Hi, I'm Emily!
I'm a Product Designer and UX Researcher with 13 years of experience, including building a UX research practice from the ground up at a company that had never had one. I'm happiest early in a problem, before anyone's decided what the interface should look like, mapping out what actually needs to happen and why.
How I Work
I started my career as a graphic designer and front-end developer, but what pulled me toward UX was realizing that a beautiful design and a successful one aren't always the same thing. Success is the balance of usability, aesthetics, and what's technically feasible, all at once.
I'm problem-driven, not solution-driven. Before I open Figma, I want to know what we're solving and why users care about it, which is often a different answer than why the business cares. For complex problems, I usually start with a workflow diagram, not a screen, so the team can talk through how someone gets from A to B without getting distracted by what it looks like yet.
I also love the unglamorous parts. I'll spend real time on the exact wording of an error message or a form label, because that's often where a product actually earns or loses someone's trust .
Beyond Work
Outside of work, you'll usually find me out for a run, experimenting with a new coffee brewing method, or attempting a baking recipe that's a little too ambitious for a weeknight. I’m also a self-taught SketchUp enthusiast, working on my skills to design 3D models for personal projects. And yes, my two cats get more of my attention than I'd like to admit.
If you're solving a problem worth digging into, I'd love to hear about it!
