Hi! I'm Bethany,
a multidisciplinary product designer and researcher, with a wide range of experience in consumer technology, automotive, and medical industries.
I'm passionate about how user experience research in product design can help lead innovation and drive product roadmaps. I strive to deliver impactful and highly actionable insights to stakeholders through a wide variety of research methods, and help design teams deliver products with excellent UX.
Projects and Case Studies
As an industrial designer-turned-researcher you'll find a wide variety of projects in my portfolio, spanning not just focus but industry. I've collaborated in many industries like automotive, medical, consumer technology, furniture, and many more. Due to sensitive IP some projects may exclude specific details, please know I'll take the same precautions should I have the pleasure of working with you!
Experience
My journey in product design and research
While I specialize in user experience and product design research, I have a background in traditional industrial design. I feel strongly that UXR shouldn't just exist for digital products, so I've made it my mission to bring user experience research to traditional industrial and product design.
Education
I studied Industrial Design at Kendall College of Art and Design and received my BFA along with an Excellence Award and a spot on the Presidents' List. I thoroughly enjoyed school and the variety of industries I was exposed to.
Internships
I had amazing internships during my college career that allowed me to dig deeper into the design process and hone my skills in all areas of the design process and product development. I was instantly drawn to research, loving interviews and field observations.
Early Career
I worked as a junior level industrial designer out of school at a small consultancy. While I enjoyed traditional ID work here, something was missing. My projects didn't leave much room for problem identification, solving, or validation.
Pivot to UI/UX
While working in a design studio, I had the opportunity to work with a UI/UX team on user experience research studies. Immediately I knew I wanted to continue digging into UXR.
Establishing UXR Practice
Because there were no researchers in the studio at the time, I was the champion for UXR. I worked hard to build a UXR practice and to help designers and product owners answer key questions about their users, and bringing back key insights to the team.
Specializing in UXR
I have come to love research and strongly believe more product teams should lean into the insights research can give us to ensure we're designing the best user experiences we can.
About Me
With a background in industrial design, I added UI/UX in my skillset to address the challenges of products that have both physical forms and digital interfaces. User research is integral to my design process, providing valuable insights that shape product development and strategic roadmaps. To further enhance my expertise in user experience research, I earned a certification in UX with special recognition in UX Research from the Nielsen Norman Group. I thrive in collaborative environments where design, research, and strategy converge to drive successful product outcomes. I specialize in user experience, complex problem-solving, and leveraging insights to inform product development.
When I'm not working I enjoy spending time with my husband and dog, enjoying the outdoors, rock climbing, and practicing yoga. And I can usually be found curled up with a good book or watching a rom-com!
