Areas of Expertise

UX Research
Innovation Strategy
UX Design

Hey there! I’m Natalie.

In case you are curious to learn a bit about who I am and what fuels me, I’ll fill you in.

Then.

My background in psychology and research, art and design, child development, and my fluency in Spanish has laid the foundation for my career in UX. My fulfilling work and volunteer experiences consequently instilled deep empathy for users and an unquenchable passion for social and environmental impact.

Now.

I like to think of myself as pretty personable…person. With a touch of dark, dry humor. Like a cabarnet sauvignon. Sweet, dry, bold and full in spirit and body. (And, yes. That is all I will say regarding my three years as a wine bar server as my side hustle.) I love people and all their weird quirks and deeply moving stories. My favorite part of my job is when people open up to me during a user interview about something they won’t easily share with others. It is truly the greatest honor of my work. To be able to take that sacred bit of information, turn the pattern of it along with similar others into a finding, and advocate for the necessary change to improve that user’s experience in the system.

That is why I do this work.

What is more, my tenacity to grow and adapt is even stronger than my out-of-hand plant collection.

I am insatiably curious in my research and designs, and I have an annoyingly bleeding heart. Whatever I do, I try to ensure it is contributing to a positive mission.

I am both a creative, macro, outside-the-box thinker as well as a logical, get-stuff-done, worker-bee. This serves me as a UX designer and researcher because I can ideate on big ideas while also keeping the dreaded “scope creep” in check. These qualities allow me to both think big and abstractly while also making stakeholders happy within tight timelines.

Ahead.

I am zealous about working at companies with heart — whether it is for social impact, the environment, or anything in between. I am grateful for all of my diverse work and volunteer experiences that have been formative in my ambition to help bridge the gap between user experience and social responsibility.

P.S.

When I am not researching nor designing, you will likely find me in the West Shore of Lake Tahoe, creating art, unplugged and backpacking, making my friends laugh, traveling internationally with my partner, or eating a pizza.

In case you are curious to learn a bit more about some of my other professional experiences, check out my “Bonus Engagements” section.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any inquiries, would like to talk shop about the intersection of tech and social change, or you’d like to grab a coffee, (Philz Coffee is my local haunt).