I'm Susan,
nice to meet you.
I'm a UX Researcher with a Master's degree in Anthropology and a love for understanding people and using research to improve their experiences with technology.
When I'm not researching, I love reading, traveling, rock climbing, and hiking with my husband and Rhodesian Ridgeback pup, Apollo.
How I got started in user research
I decided to make the switch to user research amidst the craziness of 2020. Switch from what, you ask? Prior to starting in user research, I was a museum curator trained in anthropology and archaeology.
I've always been passionate about understanding how humans interact with their material environments and the people around them. I believe in understanding other cultures, both past and present, with empathy and curiosity.
As a museum curator, I worked to create engaging user experiences through exhibit research and design. But I wasn't satisfied with the slow pace and lack of innovation. Enter user research.
What I've been working on
I was excited about user research because of the many parallels between exhibit design and user experience design. Many of the considerations that go into a museum exhibit- user flow, layout, accessibility- apply to user experience design. I've been working to fill any gaps about user experience through self-learning, online courses, and talking with other user researchers.
But, knowledge without action is useless.
I've been working on a number of projects where I can apply what I'm learning about user research. Some are projects of my own making and others have real-world impact. You can learn more about my projects here.