EchoUser | UX Research & Design Agency

Our Work

Our work spans the globe, from collaborating with the world’s largest tech companies to assisting a single-person bagel stand. Whether projects last years or days, we always find the best fit for your needs. Explore more below and throughout our site.

Global to Growth Businesses | Major Industries | Growing Industries | Any Experience

Global to Growth Businesses Major Industries Growing Industries Any Experience

Global to Growth Businesses

We have worked with the largest companies worldwide, innovative start-ups from unicorns to pre-seed, and inspirational individuals with a single idea.

Enterprise

Global companies need UX that can harness sophistication & depth.

FlashRay Full-Service UX

FlashRay Full-Service UX

All-inclusive Partner

NetAppBranding. Design Review. Full-Service.

The Power of a Simple Usability Test

The Power of a Simple Usability Test

From skeptic to advocate: my career in UX research shows how usability testing evolved into a vital tool for improving user experiences and making impactful design decisions based on real user feedback.

Common service:

A comprehensive user-centered design philosophy and process across every stage of product development.

Craft a deep understanding of the user, context, and interaction design with the product and service.

Autodesk UX Partnership

Autodesk UX Partnership

Long term UX support

AutodeskDiary Studies. Full-Service. Surveys.

Harness Ambiguity

Take energy from the new challenges we face every day. Be nimble and engaged in navigating uncertainty.

3 Things to Consider When Taking On an Enterprise Design Project

3 Things to Consider When Taking On an Enterprise Design Project

Designing for enterprise requires focus on impact, certainty, and user expertise. Consider whether the app is sovereign or transient, as it affects design. Enterprise users are experts needing high data density and customizable UIs. Minimize extra steps to make the app more efficient and user-centric. Design for confidence in these complex systems.

Common service:

Usability Testing

Usability test a product early to quickly validate ideas, and test later to establish benchmarks. Continuously probe uncertainty throughout the process.

This applies to any development format: paper, wireframes, mockups, prototypes, and live products.

Enterprise Software and Nielsen's Heuristics

Enterprise Software and Nielsen's Heuristics

User-centered design often takes a backseat in enterprise software, resulting in less-than-stellar user experiences. While Jakob Nielsen's heuristics can enhance enterprise applications, they require an organizational shift to prioritize the user experience, ultimately leading to a more engaging and efficient workplace.

January 24, 2012

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Start-ups

Growth businesses need UX that can adapt to evolving needs.

Drivescale Composable Infrastructure

Drivescale Composable Infrastructure

Power and Flexibility through UX

DrivescaleConceptual Modeling. Full-Service. Interaction Design.

Stitcher Iterative Test & Design

Stitcher Iterative Test & Design

The RITE Method for Internet Radio

StitcherDiary Studies. Prototyping. RITE - Rapid Iteration.

Infuse passion, fortitude, and determination into getting things done. Hard work creates talent.

The step by step guide of running an ideation workshop

The step by step guide of running an ideation workshop

I recently co-facilitated an ideation workshop at Emerson, where we used activities to generate innovative solutions. In this summary, I'll share the workshop's purpose, key aspects, and some tips for running a successful event. We aimed to align everyone's goals, encourage divergent thinking, and gain real-time input from participants.

Common service:

Personas are patterns of insights across user types based on real users.

They are a reference to help make design decisions and keep the user at the center of the design process.

Common service:

Journey Maps are timeline visualizations of using a product to help broad understanding.

They highlight issues & opportunities for key personas across different stages.

Mighty: Investment Management

Mighty: Investment Management

Start-up Fintech Design

MightyContextual Inquiry. Conceptual Modeling. Interaction Design.

Common service:

Conceptual Modeling

A conceptual model is a simplified representation of relationships & hierarchy for a product or service.

It helps designers think of high level solutions and guide detailed design direction.

Creative Spirit

Diversity, curiosity, and adventure give us perspective. Get out there and pursue life.

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Major Industries

Over nearly 20 years, while our foundation lies in Tech and our Silicon Valley origins, we've expanded to serve major industries such as Government, Health Care, and Communications. A few examples are listed below. Contact us to learn more.

Education

Gooru Education Experiences

Gooru Education Experiences

Full Service Design & Research

GooruConceptual Modeling. Contextual Inquiry. Full-Service.

Children's Day School

Children's Day School

Design Through Play

Children's Day SchoolPrototyping. Training. User Interviews.

Have capacity to learn from everything we do. Practice deliberately and explore growing your craft ever further.

Boulder Diversity Lab

Boulder Diversity Lab

Design Sprint Workshop

SHYFTcoTraining. Workshops.

Common service:

Workshops are hands-on group sessions. They have many uses to spur design thinking and share knowledge.

Visioning, training, brainstorming, design sprints, project debriefs and more.

Educating Clients in my UX Practice

Educating Clients in my UX Practice

At EchoUser, I've encountered organizations with varying levels of "UX Maturity." Some teams require more support, focusing on building capacity for UX by involving everyone in the process. Workshops offering hands-on experience can democratize UX, leading to a broader impact. This holds true for mature organizations as well, even with their extensive UX appreciation.

February 3, 2020

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Health

Healthcare innovation has never been more important

Healthcare innovation has never been more important

Healthcare innovation is essential in today's world, as demonstrated by the rapid virtual healthcare advancements due to COVID-19. EchoUser's involvement in healthcare projects with companies like Akili Interactive, Varian Medical Systems, and iRhythm emphasizes the importance of human-centered research and design, leading to improvements in patient care, treatment accessibility, and overall experience.

The Blood Draw Experience

The Blood Draw Experience

As an experienced professional in the field of User Experience, I genuinely appreciate Quest Diagnostics' meticulous execution of their digital interface for blood draw services, skillfully integrating elements such as online appointment scheduling, reminders, and onsite check-ins.

Our core essence. Act with integrity, respect, and self awareness. Have this for our clients, our work, each other, and ourselves.

Varian TrueBeam: Human Factors Benchmarking

Varian TrueBeam: Human Factors Benchmarking

Standardizing Varian FDA Testing

VarianHuman Factors. Usability Testing.

Common service:

Usability Testing

Usability test a product early to quickly validate ideas, and test later to establish benchmarks. Continuously probe uncertainty throughout the process.

This applies to any development format: paper, wireframes, mockups, prototypes, and live products.

Experience Innovators: Babyscripts on the Quantified Pregnancy Experience

Experience Innovators: Babyscripts on the Quantified Pregnancy Experience

Here at EchoUser, we love to tackle Any Experience, and we’re always inspired by novel ways of interacting with people, products, and places. We also get to meet a lot of the people who are crafting those experiences, and in this occasional series of interviews with experience innovators, we want to share their insights with you.

Castlight Health

Castlight Health

Castlight HealthInteraction Design. Usability Testing.

Castlight Health

Castlight Health

Castlight HealthInteraction Design. Usability Testing.

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Growing Industries

We've also ventured into rapidly growing industries, adapting our expertise to sectors like Gaming, VR, and more. If you’re unsure, just ask. Chances are we have relevant experience.

Gaming

Optimizing Nordeus Player Experience

Optimizing Nordeus Player Experience

Gaming Heuristics & Usability

NordeusDesign Review. Diary Studies. Usability Testing.

Badland - Mobile Gaming Experience

Badland - Mobile Gaming Experience

Optimizing First-Time Play

HypeHypeDesign Review. Usability Testing. User Interviews.

Common service:

A time-constrained, structured process for rapid ideation and design with cross-functional groups to work on a specific problem or opportunity.

Typically conducted in 3-5 days to set a baseline for further user-centered design and development.

The User Experience of Pokémon Go

The User Experience of Pokémon Go

Pokémon Go's success stems from smart design choices and constant iteration. Niantic crafted an accessible experience by layering complexity, allowing users to engage at their desired level. Design choices encouraged social interaction, and Niantic's commitment to ongoing improvement solidified its popularity.

Our core essence. Act with integrity, respect, and self awareness. Have this for our clients, our work, each other, and ourselves.

Why Designers Love the Nintendo Switch

Why Designers Love the Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch excels in user experience due to its seamless design, perfect size, fast boot-up, and broad appeal. Its fun concept, social gaming features, and game design resonate with users. Future possibilities include Switch variants and further exploration of mobile gaming.

October 14, 2017

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Virtual Reality

Usability Testing in the Metaverse

Usability Testing in the Metaverse

I worked on a project with a client developing AR/VR technology for workplace collaboration. We overcame challenges with a customized research protocol and learned that applying UX practices to emerging technologies requires an innovative approach.

To Virtual and Beyond!!! Design Principles for Immersive Experiences.

To Virtual and Beyond!!! Design Principles for Immersive Experiences.

Design industry faces rapid tech changes, but designers can adapt with strategies like keeping users first, designing for context, simplicity, and testing & iterating. With immersive experiences like VR and AR, these principles prepare us for innovative design challenges in the future.

Harness Ambiguity

Take energy from the new challenges we face every day. Be nimble and engaged in navigating uncertainty.

Oculus: The Next Newton, or The Next iPhone?

Oculus: The Next Newton, or The Next iPhone?

I was asked how virtual reality might affect businesses. Facebook's $2B investment in Oculus Rift signals the rise of VUIs. Challenges remain, but VR could become mainstream across industries. While gaming and social tools are closer to adoption, enterprise applications are further away. The potential impact on humanity is particularly intriguing.

Common service:

Usability Testing

Usability test a product early to quickly validate ideas, and test later to establish benchmarks. Continuously probe uncertainty throughout the process.

This applies to any development format: paper, wireframes, mockups, prototypes, and live products.

Mastering virtual workshops

Mastering virtual workshops

As we adapt to remote work and virtual workshops, we must focus on user-centered design, utilize digital tools, and practice effective facilitation. By doing so, we can energize and engage participants, embracing the benefits of remote collaboration.

Pain Points in VR

Pain Points in VR

VR designers face challenges such as standardizing object selection, improving locomotion methods, creating consistent shortcuts for basic OS actions, and overcoming social embarrassment. With rapid advancements in VR, solutions to these issues are expected to emerge in the future.

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Any Experience

Everything is a human experience. We've worked from digital to outer space. From coffee to bagels and fried chicken. Raves, trains, kitchens, and more. Apply our expertise to anything.

Any Experience

Everything is a human experience. Apply UX to anything.

RoboCam: The Social Robot

RoboCam: The Social Robot

Industrial Design & Robotics

RoboSystems Industrial Design. Interaction Design. User Interviews.

Designing for Death

Designing for Death

David Bowie's passing was a unique experience, as he released his final album, Blackstar, just days before. Rather than mourning, his fans celebrate his life and new work. His farewell feels more like a celebration, providing a sense of peace for those coping with the loss.

January 13, 2016

Common service:

Contextual Inquiry

Contextual Inquiry is observing users in natural environments for overall insights on real product use.

It helps identify challenges beyond hyper-focused design & development.

Got Food?

EchoUserConceptual Modeling. Contextual Inquiry. Interaction Design.

In nearly all situations, you can choose your attitude. Choose to be optimistic and positive.

Experience Innovators: Babyscripts on the Quantified Pregnancy Experience

Experience Innovators: Babyscripts on the Quantified Pregnancy Experience

Here at EchoUser, we love to tackle Any Experience, and we’re always inspired by novel ways of interacting with people, products, and places. We also get to meet a lot of the people who are crafting those experiences, and in this occasional series of interviews with experience innovators, we want to share their insights with you.

Transit Behavior Design

Transit Behavior Design

Taipei's MRT metro offers a better experience than San Francisco's Muni due to cleanliness, efficient queuing, priority seating, and safety measures. Implementing simple changes like color-coded seats, floor markings, and more handholds can significantly improve public transit experiences.

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Trailblazing, on Earth, in Space, and beyond

RoboCam: The Social Robot

RoboCam: The Social Robot

Industrial Design & Robotics

RoboSystems Industrial Design. Interaction Design. User Interviews.

Hack Space. Save Planet Earth.

Hack Space. Save Planet Earth.

EchoUser has partnered with NASA's Asteroid Grand Challenge to organize the Asteroid Hackathon, inviting designers, engineers, and astronomers to turn asteroid data into digestible information for citizen scientists. The winning team will receive a cash prize to further develop their idea.

August 11, 2014

Common service:

Workshops are hands-on group sessions. They have many uses to spur design thinking and share knowledge.

Visioning, training, brainstorming, design sprints, project debriefs and more.

#InnovateEarthquakes

#InnovateEarthquakes

I recently participated in a meeting on innovating for disasters, with futurists, scientists, engineers, and designers. As a graphic note taker, I captured the day's discussions. We focused on earthquake preparedness, the role of fear in disasters, and how design can improve disaster situations.

Creative Spirit

Diversity, curiosity, and adventure give us perspective. Get out there and pursue life.

Asteroid Design Jam at EchoUser

Asteroid Design Jam at EchoUser

We held a design jam at EchoUser HQ to distill asteroid data into intelligible information for the general public. Teams brainstormed creative ideas such as a game, an innovative website approach, a race to raise awareness and funding, and a basic platform. The jam was a success and a springboard for the upcoming Asteroid Hackathon event.

August 22, 2014

Live Sketching at NASA's Big Think

Live Sketching at NASA's Big Think

At NASA's Big Think conference, we used graphic facilitation to capture presentations on human-computer interaction and user perspective in space-related fields. This method promotes active listening, visualizes information, helps revisiting information, and summarizes findings, making complex data more digestible and memorable.

February 20, 2017

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