About

Hello, I'm Ashley Kang (she/her)! I use design, code, and knowledge sharing to explore questions about connecting people and information in more accessible and secure ways.

These days, I'm:

Working on a M.S. in Computer Science with a concentration in Cybersecurity
Scheming with Color Coded Collective on community-centered technology projects
Seeking a software engineering role with an accessibility or security specialization

Notable projects (with details and process images below):

Elsewhere:

Credits: Designed and developed by yours truly, 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-based project to inspire others to use the open source JavaScript library and contribute to the Processing community? How might we make p5.js more accessible?

Solution: p5js.org/showcase — A Google Summer of Code 2019 project to create a new 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 updated in summer 2020

Contribution:

Researched examples of community showcases and p5.js contributions, designed wireframes and prototypes, and implemented using HTML, CSS, and templating and internationalization with Node.js, Grunt, YAML, and Assemble
Advocated for an accessibility review leading to a site-wide audit by accessibility specialists Sina Bahram and Claire Kearney-Volpe and refactored code with mentor Kate Hollenbach and p5.js creator Lauren McCarthy
Published project documentation and write-up on Processing’s blog, featured in p5.js 1.0 Contributors Zine, and invited to speak at the p5.js 1.0 Release Party

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

CLEAN

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

Contribution:

Co-led with Color Coded's internal team a kick-off workshop to ideate the website redesign with the CLEAN team
Co-created the website style guide, content strategy, and documentation
Implemented the 3-part About Us section using HTML, CSS, and Squarespace CMS
Co-facilitated a website maintenance training for the CLEAN team to prep for 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 online presences?

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 and revisiting in summer 2020

Contribution:

Advocated for accessibility, internationalization, style guides, and intentional form design in Color Coded's process
Co-designed the bilingual (English/Spanish) "Recommend a Business" form and began implementing in React

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

Etc.

Currently:

Attending Hacker Summer Camp...from home!
Continuing my herbalism education with Mika "Essence" Miller and Hood Herbalism

Previously:

As the first Web Developer Fellow under CSUF Extension and International Programs’ marketing and communications team, regularly updated CMS-based websites, email campaigns, and print/digital assets for 30+ programs—reaching 168K+ students for 3 academic years
Learned OWASP Top 10 secure coding practices in a Web Security course
Co-wrote and presented a research paper on IoT security for a Network Security course
As an ITP Camp 2019 Instigator, co-organized a technology zine workshop with Shira Feldman and a digital security training with David Huerta

Someday:

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