Recent Work

This sample showcases my recent research work as a qualitative, mixed-method, and multidisciplinary researcher. My practice ranges from engaging in methods such as ethnographic interviews and concept testing to helping stakeholders align and solidify a product vision, and conducting research to inform, ideate, and develop product strategies and recommendations. These samples demonstrate my process in designing and conducting qualitative research to uncover and deeply understand complex spaces and audiences, transforming research into actionable insights that enable engaging, ethical, and human-centered experiences.

Understanding Partner Experiences Through a Co-Creative Workshop (2024)

In collaboration with a healthcare organization, Lotic developed a survey using its partner-facing platform to evaluate the impact of one of the organization’s critical programs facing funding uncertainties. Leading a feedback workshop, I explored partners' experiences guiding clients through the survey. This qualitative exploration uncovered successes, areas for improvement, and opportunities for enhancement to refine the survey experience in future engagements.

White paper: distinguishing behavioral design & gamification (2023)

I independently researched and authored a paper on Behavioral Design and Gamification— two pivotal strategies in digital experiences and behavior change. My aim was to provide comprehensive insights for designers and diverse audiences across the organization, offering actionable guidance on how to effectively leverage these strategies to drive engagement and foster sustainable behavior change. Ultimately, the paper revealed nuanced differences in approach, methodology, and ethical considerations between these strategies, providing valuable insights for creating behavior change in digital experiences.

White paper: designing time & temporality in user experience (2023)

I independently researched and authored a literature review on time and temporality within digital experiences. The objective was to provide designers and stakeholders with actionable insights to better integrate these concepts into user experiences and interfaces. The paper explores leveraging time perception, implementing adaptive design principles, and managing digital-human time intersections. Additionally, it highlights the narrative potential of time and emphasizes the importance of considering concepts like "digital wellbeing" and humane design principles for user well-being in digital experiences.

White paper: distinguishing personalization & customization (2023)

I independently researched and authored a white paper on personalization and customization in digital user experiences. The goal was to provide actionable insights for designers and stakeholders by distinguishing between these strategies, enabling product teams to prioritize and roadmap their integration into products. The paper explores how personalization enhances engagement while addressing privacy concerns and content homogeneity, discusses customization's role in providing control and mitigating choice overload, emphasizes the importance of balancing these approaches for digital accessibility, and advocates for transparent data management practices to build trust.

HLTH CONFERENCE FIELD INTERVIEWS (2023)

At the HLTH conference, I conducted an ethnographic field study to understand attendees' industry interests, well-being perspectives, and needs. The research aimed to provide population insights, inform the development of our partner platform, and engage with the HLTH community. Goals included identifying healthcare industry interests, exploring trends, understanding challenges, and gathering attendee feedback. The study provided valuable insights into potential audiences and actionable recommendations for product and strategy teams, enhancing Lotic's future planning efforts.

Longitudinal Survey & Analysis on Self-Reflection (2023)

Co-led with behavioral scientists, we launched a longitudinal qualitative and quantitative survey involving two college student audiences as part of Lotic’s initiatives in partner prospecting and iterative product development. The survey focused on exploring self-reflection mechanisms among college students, investigating order effects, dose-response to daily self-reflection, and individual differences' role in the impact of daily self-reflection. Additionally, we gathered qualitative workout experience feedback, assessing language style, overall experience, and prompt voice recordings. I led the qualitative feedback portion, covering design, analysis, and synthesis,

UX RESEARCH SYNTHESIS (2023)

This document distills seven months of comprehensive UX research and testing aimed at refining the design and functionality of Lotic’s mobile application. Conducted with both college students and the general population, these endeavors included interviews, surveys, and concept tests to probe user needs, preferences, and the app's perceived value. Synthesized findings, recommendations, and implications from each study are presented, serving as a pivotal resource for guiding current design activities and shaping future iterations of the app.

moderated Mixed-method app concept test (2023)

I co-led the design of the research guide and led the conducting of concept tests, analysis, and synthesis for a moderated mixed-method concept test. This test aimed to assess the viability of Lotic’s consumer app concepts, evaluate their resonance as tools for improvement, understand user’s perceptions, and explore their potential integration into users' daily routines to enhance well-being. The findings informed an app visioning and strategy workshop with executive leadership and drove a design sprint to iterate on the concepts.

Mixed-method qualitative user research (2022)

This user research project aimed to deepen the company’s understanding of potential users, their habits, practices, and digital preferences. The research employed remote interviews, field interviews, and a survey. Throughout the project, a college student persona and journey map were created to provide a comprehensive view of the target audience. Key findings included insights into college students' current wellbeing practices, resources they seek out, trust-building mechanisms, and digital preferences. Actionable recommendations and outlined next steps were provided for teams across the organization, including design, product, strategy, content, and wellbeing science, to inform concept development, iteration, and business strategy.

[job change]

DTC Vaccine Platform Design Strategy (2022)

In this multi-phase project, I collaborated closely with a behavioral economist to conduct interviews, facilitate workshops, and create final deliverables. Our partnership drove qualitative interviews with partner stakeholders to uncover insights into the platform's vision, priorities, and challenges, guiding stakeholder alignment and informing subsequent user research efforts. Drawing from industry exemplars, we developed high-level prototypes for concept testing during user research sessions. Additionally, I led the design of a comprehensive research guide for user interviews, ensuring exploration of diverse perspectives from doctors, pharmacists, and nurses. Synthesizing these insights, we crafted personas and journey maps to steer strategic planning for concept development and design, ultimately providing actionable next steps for our clients.

Well-being & Training Program Digital Transformation design strategy (2022)

In partnership with two sister companies, our objective was to digitize analog wellbeing and training programs while incorporating wearable data. Collaborating with behavioral economists, we conducted stakeholder interviews to uncover the product vision, priorities, and barriers. Simultaneously, we analyzed the competitive landscape to explore how the proposed platform compared to other wellness and fitness behavior change platforms and offer insight as to how to position the platform strategically within the market. A comprehensive UX/UI audit identified opportunities to integrate behavioral design for more effective habit creation. Our insights were presented in a workshop aimed at sharing insights and driving alignment among stakeholders. During the workshop, we also introduced a behavioral economics-informed engagement model, presented a user flow enriched with inspiration and recommendations, and outlined tactical next steps to guide our clients towards success.

Transforming a Book into a Behavioral design Masterclass (2022)

To transform my boss's book into a behavioral economics masterclass, I refined the curriculum and conducted research to inform the UI design of the course landing page. This involved creating wireframes and conducting user research to understand potential audiences, as well as concept testing the wireframes. After gathering feedback, I refined the wireframes and presented findings, insights, and recommendations on course format, pricing, and cadence. Finally, I developed a prototype and utilized Google Analytics for A/B testing to optimize the user experience and guide decision-making.

[college work]

senior thesis: building community (2021-2022)

My senior thesis explored how to activate communities for proactive self-organization. Through extensive research, I dived into best practices for community organizing, factors that strengthen communities, and effective methods for engaging community members. Findings revealed an absence of robust community groups and organization, particularly due to un-engaging community boards, that hinders participatory governance. To address this, I proposed fostering a more inclusive conversation between community boards and members. This initiative aimed to promote inclusivity and accessibility in decision-making processes. Central to this proposal was "The Community Deck," a design tool crafted to facilitate collaborative discussions and envision a more desirable future through imaginative thinking and collective problem-solving.

urbancentric innovation (2021)

"UrbanCentric Innovation" explores the intersection of climate change and urbanization, investigating innovation across various impact levels. Through primary and desk research, the project explores consumerism in the vintage market, traces the historical roots of Studio Nab's urban vertical farm, and envisions a sustainable future with a "forest city" concept for New York City boroughs. Challenges revealed a lack of awareness and systemic thinking in sustainable design adoption. However, the project highlighted the interconnectedness of past, present, and future actions, emphasizing the importance of speculation and systems-thinking in crafting future-informed solutions. Ultimately, this semester-long research underscored the depth of history that affects the present in transdisciplinary ways, showing the importance of considering long-term impacts in innovation design.