal process: the experimentation, the refining, the relentless push toward something that works. That same energy drives how I design today.
I’m driven by a deep curiosity about the invisible systems that shape everyday experiences—and a belief that great design should feel intuitive, human, and maybe a little magical. My background in cognitive science and means I approach every challenge from a deeply human-centered perspective. I believe understanding how people think and communicate is essential to creating experiences that actually serve them.
Let's connect! I'd love to chat about design, cognition, or whatever you're curious about.