About Me
I am a UX/Product Designer in the Chicago area. I work with companies to create SaaS, mobile app, and responsive website solutions that meet both user and business needs. I love to solve challenging problems, and I get excited to learn about people and see a problem from their point of view. I enjoy explaining difficult concepts to stakeholders from various backgrounds, and facilitating smooth collaboration between members of multi-disciplinary teams. I can code in HTML and CSS, and I have a basic understanding of Javascript.
Before becoming a designer, I worked in the field of cognitive science and human-centered research as a speech therapist and certified brain injury specialist. I gained a deep understanding of human cognition as I helped clients test and improve their cognitive skills, modified tasks and devices to be usable to each client according to their unique needs, and taught strategies to help them communicate and complete essential living tasks despite cognitive impairments. I found myself becoming fascinated by technology that improved my clients’ lives and bridged ability gaps in ways that are not possible through traditional medicine and therapy alone. I became a user experience designer in order to create products that truly improve and enhance people’s lives.
When I’m not designing, I find relaxation and inspiration through painting, traveling, cooking a new dish, reading, and hitting the trails to hike or bike.
Contact:
daniellegraydesign@gmail.com
My Design Principles
Empathy is Key. A deep understanding of the user is essential to creating a product that is truly user-centered.
Successful products meet users' needs in new and better ways, while adhering to common design practices and language for a product that’s both superior and intuitive.
Accessibility is not an afterthought. I build it in from the start so that all users can have a great experience.
Clean and simple designs are often the best designs. Sometimes design is about removing elements instead of adding them.
Test early and iterate frequently. Getting user input early on helps guide the design process to a user-centered final product. I test with users early and often, from rough sketches and wireframes to high-fidelity prototypes.
The perfect product looks great and works even better to truly delight users.
Teamwork and collaboration are the backbone of a good design process. Working together each step of the way helps the whole team empathize with users and create the perfect solution together.
"Design is really an act of communication, which means having a deep understanding of the person with whom the designer is communicating.”
-Don Norman
-Don Norman