I define myself as a product designer, who cares a little more than the “user experience.“ I think about feature prioritization, user value and impact, and I care about solving the “right problems.“ This all comes from the passion for users — understanding their behaviors, goals, challenges, and making the right solution for them. I think from an interdisciplinary mindset — Psychology, HCI, business, and art. My experiences and interests bring me here, a designer who cares about solving the right problems and user impacts.
Katie’s Design Values
➊ User Empathy
Understanding users and being empathetic is where the magic happens. Interviewing, observing, conducting “sales safaris“, I relate with users by pinpointing their goals and struggles. A lot of the times, defining a precise problem means a great solution is on the way.
➋ System Thinking
A large part of generating a great solution is clearly defining the problems. Using design approaches like HMWs, problem spaces, and behavioral analysis, I construct systems, instead of features, thinking about flows, information architecture, and estimating user value.
➌ Research-driven
Design and user needs are constantly evolving, and good designs should be grounded in evidence. I read at the forefront of HCI and design research papers, and actively incorporate research into my design process, gaining directions to guide impactful design solutions.
➍ Get Inspired
My design inspirations come from reading and photography. I read about arts, history, civilization, and design books. As a photographer, I gain valuable visual balance from my pictures.