I'm thrilled to apply for the Design Researcher position at Canva. As an architect turned UX/UI designer and a longtime fan of Canva, I know firsthand the importance of user research in creating successful projects. Canva's mission to democratize design is inspiring, and I'd love to contribute my skills to your team.
As a UX designer, I bring intentionality to digital design, ensuring that decisions are communicated effectively across the team and every feature is grounded in research and crafted to enhance the user experience. My recent UX education and capstone project with client Therapy Connect honed my research skills, requiring my team to investigate the entire onboarding journey of therapists. We used user interviews and discovery workshops to identify pain points and direct our solution to meet the client's budget and technical constraints as well as the user needs. This, alongside A/B Testing and Usability testing enabled us to deliver an outcome that exceeded client expectations with feedback that the solution was of “high value … well-researched outcome with very achievable actions.”
These research skills are supported and strengthened by my experience working with the National Disability Scheme as an architect and project manager. This role taught me how to be strategic with design and research, considering both aesthetic appeal and the functional needs of the client. I conducted site visits, surveys, and workshops with stakeholders to have a holistic understanding of clients' unique pain points as they navigate their homes. Quick timeframes and budget constraints required me to navigate difficult conversations and communicate product trade-offs to meet business KPIs, budgets, and timelines. My strong communication skills and ability to quickly iterate designs based on feedback enabled me to exceed team expectations by delivering 12 home modifications in my first year.
My passion for research and understanding human behavior extends back to my academic studies, like my Master's thesis project 'Beyond Shelter', where I researched and designed an emergency shelter for an aging homeless population. Research through interviewing and consulting with architects, volunteers as well as program coordinators working was essential to producing a design that rather than consolidating an individual's state of homelessness, could initiate a process of overcoming one’s condition, preserving autonomy and agency.
Combined with my recent UX design education and experience with user research, heuristic evaluation, wire-framing, and prototyping, I am confident that these skills will be invaluable in helping Canva create impactful and engaging digital experiences. I thrive off solving complex problems and believe my design skills and research experience will make me a valuable asset to the team.
Thanks for considering my application, and I can't wait to hear from you!
Sincerely,
