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Hello!

Hi I'm Karen. I'm a user researcher obsessed with customer behavior and asking why. Empathy is my super power.

My multi-disciplinary background helped me become a better collaborator with designers and non-designers. I am driven to understand the “why” behind consumer actions to build scalable products and experiences is rooted in a deep understanding of the people and environments they’re built for.


I have over 15 years experience leading and collaborating on design and UX projects from concept through completion for clients in the financial, hospitality and e-commerce sectors. My experience has taught me that design is most impactful when it’s addressing a human need. My previous life as a psychology major taught me the importance of empathy and attention to detail, which I’ve combined with my passion for design and user experience to help companies like solve large-scale, complex problems.

I come to work because I like to spend time with people I trust, admire and share the same satisfaction of shipping great products. I’m motivated by an ambition to be part of something bigger that can make a lasting positive change.

I also have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and you can usually find me at a class for a new coding language, continuing my pilates teacher certification training, attending 3D anatomy classes or cooking up tasty recipes.

I am currently working as a Lead User Researcher at Tock. Here I have the pleasure of working with many teams – collaborating closely with strategic leaders and product team to build the best reservations platform to meet the ever-changing needs of the hospitality industry.

I am open to grabbing tea – sometimes coffee – and always beer. Let's chat!

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Photo: Me enjoying a beer at Mikkeller & Friends in Reyjavik, Iceland. Not pictured: beer.

WHAT I LOVE TO DO FOR WORK

User Research

Product Strategy

Product Design

Pilates 🧘

Craft Beer 🍻

Hang with my cat, Blondie 🐈

WHAT I LOVE TO DO FOR PLAY

WORK EXPERIENCE

Tock (a Squarespace company)

LEad User Researcher

Oct 2022 – Present

  • Leading design, strategy and research – supporting both consumer facing and admin facing teams.

  • Partnering with the product managers, designers and engineers to establish a product vision, prioritize initiatives and measure what will have the most positive impact when delivered to our guests and businesses.

  • Establishing a research practice and continually evolving processes used across multiple product teams to ensure we have a deep understanding of users needs, pain-points and desires. Partnered with a plan for how to use insights to ideate and test assumptions in support of building a product that meets business and users needs.

 

 

Lead Product Designer and Researcher

Mar 2021 – May 2022

  • Leading design and research of multiple projects to support Tock businesses and restaurant operations, most specifically, the Hosts application.

  • Collaborating with the product team to establish a product vision and prioritize and measure what is delivered to our customers.

 

Staff Product Designer

Feb 2020 – Mar 2021

  • Responsible for design and research of multiple projects on the Customers team which supports our businesses admin operations within Tock.

  • Leading full end-to-end user research process for multiple projects while mentoring colleagues on best practices and increasing awareness of the importance of research.

  • Created a framework for user research processes to enable the creation of customer journey maps to be used by prod

  • Collaborating with multiple engineers and product teams to ensure quality product is delivered and measured.

SENIOR PRODUCT DESIGNER

Walmart Labs | Feb 2018 – Feb 2020

Designing the end to end product and vision for item setup and maintenance for Walmart Associates.

  • Collaborate closely with Product Managers on our strategic direction to ensure our designs will positively impact business goals.

  • Partner with multiple Engineering scrum teams to ensure quality product is delivered.

  • Lead quantitative and qualitative user research and usability testing, and analyze feedback for design evolution.

  • Define problems & goals, map user flows, prototype interactions and oversee the development process across different client platforms.

SENIOR UI DESIGNER

Rightpoint  |  May 2014 – Feb 2018

Responsible for design and user experience for multiple CRM projects including

Sharepoint, SiteCore, Episerver and Salesforce.

  • Facilitated discovery sessions with clients to help shape the vision of employee intranets and e-commerce experiences.

  • Collaborated closely with UX and Development teams to ensure quality deliverables throughout entire project timeline.

  • Notable clients include, Northwestern Mutual, Deloitte and 3M.

SENIOR DIGITAL DESIGNER

Isobar  |  Mar 2013 – Feb 0214

  • Led the redesign of Umpqua Bank's corporate website and the interface design of the new online banking experiences for desktop, mobile (OS and Windows)and tablet.

  • Worked closely with global teams on new business pitches for clients such asMSCI and Hilton Hotels.

SENIOR ART DIRECTOR

Leo Burnett  |  Apr 2010 – Mar 2013

Responsible for art direction, concept and execution of digital campaigns for Whirlpool.

  • Led design and user experience of the online Kitchen Stylist Tool.

  • Responsible for redesign for Whirlpool and Maytag e-commerce sites.

  • Online advertising including standard and rich media web banners.

  • Art directed 3D animated demos for new product launches.

  • Designed in-store POS units for P&G brands such as Pantene and Herbal Essences.

  • Developed shopper marketing programs and national retail promotions for Coke and Diet Coke brand

WEB DESIGNER

Vertical Incorporated  |  Nov 2008– Sep 2009

Responsible for the design of brochures and annual reports for B2B companies like Siemens and Grainger, as well as the concept and redesign of the Vertical Incorporated website.

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Haggin Marketing  |  Aug 2005 – Nov 2008

Designed and produced catalogs, direct mail pieces and e-mail blasts for clients such as Sears, Marriott, American Express and GBC.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts – 
Graphic Design

Bradley University | May 05 4.0 GPA  |  Minor in Art History

Associate in Arts & Sciences

Illinois Central College | Aug 00 - May 03​

AWARDS

2018

Gold for Personalized Global Intranet

Intranet and Digital Workplace Awards

3M GO Intranet  |  3M

Best Personalized Experience

Ragen Awards

DLife Intranet  |  Discover Financial Services

2017

Best Overall Intranet

Ragen Awards

iQ Intranet  |  QuintilesIMS

Honorable Mention

Ragen Awards

Digital Commons Intranet  |  Northwestern Mutual

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