About

Hello world, I'm Ashley Kang! I use design, code, and research to explore questions about how to make the secure thing easier to do as a senior security engineer building security UX. I love a coffee shop that serves a breakfast burrito, care too much about skincare and home decor, and picked up surfskating (GRLSWIRL <3) while rebuilding my life.

I have a MS in computer science (proud Offensive Security Society alum!) and a BA in a self-designed liberal arts concentration in art, media studies, and computer science. I bring an interdisplinary, cross-functional, and cross-industry range of training and experience in:

• Technology consulting: Web development, UI/UX design, web accessibility
• Security engineering: Product security, cloud platform security
• Security consulting: Application security, penetration testing
• Security research: Malware analysis, cyber threat intelligence

I'm always open to learning about full-time opportunities in these areas that facilitate remote work, work-life balance, and sponsorship + mentorship.

Elsewhere:

• LinkedIn

Credits: Designed and developed by yours truly (© 2025 Ashley Kang), layout help from SuperHi, typeset with Fugaz One and Work Sans from Google Fonts, compressed with Squoosh and Optimizilla

p5.js Showcase

Purpose: How might we showcase a p5.js project to increase access to the open source JavaScript library and inspire others to contribute to the Processing community in many different ways?

Solution: p5js.org/showcase — A Google Summer of Code 2019 project to create a new 6-part section on the p5.js documentation website that showcases creative and inclusive uses of p5.js and encourages project nominations; officially released in February 2020 with p5.js version 1.0 and curated in 2020-2022 by student contributors Connie Liu, Katie Chan, and Annie Zheng

Contribution:

• Researched community showcase examples and 60+ creators working with p5.js, organized research into types of p5.js contributions, and established a form-based process for creators to nominate a project of their own or by others
• Designed wireframes, created a prototype, and implemented using HTML, CSS, and Node.js templating to support internationalization
• Curated 6 projects and interviewed their creators (of 5+ million users!) about their process of using p5.js to explore art and design concepts and mediums, p5.js libraries and other technologies, or ways of learning and teaching
• Advocated for an accessibility review, leading to a site-wide audit by accessibility specialists Sina Bahram and Claire Kearney-Volpe and code refactoring with mentor Kate Hollenbach and p5.js creator Lauren McCarthy
• Featured in Processing's p5.js version 1.0 release, blog, contributor documentation, p5.js 1.0 Contributors Zine, p5.js 1.0 Release Party, and 20th Anniversary Community Catalog

Image: An early iteration of the p5.js Showcase homepage, featuring the headline "Showcase" and an introduction to the project

CLEAN Carwash LA

Purpose: How might we update the CLEAN Carwash LA website to better present who they are as an organization today and support their fundraising efforts?

Solution: cleancarwash.org — A complete website redesign for CLEAN Carwash LA (Color Coded’s first community partner) to strengthen reach to 20+ car washes across LA, 5 foundation grants (now 13!), and community donors

Contribution:

• Co-led with Color Coded's internal team a kick-off workshop to ideate the website redesign with CLEAN's staff and subsequent sessions to develop the website style guide, content strategy, and maintenance documentation
• Led the redesign of the 3-part About Us section and implemented using HTML, CSS, and Squarespace CMS
• Co-facilitated a website maintenance training to support CLEAN's strategy around their main fundraising event

Image: An early prototype of the new CLEAN Carwash website's "About" section using WordPress CMS, featuring a header image of CLEAN's community, their mission statement, and information about how to support their mission

Locales

Purpose: How might we connect conscious consumers in Los Angeles with small local businesses (like freelancers and co-ops) that don’t necessarily have an online presence?

Solution: locales.la — A digital platform that highlights small businesses and encourages locals to recommend a business to be featured (Color Coded's first internal project); launched in November 2016

Contribution:

• Advocated for accessibility, internationalization, style guide, and intentional form design in the internal team's process
• Began implementing a bilingual (English/Spanish) "Recommend a Business" form in React

Image: Whiteboard wireframes of the form to "Recommend a Business" for Locales, featuring desktop and mobile views

Etc.

Currently:

• Listening to the With Love, Always podcast
• Reading the Care of Chan newsletter, Alice and Bob Learn Secure Coding, and Designing Secure Software
• Working on wellness coach and mental health first aid trainings

Culturally competent mental health care helped save my life:

• Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA)
• Esther's Home
• Korean Community Services (KCS)