MY BACKGROUND
my training
My formal training in UCD-based research and testing was during my work supporting the Social Security Administration (SSA)’s Usability Center. I supported, and later lead, heuristic evaluations, user research (on site), task analysis (on site), business process evaluations/refinement, cognitive walk-throughs, and testing in both formal and informal settings. Its here that I learned the principles and formal definitions in the context of systems and application projects in an effort to modernize the SSA’s Disability process. I was mentored by a chorus of experienced professionals with diverse educational and professional backgrounds.
Prior to this, in the 90’s, I had attended HFI’s courses, before they offered a certification. I managed HFI as a vendor in testing my work after that. I had learned the principles and steps and implemented bits and pieces in the many start-ups in the NYC area. I was also able to conduct meta-analysis of consumer product research while supporting internationally known brands to create strategies for their first digital presences.
My approach is heavily influenced by my training, education, and collaboration with - and mentoring by those in Human Factors, Experimental Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Cross-Cultural Psychology, Anthropology, and Developmental Psychology.
my general approach
I prefer to work collaboratively with teams throughout the process including planning, design, activity, synthesis, and reporting to ensure the team's knowledge and skills are harnessed, everyone understands the method, people are exposed to the raw findings and can participate in the analysis and reporting. Noting I keep the method credible and fit people to roles according to aptitude for research and activities.