VANESSA SANCHEZ
Empowering people by design, from day zero.
ABOUT
Social researcher. Systems designer. Story teller.
💜 Mission
I analyze the evolving relationships between people and information systems to create empowering experiences. My goal is to address socio-technical challenges through strategic stakeholder facilitation, research, ethical frameworks, and creative storytelling for informed decision-making. With 2 decades of diverse experience in the creative industry, I'm driven by interdisciplinary work that improves information-based experiences for underserved / vulnerable populations.
📚 Foundations
In 2024, I earned a Master's of Science in Information Studies at The University of Texas at Austin with dual specialization in human-computer interaction and responsible AI, providing me with a foundation for ethical user-centric design decisions based on research. I earned a BFA in Communication Design with a minor in Anthropology from Texas State University in 2010. I'm an avid life-long learner!
🌍 Passion
My future goals include working with health AI or eco AI. I'm interested in applied neuroscience research, particularly environmental impacts on neurodiverse people and healthy support techniques for successful life outcomes. I'd like to start a local meetup for exploring the field of Animal-Computer Interaction, visit the "happiest countries in the world", and road trip with my #1 pup, Adele! Originally from Austin, I had a life-changing 3.5 year adventure in New York City up to the pandemic that spurred tremendous personal growth. I cherish global travel, cultural immersion, and being in nature. I admire great storytelling through film (especially animation shorts), music, writing, art, and performance work.
SKILLS AND EXPERTISE
Interdisciplinary collaborator
🔍 Research
Competitive research, observational research, research plan, equitable participant quota, survey design, interview scripts, 1x1 remote interviews, critical incident technique, usability studies, task analysis, heuristic evaluation, cognitive walkthrough, card sorting/tree testing, RITE method, A/B testing, SUS questionnaire, IRB human subjects research, thematic analysis, inductive coding
🎨 Design
Data communication, visual storytelling, storyboards, user journey mapping, personas, content strategy, presentation design, UX/usability design, UI design, branding, illustration, art direction
📊 Information Science
Subject analysis, classification systems, schema design, controlled vocabularies, data collection and analysis, information architecture, data labeling, database design
👋 Personal Skills
Translation of ambiguity into organized strategy and tangible deliverables with business value, direct work with executive leadership, team coordination, cross-collaboration, workshop facilitation, communication, UX advocacy and education, empathy
🚀 Software
Figma/FigJam, Google Survey, Survey Monkey, Optimal Workshop, Miro, Jira, Notion, Asana, Google Suite, Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, ChatGPT, MacOS, WindowsOS, GenAI Tools / ChatGPT / MidJourney
"She was an extremely talented UX designer who not only was able to provide high quality design layouts but also understood what a good UX process delivered. She possesses a sharp eye for design. Her efforts brought clarity and elegance to the applications she worked on."
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John Christiana, EY, Global User Experience Design Director