Shiva Vakili
UI | UX Designer, Researcher
EDUCATION
University of Alabama in Huntsville | Huntsville, AL EXP GRAD: May 2024
Graduate Certificate in User Experience | GPA: 4.0
Georgia Southern University | Savanah, GA Aug 2014 - Dec 2017
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Graphic Design | GPA: 3.96 (Summa Cum Laude)
Allameh Dehkhoda Institute of Technology | Qazvin, Iran March 2006 - Dec 2011
Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture
SKILLS
UI Design
Usability Testing Interaction Design Wireframes
Prototypes
Information ArchitectureSurvey Design Competitive Analysis Qualitative Research Quantitative
PROJECT
UX Researcher | User-Centered Design (UCD) | Huntsville, AL Jan 2023 – May 2023
BookSystem, Inc. | University of Alabama in Huntsville
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Collaborated with a local library software company and a local library.
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Conducted user interviews and performed on-site observations to extract valuable insights.
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Utilized thematic analysis techniques to unveil pivotal findings in the library software.
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Created user-centric empathy tools, including personas, scenarios, and journey maps for the client.
UI/UX Designer |Application Design | Huntsville, AL Jun 2023 -Aug 2023
Independent Study| University of Alabama in Huntsville
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Conducted contextual inquiry interviews and utilized thematic analysis to extract key problems.
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Executed card sorting tests and developed a site map for clear navigation.
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Employed Figma as the primary tool for prototyping, creating interactive interfaces, and designing deliverables.
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Created wireframes, prototypes, and user flows to visualize and communicate design concepts effectively.
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Developed and maintained design systems to ensure consistency across products and platforms.
UX Researcher | Usability Testing | Huntsville, AL Aug 2023- Dec 2023
Huntsville-Madison County Public Library.
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Conducted usability testing on the HMCPL website.
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Designed test scenarios and tasks to evaluate user interactions with the interface.
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Recruited diverse user participants to ensure a representative sample.
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Observed and documented user behaviors and feedback during testing sessions.
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Analyzed usability issues, providing actionable recommendations for improvement.
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Collaborated with the design and development teams to implement suggested changes.
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Utilized usability testing tools and software to capture quantitative and qualitative data.
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Contributed to the creation of a more user-friendly interface based on testing insights.
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Presented findings and recommendations to stakeholders for informed decision-making.
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Ensured the project aligned with accessibility standards, addressing any identified barriers
User Interviews
Focus Group Observations Contextual Inquiry
Card Sorting
User-Centered Design Accessibility Design Personas, Scenarios Journey Maps
Affinity Diagraming Heuristic Evaluation Data Synthesis
SOFTWARES
Figma
SPSS
Adobe XD
Excel
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop PowerPoint
Microsoft Word