About Brea
Accessibility Advocate, UX Nerd, and Coffee Enthusiast
Hey there! I’m Brea (pronounced bree – like the cheese), a UX/UI designer with a wild passion for accessibility and making the digital world a more inclusive place. There’s not much that I love more than creating experiences that work for everyone — no exceptions.
By day, I lead UX and accessibility efforts for the VA: Health and Benefits mobile app, ensuring that millions of Veterans can access the services they need without barriers. If you want to see me completely geek out, just bring up WCAG, Section 508, design systems, or usability testing. I believe that great design isn’t just pretty, it’s functional, accessible, and empowering.
My journey started in graphic and web design, where I quickly realized that so many digital experiences were inaccessible to people who needed them most. That sparked a mission: to build better, advocate louder, and teach others how to create inclusive designs. Over the years, I’ve worked in government, healthcare, education, marketing, and advertising, leading accessibility initiatives, training teams, and pushing for a world where everyone can navigate the web and their mobile apps with ease.
When I’m not obsessing over accessibility, you’ll probably find me hanging out with my family, gaming on my Steam Deck, reading a good book, binging a new show, or hunting down the best local coffee spots. I also love sharing what I’ve learned, so if you’re looking to chat about accessible design, UX strategy, or why pineapple does not belong on pizza, let’s connect!
Skills and Specialties
Explore the range of expertise I bring to every project. From design to development, I focus on crafting seamless experiences that prioritize user needs and business goals. Below, you’ll find the key areas where I excel and continuously build upon to create meaningful, accessible, and intuitive solutions.
Education and Experience
Every step has shaped my approach to UX, accessibility, and creating better digital experiences. Explore my journey, and dive deeper with my full resume.
2015
BFA in Graphic Design
Sanford-Brown College | Tampa, FL
3.92 GPA
2010-2020
Graphic and Web Designer
Breazy Design Co.
- Designed custom WordPress websites and branding for authors, bloggers, and small businesses.
- Created book covers, marketing materials, and social media graphics to support a variety of campaigns.
- Managed client projects from concept to completion.
2015-2016
Art Director
PeakBiety | Tampa, FL
- Managed branding, web design, and marketing projects, overseeing print and digital assets.
- Led website design and development, serving as the agency’s accessibility and UX specialist.
- Provided project management and mentorship to interns.
2016-2018
Graphic Web Designer
University of Mississippi | Oxford, MS
- Designed and developed accessible websites for high-profile university departments.
- Built multiple custom, Level AA-compliant WordPress themes to be used across the university’s web network.
- Led client consultations and UX strategy, ensuring compliance with accessibility best practices.
- Designed email marketing templates and digital assets to support university communications.
2018-2022
Senior Web Designer
EverCommerce (Socius Marketing) | Tampa, FL
- Designed accessible websites for B2B and B2C industries, including home improvement and healthcare.
- Led web accessibility initiatives, introducing company-wide training, audits, and compliance processes.
- Developed wireframes, prototypes, and design systems to enhance usability and brand consistency.
- Created marketing assets for print, digital, and advertising campaigns.
2022-2025
Senior UX Accessibility Designer
Ad Hoc LLC | Washington D.C.
- Lead UX design and accessibility initiatives for the VA: Health and Benefits mobile app, ensuring usability for millions of Veterans.
- Conduct accessibility audits, testing, and compliance reviews to align with WCAG and Section 508 standards.
- Develop and maintain UX and accessibility documentation, checklists, and test plans for scalable implementation.
- Collaborate with VA stakeholders, advocacy groups, and design system teams to drive inclusive design improvements.
- Created mobile-specific accessibility guidance, filling a gap in official standards for native applications.
Good Vibes Only
Don’t just take my word for it. Here’s what others have to say about working with me.
Brea is simply excellent.
I haven’t met a more talented, hard-working, and caring mobile accessibility designer in my 10+ year career. She’s led large accessibility efforts on VA.gov’s mobile app in partnership with disabled Veterans which has had an incredible, human-centered impact in our work. If you’re looking for a talented multidisciplinary designer who excels at centering the human experience, look no further than Brea!
Josh Kim
UX and Accessibility Design Lead
Brea is very personable, exudes empathy and is a pleasure to work with.
She is SME (subject matter expert) in the area of UX accessibility and always willing to go above and beyond in collaboration with both peers and stakeholders! We have worked on several successful implementations together and Brea’s knowledge and work was instrumental to the success of those projects!
Stacy Blackwood
Product Manager