Hello! I’m a UX Researcher with about 8 years of experience advocating for users at tech companies in the Seattle area and remotely. I would describe myself as Adaptive, a Collaborator, and a Builder.
Adaptive Throughout my career, I have experienced a variety of team sizes, research needs, scopes of responsibility, and product/user types. In new situations, I pull from my toolbox of experience to apply techniques that may be beneficial, and I fill in the gaps with innovation and experimentation. I am comfortable in ambiguity and enjoy learning new things.
Collaborator Relationship-building is my favorite way to build influence and impact at work. Whether partnering with teammates or other functions, collaboration multiplies my efforts, teaches me how to be more effective, and helps me align my work to business needs.
Builder For over half of my career, I have been on 1- or 2-person UX Research “teams”, giving me a wealth of experience in building out young research practices, evangelizing UX Research cross-functionally, and democratizing research to Design and other functions.
Getting into UX I used to think that when I couldn’t figure out a website or a TV remote, it was because I wasn’t smart enough. Then I learned about User Experience and User-Centered Design. As the world changes and becomes more digital, there’s a growing need for people to thoughtfully consider how to build things with the user in mind. I thrive on learning who uses a product, and how, and working with a team to design and build the product to meet that person’s needs. A product that solves the user’s problem is a product that will be purchased, renewed, and positively reviewed. It’s a win for the user and a win for the business.
I have a M.S. in Human Centered Design and Engineering from the University of Washington and a B.S. in Mathematics from Western Washington University.
In my free time, I enjoy baking bread and pizza, refining my at-home-espresso, and getting outside any way I can, from going on a hike to doing yardwork.
Recent methods: personas, surveys, in-depth interviews, workshops, card sorting, concept testing, discovery research, moderated and unmoderated usability testing, observation/ethnography, contextual inquiry, day-in-the-life, heuristic evaluation, cognitive walkthrough, focus groups
Other skills and methods: design thinking, design research, ideation, concept sketching, information architecture, interaction design, paper prototyping, video prototyping, wireframing, design critique, diaries studies
Coding: Introductory courses in Java, Python, HTML/CSS, and C++
I’m excited to continue learning new skills and techniques.
