Joanna Valdez

• Collaborated with the Lead UX Designer and UX team to support the design and enhancement of VHL digital products, including MyConversationTrainer (AI-powered conversational learning tool) and the English Reading Intervention initiative. • Contributed across the end-to-end UX process: research, ideation, design, and stakeholder communication. • Coordinated, conducted, and synthesized user research sessions with educators and students (interviews, usability testing). • Analyzed qualitative and quantitative data to identify insights, pain points, and opportunities. • Prepared and delivered clear, actionable presentations to inform product and design decisions • Created user flows, wireframes, and high-fidelity mockups in Figma to represent key workflows and interactions. • Applied and contributed to design systems, component libraries, and variables to ensure consistency and scalability. • Leveraged Figma Make and AI-powered tools to accelerate UX brainstorming, concept generation, and design iteration. • Iterated on designs based on user feedback, research findings, and cross-functional reviews. • Partnered with product managers, developers, and tech teams to align on requirements and ensure feasibility. • Supported design handoff with detailed specifications and collaborated with engineering during implementation. • Contributed to optimizing the overall user experience for instructors and learners, including many improvements for accessibility. • Helped improve internal UX processes by documenting best practices and contributing to UX Writing guidelines.

• Collaborated with designers and developers to design 4+ new app flows, including a user authentication flow with biometric login. • Supported the app redesign under CEO direction, optimizing 12+ screens to enhance usability and engagement.

Unleashing Your Awesome- educational platform: • Facilitated month-long user research activities such as participant recruitment, 10 interviews, 2 surveys, and 5 usability tests to uncover user needs and evaluate feature discoverability and ease of navigation. • Launched an e-learning video library for a 100+ member career coach startup, reducing 1:1 coaching time by 25%. • Collaborated with an agile cross-functional team of 8, including product managers and scrum masters, to apply research insights and improve the digital learning curriculum, increasing engagement by 30%. Additional Client Work: • Lead end-to-end product design, developing user stories, wireframes, mockups, and prototypes to define features and contribute to overall product development. • Design and deliver custom products and branded merchandise for 20+ B2C clients to date, translating goals into user-centered designs and iterating to ensure usability, quality, and brand alignment.

• Launched the Dual Language Program (DLP) and played a key role in designing and developing its curriculum and learning experiences for 80+ students. • Increased engagement and retention within the DLP by conducting user research with 40+ students through testing and discovery workshops, iterating on lesson structure, content strategy, and workflows. • Used data-driven insights to enhance instructional strategy through differentiated instruction, achieving a 90% student engagement rate.

• Documented and tracked student performance using monthly testing and evaluation to strengthen instruction and boost individual learning outcomes by 20%+ through small group activities. • Led problem solving and critical thinking to drive learning experiences for students, leading user research efforts to identify and address diverse learner behaviors through differentiated instruction. • Increased student performance by 65% by identifying user pain points and leveraging technology to address them.

• Adapted and implemented lesson plans to ensure continuity and consistency in the student experience, while adjusting in real-time based on observations to improve engagement and outcomes. • Streamlined preparation processes by collaborating with teams and organizing resources, reducing setup time by 40%, improving efficiency and creating a more effective learning environment.

The Kean University Child Care and Development Center supports the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social development of preschool children aged 2.5 to 5 years, offering opportunities for exploration and self-directed learning to foster growth and lifelong skills. • Observed and documented children's interactions and play to track developmental progress, providing data-driven insights for curriculum planning and program accreditation. • Collaborated with a multidisciplinary team to design inclusive, child-centered learning environments, promoting creativity, problem-solving, and social engagement.