UX Designer, Strategist, and User Researcher

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Awards

<aside> 🏆 ACES Award - HealthIT.gov Client Redesign Project - Sky Solutions - December 2023

</aside>

Memberships

<aside> 👥 UX Professionals of America - Minnesota Chapter - 2016 to Present

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Skill Set

<aside> <img src="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg stroke-width='1.5' id='Layer_1' data-name='Layer 1' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24'%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cstyle%3e.cls-b61r24ozc5rq4uyvipxy5o-1%7bfill:none%3bstroke:%23347EA7%3bstroke-miterlimit:10%3b%3b%7d%3c/style%3e%3c/defs%3e%3ccircle class='cls-b61r24ozc5rq4uyvipxy5o-1' cx='19.65' cy='16.8' r='1.91'/%3e%3cpath class='cls-b61r24ozc5rq4uyvipxy5o-1' d='M1.48 23.5a2.87 2.87 0 0 1 2.87-2.87 2.88 2.88 0 0 1 2.87 2.87'/%3e%3cpath class='cls-b61r24ozc5rq4uyvipxy5o-1' d='M16.78 23.5a2.88 2.88 0 0 1 2.87-2.87 2.87 2.87 0 0 1 2.87 2.87'/%3e%3ccircle class='cls-b61r24ozc5rq4uyvipxy5o-1' cx='4.35' cy='16.8' r='1.91'/%3e%3cpolyline class='cls-b61r24ozc5rq4uyvipxy5o-1' points='14.87 4.37 18.7 4.37 18.7 10.11 18.7 11.06 15.83 10.11 9.13 10.11 9.13 7.24'/%3e%3cpolygon class='cls-b61r24ozc5rq4uyvipxy5o-1' points='14.87 1.5 14.87 7.24 8.17 7.24 5.3 8.2 5.3 7.24 5.3 1.5 14.87 1.5'/%3e%3c/svg%3e" alt="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg stroke-width='1.5' id='Layer_1' data-name='Layer 1' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24'%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cstyle%3e.cls-b61r24ozc5rq4uyvipxy5o-1%7bfill:none%3bstroke:%23347EA7%3bstroke-miterlimit:10%3b%3b%7d%3c/style%3e%3c/defs%3e%3ccircle class='cls-b61r24ozc5rq4uyvipxy5o-1' cx='19.65' cy='16.8' r='1.91'/%3e%3cpath class='cls-b61r24ozc5rq4uyvipxy5o-1' d='M1.48 23.5a2.87 2.87 0 0 1 2.87-2.87 2.88 2.88 0 0 1 2.87 2.87'/%3e%3cpath class='cls-b61r24ozc5rq4uyvipxy5o-1' d='M16.78 23.5a2.88 2.88 0 0 1 2.87-2.87 2.87 2.87 0 0 1 2.87 2.87'/%3e%3ccircle class='cls-b61r24ozc5rq4uyvipxy5o-1' cx='4.35' cy='16.8' r='1.91'/%3e%3cpolyline class='cls-b61r24ozc5rq4uyvipxy5o-1' points='14.87 4.37 18.7 4.37 18.7 10.11 18.7 11.06 15.83 10.11 9.13 10.11 9.13 7.24'/%3e%3cpolygon class='cls-b61r24ozc5rq4uyvipxy5o-1' points='14.87 1.5 14.87 7.24 8.17 7.24 5.3 8.2 5.3 7.24 5.3 1.5 14.87 1.5'/%3e%3c/svg%3e" width="40px" /> User Research (Qualitative and Quantitative)

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<aside> <img src="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg stroke-width='1.5' id='Layer_1' data-name='Layer 1' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24'%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cstyle%3e.cls-nxlabfam9zham8pgco7gf6-1%7bfill:none%3bstroke:%23347EA7%3bstroke-miterlimit:10%3b%3b%7d%3c/style%3e%3c/defs%3e%3cpolyline class='cls-nxlabfam9zham8pgco7gf6-1' points='1.48 3.41 4.35 6.28 9.13 1.5'/%3e%3cline class='cls-nxlabfam9zham8pgco7gf6-1' x1='16.78' y1='7.24' x2='22.52' y2='1.5'/%3e%3cline class='cls-nxlabfam9zham8pgco7gf6-1' x1='22.52' y1='7.24' x2='16.78' y2='1.5'/%3e%3cpath class='cls-nxlabfam9zham8pgco7gf6-1' d='M7.22 23.5A4.78 4.78 0 0 1 12 18.72a4.78 4.78 0 0 1 4.78 4.78'/%3e%3ccircle class='cls-nxlabfam9zham8pgco7gf6-1' cx='12' cy='13.93' r='2.87'/%3e%3c/svg%3e" alt="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg stroke-width='1.5' id='Layer_1' data-name='Layer 1' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24'%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cstyle%3e.cls-nxlabfam9zham8pgco7gf6-1%7bfill:none%3bstroke:%23347EA7%3bstroke-miterlimit:10%3b%3b%7d%3c/style%3e%3c/defs%3e%3cpolyline class='cls-nxlabfam9zham8pgco7gf6-1' points='1.48 3.41 4.35 6.28 9.13 1.5'/%3e%3cline class='cls-nxlabfam9zham8pgco7gf6-1' x1='16.78' y1='7.24' x2='22.52' y2='1.5'/%3e%3cline class='cls-nxlabfam9zham8pgco7gf6-1' x1='22.52' y1='7.24' x2='16.78' y2='1.5'/%3e%3cpath class='cls-nxlabfam9zham8pgco7gf6-1' d='M7.22 23.5A4.78 4.78 0 0 1 12 18.72a4.78 4.78 0 0 1 4.78 4.78'/%3e%3ccircle class='cls-nxlabfam9zham8pgco7gf6-1' cx='12' cy='13.93' r='2.87'/%3e%3c/svg%3e" width="40px" /> User Testing (In-person, Remote)

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<aside> <img src="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg stroke-width='1.5' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24' stroke='%23347EA7' fill='none' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'%3e%3cpath stroke='none' d='M0 0h24v24H0z' fill='none'/%3e%3cpath d='M15 8h.01'/%3e%3cpath d='M11 20H7a3 3 0 0 1-3-3V7a3 3 0 0 1 3-3h10a3 3 0 0 1 3 3v4'/%3e%3cpath d='m4 15 4-4c.928-.893 2.072-.893 3 0l3 3'/%3e%3cpath d='m14 14 1-1c.31-.298.644-.497.987-.596'/%3e%3cpath d='M18.42 15.61a2.1 2.1 0 0 1 2.97 2.97L18 22h-3v-3l3.42-3.39z'/%3e%3c/svg%3e" alt="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg stroke-width='1.5' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24' stroke='%23347EA7' fill='none' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'%3e%3cpath stroke='none' d='M0 0h24v24H0z' fill='none'/%3e%3cpath d='M15 8h.01'/%3e%3cpath d='M11 20H7a3 3 0 0 1-3-3V7a3 3 0 0 1 3-3h10a3 3 0 0 1 3 3v4'/%3e%3cpath d='m4 15 4-4c.928-.893 2.072-.893 3 0l3 3'/%3e%3cpath d='m14 14 1-1c.31-.298.644-.497.987-.596'/%3e%3cpath d='M18.42 15.61a2.1 2.1 0 0 1 2.97 2.97L18 22h-3v-3l3.42-3.39z'/%3e%3c/svg%3e" width="40px" /> Ideation/Sketching, Rapid Wireframing and Prototyping

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<aside> <img src="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg stroke-width='1.5' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24' stroke='%23347EA7' fill='none' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'%3e%3cpath stroke='none' d='M0 0h24v24H0z' fill='none'/%3e%3ccircle cx='6' cy='19' r='2'/%3e%3ccircle cx='18' cy='5' r='2'/%3e%3cpath d='M12 19h4.5a3.5 3.5 0 0 0 0-7h-8a3.5 3.5 0 0 1 0-7H12'/%3e%3c/svg%3e" alt="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg stroke-width='1.5' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24' stroke='%23347EA7' fill='none' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'%3e%3cpath stroke='none' d='M0 0h24v24H0z' fill='none'/%3e%3ccircle cx='6' cy='19' r='2'/%3e%3ccircle cx='18' cy='5' r='2'/%3e%3cpath d='M12 19h4.5a3.5 3.5 0 0 0 0-7h-8a3.5 3.5 0 0 1 0-7H12'/%3e%3c/svg%3e" width="40px" /> Mapping Out User Stories and Journeys

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<aside> <img src="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg stroke-width='1.5' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24' stroke='%23347EA7' fill='none' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'%3e%3cpath stroke='none' d='M0 0h24v24H0z' fill='none'/%3e%3cpath d='m11 18-2-1-6 3V7l6-3 6 3 6-3v10'/%3e%3cpath d='M9 4v13'/%3e%3cpath d='M15 7v5'/%3e%3ccircle cx='16.5' cy='17.5' r='2.5'/%3e%3cpath d='M18.5 19.5 21 22'/%3e%3c/svg%3e" alt="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg stroke-width='1.5' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24' stroke='%23347EA7' fill='none' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'%3e%3cpath stroke='none' d='M0 0h24v24H0z' fill='none'/%3e%3cpath d='m11 18-2-1-6 3V7l6-3 6 3 6-3v10'/%3e%3cpath d='M9 4v13'/%3e%3cpath d='M15 7v5'/%3e%3ccircle cx='16.5' cy='17.5' r='2.5'/%3e%3cpath d='M18.5 19.5 21 22'/%3e%3c/svg%3e" width="40px" /> Creating Sitemaps and Userflows

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<aside> <img src="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg stroke-width='1.5' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24' stroke='%23347EA7' fill='none' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'%3e%3cpath stroke='none' d='M0 0h24v24H0z' fill='none'/%3e%3cpath d='m4 16 6-7 5 5 5-6'/%3e%3ccircle cx='15' cy='14' r='1'/%3e%3ccircle cx='10' cy='9' r='1'/%3e%3ccircle cx='4' cy='16' r='1'/%3e%3ccircle cx='20' cy='8' r='1'/%3e%3c/svg%3e" alt="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg stroke-width='1.5' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24' stroke='%23347EA7' fill='none' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'%3e%3cpath stroke='none' d='M0 0h24v24H0z' fill='none'/%3e%3cpath d='m4 16 6-7 5 5 5-6'/%3e%3ccircle cx='15' cy='14' r='1'/%3e%3ccircle cx='10' cy='9' r='1'/%3e%3ccircle cx='4' cy='16' r='1'/%3e%3ccircle cx='20' cy='8' r='1'/%3e%3c/svg%3e" width="40px" /> Strategic Thinking and Problem Solving

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<aside> <img src="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg stroke-width='1.5' id='Layer_1' data-name='Layer 1' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24'%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cstyle%3e.cls-rkag1zsv1kbqdpx7pqp2n-1%7bfill:none%3bstroke:%23347EA7%3bstroke-miterlimit:10%3b%3b%7d%3c/style%3e%3c/defs%3e%3cpath class='cls-rkag1zsv1kbqdpx7pqp2n-1' d='M1.5 23.5a4.77 4.77 0 0 1 4.77-4.77 4.77 4.77 0 0 1 4.78 4.77'/%3e%3ccircle class='cls-rkag1zsv1kbqdpx7pqp2n-1' cx='6.27' cy='13.95' r='2.86'/%3e%3cpath class='cls-rkag1zsv1kbqdpx7pqp2n-1' d='M13 23.5a4.77 4.77 0 0 1 4.78-4.77 4.77 4.77 0 0 1 4.72 4.77'/%3e%3ccircle class='cls-rkag1zsv1kbqdpx7pqp2n-1' cx='17.73' cy='13.95' r='2.86'/%3e%3cline class='cls-rkag1zsv1kbqdpx7pqp2n-1' x1='12' y1='2.5' x2='12' y2='13.95'/%3e%3cpolyline class='cls-rkag1zsv1kbqdpx7pqp2n-1' points='8.18 6.32 12 2.5 15.82 6.32'/%3e%3c/svg%3e" alt="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg stroke-width='1.5' id='Layer_1' data-name='Layer 1' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24'%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cstyle%3e.cls-rkag1zsv1kbqdpx7pqp2n-1%7bfill:none%3bstroke:%23347EA7%3bstroke-miterlimit:10%3b%3b%7d%3c/style%3e%3c/defs%3e%3cpath class='cls-rkag1zsv1kbqdpx7pqp2n-1' d='M1.5 23.5a4.77 4.77 0 0 1 4.77-4.77 4.77 4.77 0 0 1 4.78 4.77'/%3e%3ccircle class='cls-rkag1zsv1kbqdpx7pqp2n-1' cx='6.27' cy='13.95' r='2.86'/%3e%3cpath class='cls-rkag1zsv1kbqdpx7pqp2n-1' d='M13 23.5a4.77 4.77 0 0 1 4.78-4.77 4.77 4.77 0 0 1 4.72 4.77'/%3e%3ccircle class='cls-rkag1zsv1kbqdpx7pqp2n-1' cx='17.73' cy='13.95' r='2.86'/%3e%3cline class='cls-rkag1zsv1kbqdpx7pqp2n-1' x1='12' y1='2.5' x2='12' y2='13.95'/%3e%3cpolyline class='cls-rkag1zsv1kbqdpx7pqp2n-1' points='8.18 6.32 12 2.5 15.82 6.32'/%3e%3c/svg%3e" width="40px" /> Agile and Scrum Methodologies

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Tools

Skills

Education

Skills (1)

About Me - Rachel Smith Jahnz (”Jans” = “Cans”)

I’m passionate about learning how people use technology as a tool to achieve desired goals in a wide variety of use cases and physical environments. I take pride in providing a thorough and conscientious user research process, from planning project outcomes and facilitating user testing sessions to assessing feedback trends and presenting findings, and every stage in between. I take pride in fully harnessing effective user research methodologies and building open and honest rapport from users to translate findings to ensure that improved digital designs and physical experiences and services are inclusive and accessible.

Work Experience

Web Designer and Developer (Volunteer) | Uniting Distant Stars

June 2016 - Present

Streamline the current Uniting Distant Stars website design cycle with various Wordpress plugins and web design/development projects, increasing donations and comment activity by 50%
Collaborating in editing web content, provide expert UX advice with UDS Staff
Crafting a vibrant, distinct, pixel perfect, responsive Wordpress theme, thus driving traffic and enhanced non-profit growth

UX Strategist I | Sky Solutions

December 2021 - March 2024

Built empathy with users by planning, coordinating, conducting, and reporting results from User Research initiatives to improve user interaction, business, and additional desired outcomes
Translated User Research feedback into actionable, consistent, and effective user interface designs to be built, utilized, and replicated within various technical constraints
Designed human/technical interactions and created highly functional, seamless, user-friendly, responsive, and accessible designs to be used across various teams and changing digital product needs
Worked closely with other designers, researchers, developers, team leaders, and product management and team members in ensuring that the user experience exceeds business expectations and design goals
Collaborated with Human-Centered Design (HCD) team members in charting, planning, and implementing objectives and key results (OKRs) of DesignOps (Design Operations) and developed ResearchOps (Research Operations) strategies to grow business impact and outreach

UX Designer and Researcher (Volunteer) | U.S. Digital Response ******

September 2020 - July 2021

Crafted user research surveys, moderated remote user tests, edited and synthesized notes using Google Forms/Docs and Miro
Presented research findings to team members and our county board client, highlighting key user behaviors, areas for improvement and actionable next steps for Phase 2 of the project
Collaborated with other UX designers on Trello and Slack on UX designs created using Figma

UX Researcher and Designer (Contract) | Optum

August 2019 - February 2020

Measured and Analyzed multiple heuristics of UX/UI elements on Optum Developer website for improvement
Recruited users for testing and conducted user feedback sessions
Compiled and delivered user feedback data and next steps on quarterly research plans to the product manager

UX Designer (Contract) | Wells Fargo

April 2019 - May 2019

Designed a Wealth Management platform to be used by thousands of Wells Fargo clients nationwide
Collaborated with various business analyst and marketing teams to uncover user insights and translate business needs into accessible, approachable experience and interface designs that exceeded planned OKRs and KPIs

User Research Lead and Advocate | Literacy Minnesota

September 2017 - August 2018

Identified the need to redesign and improve Northstar Assessment’s Flash-based modules and presented the project idea to colleagues and partnered with Literacy MN education directors (who owns Northstar Assessments)
Lead a group of three colleagues in gathering user feedback from three Twin Cities nonprofits and conducted user testing sessions
Synthesized and rapidly delivered user feedback to Literacy MN, which helped improve the look and feel of skills-building modules taken by tens of thousands of users annually

UX Research Assistant (Contract) | Best Buy **

April 2017

Coordinated and scheduled employee testing sessions, increasing harmonious communication between UX and Best Buy retail teams
Transcribed and compiled Best Buy employee feedback to distill actionable insights for Best Buy’s research and development teams

Reach Out

Awards

Memberships

Skill Set

Tools

Education

About Me - Rachel Smith Jahnz (”Jans” = “Cans”)

Work Experience

Web Designer and Developer (Volunteer) | Uniting Distant Stars

UX Strategist I | Sky Solutions

UX Designer and Researcher (Volunteer) | U.S. Digital Response ******

UX Researcher and Designer (Contract) | Optum

UX Designer (Contract) | Wells Fargo

User Research Lead and Advocate | Literacy Minnesota

**UX Research Assistant (Contract) | Best Buy ****

UX Research Assistant (Contract) | Best Buy **