About

Sean has over 20 years of interactive design and account management experience. In 2000, Sean founded SOS, a specialized creative studio based in Brooklyn, NY. He has set the creative vision for the highly regarded firm; the power of thoughtful design and delightful user experience to enable better teaching, learning, and communication.

Sean is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design. His work has been recognized by The Webby Awards, Communication Arts, SXSW Interactive, Business Week, The Smithsonian, and Apple.

Prior to entering the UX field, Monica was a special educator at public schools in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Her experience as a teacher has allowed her to develop a deep appreciation for research, and the ability to empathize with the unique needs of every user. She is also a strong advocate for inclusion and accessibility in design.

Monica obtained her undergraduate degree at NYU’s School of Individualized Study, and her Masters in Special Education at Hunter College. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, painting, and reading.

Milagros comes to Backpack with almost a decade of teaching experience as well as a solid background in Project Management and Production. Milagros brings her incredible eye for detail, time management skills, and thoughtfulness to every project and revels in a successful product launch. Milagros has an undergraduate degree in English Literature and Media and a Masters of Science in Early Childhood Education from Hunter College. She is a native New Yorker who enjoys a good Broadway show and a strong cup of coffee.

Originally from California, and a School of Visual Arts graduate, Kat has over 15 years of experience in design, having worked in various industries such as tech, fashion, and publishing. Her experience has given her a deep understanding of multiple design disciplines including graphic design, UX / UI, and branding. She has a passion for making beautiful, useful digital products and enjoys working collaboratively. Her motto: Always be learning something new.

When not designing, you might find her practicing guitar, swing dancing, or watching some live music somewhere in Brooklyn.

Prior to joining the Backpack team, Pantea finished her Master’s degree in a multidisciplinary design program at the School of Visual Arts, and worked as a UX/UI and Visual Designer for start-up companies and artists. This gave her an understanding of design research, digital product design, service design, experience design, and system thinking. Pantea believes that design is a great tool to build a more equitable world and is passionate about accessible design.

She was born and raised in Tehran, Iran, where she discovered her love for art and literature, and got her Bachelor’s degree in architecture. When she is not designing, you can find her at museums, comedy shows, or at home taking a nap with her cats.

Wei graduated from University of California, Irvine with a degree in Psychology and Digital Arts. With a passion for mental health awareness, Wei was a social worker for children before joining Backpack. Her experience actively listening to people has allowed her to carryover compassion into design. She is dedicated to making lives simpler and is excited by breaking down problems to create delightful products for the people.

When not designing, you’ll find her enjoying fiction and poetry or winding down to feel-good music.

Drew comes to Backpack with years of experience in Project Management and Event Planning. His passion for community building informs all aspects of his work, and he relishes the opportunity to bring people together. Drew has a BA in Political Science from SUNY Binghamton with a concentration in Global & International Affairs. When he’s not at Backpack, you can find him at comedy shows, browsing local record shops, or hanging out in the park with his dog.

Jessica uses her experience as an educator to center and amplify the voices of students and teachers. Her passion for research, specifically in edTech, is rooted in her own time in the classroom. Jessica graduated with a Masters in English Education from Columbia University’s Teachers College. She started her career in education teaching English Language Arts to middle school students in New York City. Jessica is passionate about helping create products not only for students and educators, but with them.

When she isn’t deep in research or chatting with students about literature, you can find her with her nose in a good book, trying out a new cafe, or taking a walk around Brooklyn with her Boston Terrier, Bernie.

Lauren is a multidisciplinary designer with a background in business, marketing, and sustainability. Originally from Toronto, she is currently pursuing her MFA in Products of Design at the School of Visual Arts, where she explores the intersection of research, storytelling, and user experience.

She brings a thoughtful, systems-minded approach to UX, blending creativity with strategy to design meaningful experiences. Outside of work,
she enjoys picking up new hobbies and exploring art galleries around the city.