About me
I learned UX and human-centered design while I was working at the major nonprofit LIFT. In my third year as Program Manager at the organization, my team used methods from IDEO’s Design Kit to transform a drop-in resource center into a repeat financial coaching program for parents who were low-income.
During our research phase, hard-working moms and dads told us we’d have to rethink our hours of operation. To reach busy parents, we had to time our coaching services with childcare drop-off and pick-up, and sometimes stay open on weekends.
In retrospect, this seems obvious. But at the time, my team had taken our 9-to-5 weekday schedules for granted. Adjusting our hours was difficult, but it made a huge difference. To me, that unexpected discovery is what UX is all about: to truly meet your users where they are, you have to listen, challenge your assumptions, and put their stories at the center of your designs.