ux researcher + anthropologist

I live and work in Boulder, co. Check out my resume.

I am an anthropologist and industrial designer by training. I've been working in design research and UX research since 2014. I am insatiably curious about others' perspectives and passionate about applying human-centered design principles to products and services. I focus on research because the importance of a solid logical foundation has repeatedly arisen in my design work. Thus, research eventually became my specialty.

There are endless ways to solve problems and to and shape the experiences that we all share. Life is a constant process of creation and destruction. Humans are inventors by nature. As an anthropologist, cultural evolution and human instinct are core to my approach. I specialize in exploring and improving physical and virtual user experiences. I apply research to insight to physical products, digital products, and services. As a world traveler who speaks other languages, I approach projects from an empathic multicultural perspective that discourages assumption.

My research methods include stakeholder interviews, personas, user journeys, user story backlogs, cooperative design workshops, participant recruiting firsthand and via agency, test protocol creation, remote and on-site usability testing, card sorting, surveys, and collaborative iteration with designers and stakeholders. I love working with diverse teams to create and improve products.

Pathway:

Anthropology + Latin American Studies + French Language @ University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Master of Industrial Design @ Rhode Island School of Design. I have worked in publishing, radio, TV, photography, set design, and product design.

Philosophy:

We are advanced animals who creatively respond to the pressures, inefficiencies, and challenges posed by our environment. We build upon the creations of our predecessors generation after generation. As our environment is increasingly shaped by human innovation, researchers and designers are particularly called upon to shape the world in which we live. As UX-ers, we have a responsibility to work mindfully as we create the next version of the world around us.