About
One of my favorite things about UX research is getting to know people. I love hearing their stories, understanding what matters to them, and discovering details that aren't always apparent from the first conversation.
Every person brings a different perspective, and even familiar experiences can reveal something surprising when you take the time to listen. I enjoy helping others understand the people behind the experiences we're designing.
My path into UX research wasn't a straight line.
I first encountered formal UX research while working in product management and design at ResortQuest. We hired an outside agency to evaluate our website, and I had the opportunity to observe usability sessions through a one-way mirror. I was fascinated by the process and remember wondering whether I might someday get to do that kind of work myself.
Over the years, I moved further into UX design and design leadership, occasionally conducting research along the way. When the opportunity arose to focus on research full-time, I was excited to make the transition.
That background has become one of my greatest strengths as a researcher. I've worked in many of the roles I now collaborate with, so I understand the challenges of turning research into designs, balancing product priorities, and making decisions within real-world constraints.
I enjoy building strong relationships with those teams and helping them understand the people and experiences behind the findings.
I love the challenge of turning a broad collection of questions into a focused, practical research plan. Conducting the research brings a different kind of enjoyment: building rapport, listening carefully, and recognizing unexpected signals as conversations and observations unfold.
Then comes the puzzle of making sense of everything, finding meaningful patterns in qualitative and quantitative evidence, and figuring out how to communicate those findings clearly.
One of my favorite parts is the storytelling that follows: creating thoughtful, well-organized reports and presentations that help people understand what we learned, why it matters, and what they might do next.
For me, the research isn't finished when the data is analyzed. Helping others understand and use it is part of the work.
I believe good research should answer the questions that prompted it while remaining open to relevant insights that emerge along the way. I care about representing people's experiences with empathy and accuracy, respecting participants' time and trust, and helping teams make thoughtful, informed decisions.
I also value collaboration. Some of the most rewarding moments in my career have come from working across disciplines, challenging assumptions together, and building a shared understanding of what might make an experience better.
Gaming has been one of my favorite pastimes since childhood. I've spent countless hours playing video games, but over the past decade, board games and tabletop roleplaying games have become just as important to me.
What I especially enjoy about board games is how they bring people together around a shared experience. And with Dungeons & Dragons, I love the collaborative storytelling, where everyone contributes to creating something none of us could have imagined quite the same way on our own. Video games are still a big part of my life, especially when I get to play with longtime friends.
I'm also an avid reader across a variety of genres. I end nearly every day by stepping away from screens and settling in with a good old-fashioned paper book.
And when I'm not gaming or reading, there's a good chance I'm spending time with my Brussels Griffon, who brings a tremendous amount of joy (and personality) to everyday life.
If you're interested in my work or think we might enjoy working together, I'd love to hear from you.