Sonia L. Border

About

I'm a full-time designer at Activision working on internal tools to support Player Support operations. I'm also a part-time student, studying Information and Data Analytics at San Jose State University. I did not have the traditional path of high school -> college -> internship/work, and instead found myself on quite the winding road, landing my first job in tech at 30 years old. If this interests you, or you're curious to learn more, I'd love to chat. I'd also love to learn what you are working on, and help where I can. I believe I have a lot to learn from other perspectives and get a lot of satisfaction out of helping others out, even if all you need is an ear to listen.

How I can help

An entry level/early career mentee would probably get the most out of our conversations. I can help with communication and collaboration skills, and relationship building, across cross-functional teams on a project. I can help with portfolio building, presentation skills, interview practice, and other general career advice. I can also help with folks navigating data-heavy/complex enterprise tools, general UI/UX practices, accessibility, in addition to visual design and illustration.

Ask me about

Expertise

Experience

1. UI/UX Designer · Activision, Player Support

   Aug 2022-Present

   UI/UX Designer for proprietary enterprise software within Player Support, ensuring optimization of internal workflows. As well as the design and accessibility of self-service tools on the Player Support website. - Sole designer on a new suite of internal support tools, working closely with product and engineering as we moved away from third-party platforms. - Structured agent experiences around delivering the right data at the right time, making complex information easier to find, reducing average handle time (AHT). - Designed tools for teams supporting millions of players across seasonal content and annual game launches in a live-service environment. - Led internal accessibility workshops and built stakeholder support for WCAG and EAA-aligned design.

2. UI/UX Designer · Reely

   May 2021-June 2023

   Reely is an AI-powered video platform that cuts highlights for esports and sports. - Designed tools and dashboards for video clip editing, asset management, and user administration. - Shaped user roles and permission systems to support complex access and workflow needs. - Worked closely with stakeholders and developers to define requirements and ship scalable internal tools in a fast-moving startup environment.

3. UI/UX Designer · ChainGames

   Apr 2021-Jul 2021

   Chain Games is a blockchain-integrated gaming network that allows for decentralized game of skills contests with real crypto payouts. Designed information architecture and wireframes, focused on defining, organizing and labeling UI related to user accounts, crypto wallets and connecting them to CG's web experience.

4. Illustrator · Freelance

   2013-2021

   Specialized in illustration and graphic design commissions for individuals and small businesses. Projects included: -Poster illustration -Product packaging art -Custom Twitch and Discord icons/emoticons -Music album artwork -Private family and couples portraits -Wedding invitations -and more

5. Production and Operations Manager · Etta+Billie

   Apr 2015-Mar 2020

   Etta + Billie creates sustainable bath + body products. Manufacturing management taught me to think in systems, workflows, and real-world constraints, a foundation for how I approach complex product design today. Led day-to-day production operations. Maintained inventory and batch record documentation for raw materials and finished goods in compliance with FDA requirements, reinforcing a strong foundation in process rigor, traceability, and quality control.