Designer • Researcher • Explorer
Hi! I'm Anagha, a Toronto-based end-to-end user experience researcher and designer with a strong foundation in graphic design.
I help identify challenges by talking to the users and design experiences and interactions by innovating strategic solutions to reduce the gap between people and technology.
My journey from graphic design to experience design triggered when I realized the need to empathise with the users with a goal to solving users' core problems by enhancing end-to-end experiences while working on project USTTAD, an initiative by the Government of India (Ministry of Minority Affairs department) to build capacity of traditional crafts persons and artisans and establish linkages of traditional skills with the global market.
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Recently I've been interested in adopting a participatory approach to co-create, co-operate and co-design; typically to seek to balance interests, benefits and responsibilities between the relevant stakeholders, while focusing attention on user needs.
WORK
EXPERIENCE
My experiences working in varied sectors as a UX Researcher and Designer have helped me become a more rounded Product Designer.
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University of Toronto, Centre for International Experience (to reduce immigration challenges faced by international students at U of T)
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University of Toronto, Innovation Hub (to improve student life)
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Toronto Workforce Innovation Group (to assist job statistics in Toronto)
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Double Negative Toronto Productions Limited (to improve artist experience with VFX technology and enterprise tools)
MY VALUES
As a problem-centric UX designer, I believe the following values act as guiding principles that inform my design decisions while approaching a problem using a design-thinking approach; maintaining consistency, integrity and focus on creating meaningful experiences.
Empathy
I understand and appreciate the perspectives, needs, and emotions of users to create meaningful and user-centered experiences.
Adaptability
I embrace new methodologies, tools, and approaches, while remaining open to feedback and iteration to meet constantly evolving user needs.
Curiosity
I constantly observe, explore, learn, and understand different user behaviours, preferences, and trends to make informed and effective design decisions.
Detail-oriented
Focusing on small nuances and intricacies in user interactions and reactions in everyday life allows me to create a seamless and intuitive user experience.
AWARDS
Sustainability Design Hackathon Finalist : Carbon Foodprint
UX challenge for climate change
Packaging of the World (featured) :
Conceptualize, design and develop a breakfast brand 'Fit & Flex', to include the positioning, name and identity, packaging, stationery and everything vital to go to market.
CONTRIBUTIONS
CTSI Teaching and Learning Symposium : Facilitating design thinking workshop to synthesize and cluster data points from faculty members to foster innovation in the future of teaching and learning.
Peer Mentor at Master of Information :
Peer mentor at University of Toronto to assist students understand complex UX concepts, prepare portfolios, and support them through their journey at U of T (MI).
MY SKILLS
UX skills
Qualitative research, Quantitative research, Design thinking, Interaction design, Information architecture, User interface, Design systems, Usability testing methods, Design evaluation, UX writing, Scrum-Agile, FDD, Wireframing, Prototyping, Accessibility,
Technical skills
Software: Figma, FigJam, Miro, Mural, Bezi, Adobe XD, Photoshop, Illustrator, AfterEffects, Lightroom, Procreate, Balsamiq
Collaboration tools: JIRA, Confluence, Google Suite, Microsoft Suite, Notion, Slack