Introductions

Hi there! I’m Jo — a tattoo apprentice, fine artist, UX designer, and co-author of Pinch to Zoom.

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So, what drew me to tattooing?

I’ve loved drawing for as long as I can remember — whether it was doodling Sharpie tattoos on my cousins' arms or sketching superhero cats in my first-grade classroom. Since then, my art practice has (thankfully) evolved, but two decades and two advanced degrees later, I’m still just as excited about making marks.

I’m also a bit of a nerd for human behavior and the influence of technology. Why do people act the way they do? What shapes their choices? And how do design and tech quietly guide those decisions? These are the questions I explore in my work as a User Experience Designer — a role that lives in a different universe from tattooing… or so I thought.

So when Heather — an incredible artist and tattooer — pitched the idea for a blog exploring the intersection of tattoos and tech, I jumped at the chance to contribute. Cue the flurry of metaphorical nerd hats.

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Hello!

I’m Heather - a tattoo artist and co-owner of Zeitgeist Tattoo studio in Denver,CO - and also co-author of Pinch to Zoom with Jo.

Not every tattoo is a laugh riot - but most are!

From 1999-2017 I worked in a variety of roles within the tech sector: website developer, application developer, technical lead and consultant, finally ending up spending my last three years in the field as a UX/UI Designer. I loved the intersection of compassion, data and technology driving my work those last three years - and would regularly get in the weeds considering all sorts of optimization/accessibility opportunitys in a digital realm.

In 2017, a small group of friends who own Tattoo Boogaloo in San Francisco convinced me that I could possibly work as a tattoo artist (was burnt out in tech/spent all free time creating art), and with their guidance, I started an apprenticeship at Fallen Owl Tattoo in May of that year.

Lots of fun twists and turns along the way, but am happy in my new career - though, I never stopped thinking about how process and experience improvement could make a huge difference in my tattoo practice for me, fellow artists and, of course, my clients!

Jo and I met in the fall of 2023 as they were beginning their apprenticeship - and we were both delighted to discovered this shared affinity for UX thinking and work, and also how those principles can apply to other fields: so here we are!

Thanks for venturing down this new rabbit hole with us!