MY APPROACH

Research isn't just about solving a puzzle — it's about laying a foundation. Every method (user tests, focus groups, surveys) is a tool, and every tool comes with tradeoffs. My job is to figure out what results will actually move the design forward, choose the right tools to get there, and trust what the data tells me.

THE WORK

Sideshare is a consumer phone app built for exchanging images, contacts, and texts during a live call. My role was to evaluate the experience, surface usability issues, and recommend design changes to address them.

Because we had a working prototype, I ran a high-fidelity usability test with participants matched to the client's target customers. Task intuitiveness and cognitive load were the main focus — since users would be navigating the app mid-conversation, every extra mental step mattered.

The data told a clear story: the design was functional and learnable, but not intuitive. Users got there eventually, but only through trial and error — and only with their full attention. That's a problem when half your brain is already on a phone call.

IMPACT

I catalogued the usability issues and ranked them by urgency, with user impact as the deciding factor. Issues that caused task failures or affected a significant number of participants rose to the top. From there, the list ranged from "Should fix" down to "Nice-to-have."

For each issue I developed a range of solutions — some were substantial redesigns, others were small but targeted tweaks. I worked with technical stakeholders to get rough implementation estimates, and with designers to gauge the potential UX lift of each fix. The result was a cost-benefit matrix that gave the team a clear, practical roadmap for prioritization.