UX Designer, Strategist, and User Researcher

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My Skills

<aside> <img src="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg stroke-width='1.5' id='Layer_1' data-name='Layer 1' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24'%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cstyle%3e.cls-b61r24ozc5rq4uyvipxy5o-1%7bfill:none%3bstroke:%23347EA7%3bstroke-miterlimit:10%3b%3b%7d%3c/style%3e%3c/defs%3e%3ccircle class='cls-b61r24ozc5rq4uyvipxy5o-1' cx='19.65' cy='16.8' r='1.91'/%3e%3cpath class='cls-b61r24ozc5rq4uyvipxy5o-1' d='M1.48 23.5a2.87 2.87 0 0 1 2.87-2.87 2.88 2.88 0 0 1 2.87 2.87'/%3e%3cpath class='cls-b61r24ozc5rq4uyvipxy5o-1' d='M16.78 23.5a2.88 2.88 0 0 1 2.87-2.87 2.87 2.87 0 0 1 2.87 2.87'/%3e%3ccircle class='cls-b61r24ozc5rq4uyvipxy5o-1' cx='4.35' cy='16.8' r='1.91'/%3e%3cpolyline class='cls-b61r24ozc5rq4uyvipxy5o-1' points='14.87 4.37 18.7 4.37 18.7 10.11 18.7 11.06 15.83 10.11 9.13 10.11 9.13 7.24'/%3e%3cpolygon class='cls-b61r24ozc5rq4uyvipxy5o-1' points='14.87 1.5 14.87 7.24 8.17 7.24 5.3 8.2 5.3 7.24 5.3 1.5 14.87 1.5'/%3e%3c/svg%3e" alt="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg stroke-width='1.5' id='Layer_1' data-name='Layer 1' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24'%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cstyle%3e.cls-b61r24ozc5rq4uyvipxy5o-1%7bfill:none%3bstroke:%23347EA7%3bstroke-miterlimit:10%3b%3b%7d%3c/style%3e%3c/defs%3e%3ccircle class='cls-b61r24ozc5rq4uyvipxy5o-1' cx='19.65' cy='16.8' r='1.91'/%3e%3cpath class='cls-b61r24ozc5rq4uyvipxy5o-1' d='M1.48 23.5a2.87 2.87 0 0 1 2.87-2.87 2.88 2.88 0 0 1 2.87 2.87'/%3e%3cpath class='cls-b61r24ozc5rq4uyvipxy5o-1' d='M16.78 23.5a2.88 2.88 0 0 1 2.87-2.87 2.87 2.87 0 0 1 2.87 2.87'/%3e%3ccircle class='cls-b61r24ozc5rq4uyvipxy5o-1' cx='4.35' cy='16.8' r='1.91'/%3e%3cpolyline class='cls-b61r24ozc5rq4uyvipxy5o-1' points='14.87 4.37 18.7 4.37 18.7 10.11 18.7 11.06 15.83 10.11 9.13 10.11 9.13 7.24'/%3e%3cpolygon class='cls-b61r24ozc5rq4uyvipxy5o-1' points='14.87 1.5 14.87 7.24 8.17 7.24 5.3 8.2 5.3 7.24 5.3 1.5 14.87 1.5'/%3e%3c/svg%3e" width="40px" /> User Research (Qualitative and Quantitative)

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<aside> <img src="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg stroke-width='1.5' id='Layer_1' data-name='Layer 1' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24'%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cstyle%3e.cls-nxlabfam9zham8pgco7gf6-1%7bfill:none%3bstroke:%23347EA7%3bstroke-miterlimit:10%3b%3b%7d%3c/style%3e%3c/defs%3e%3cpolyline class='cls-nxlabfam9zham8pgco7gf6-1' points='1.48 3.41 4.35 6.28 9.13 1.5'/%3e%3cline class='cls-nxlabfam9zham8pgco7gf6-1' x1='16.78' y1='7.24' x2='22.52' y2='1.5'/%3e%3cline class='cls-nxlabfam9zham8pgco7gf6-1' x1='22.52' y1='7.24' x2='16.78' y2='1.5'/%3e%3cpath class='cls-nxlabfam9zham8pgco7gf6-1' d='M7.22 23.5A4.78 4.78 0 0 1 12 18.72a4.78 4.78 0 0 1 4.78 4.78'/%3e%3ccircle class='cls-nxlabfam9zham8pgco7gf6-1' cx='12' cy='13.93' r='2.87'/%3e%3c/svg%3e" alt="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg stroke-width='1.5' id='Layer_1' data-name='Layer 1' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24'%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cstyle%3e.cls-nxlabfam9zham8pgco7gf6-1%7bfill:none%3bstroke:%23347EA7%3bstroke-miterlimit:10%3b%3b%7d%3c/style%3e%3c/defs%3e%3cpolyline class='cls-nxlabfam9zham8pgco7gf6-1' points='1.48 3.41 4.35 6.28 9.13 1.5'/%3e%3cline class='cls-nxlabfam9zham8pgco7gf6-1' x1='16.78' y1='7.24' x2='22.52' y2='1.5'/%3e%3cline class='cls-nxlabfam9zham8pgco7gf6-1' x1='22.52' y1='7.24' x2='16.78' y2='1.5'/%3e%3cpath class='cls-nxlabfam9zham8pgco7gf6-1' d='M7.22 23.5A4.78 4.78 0 0 1 12 18.72a4.78 4.78 0 0 1 4.78 4.78'/%3e%3ccircle class='cls-nxlabfam9zham8pgco7gf6-1' cx='12' cy='13.93' r='2.87'/%3e%3c/svg%3e" width="40px" /> User Testing (In-person, Remote)

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<aside> <img src="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg stroke-width='1.5' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24' stroke='%23347EA7' fill='none' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'%3e%3cpath stroke='none' d='M0 0h24v24H0z' fill='none'/%3e%3cpath d='M15 8h.01'/%3e%3cpath d='M11 20H7a3 3 0 0 1-3-3V7a3 3 0 0 1 3-3h10a3 3 0 0 1 3 3v4'/%3e%3cpath d='m4 15 4-4c.928-.893 2.072-.893 3 0l3 3'/%3e%3cpath d='m14 14 1-1c.31-.298.644-.497.987-.596'/%3e%3cpath d='M18.42 15.61a2.1 2.1 0 0 1 2.97 2.97L18 22h-3v-3l3.42-3.39z'/%3e%3c/svg%3e" alt="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg stroke-width='1.5' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24' stroke='%23347EA7' fill='none' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'%3e%3cpath stroke='none' d='M0 0h24v24H0z' fill='none'/%3e%3cpath d='M15 8h.01'/%3e%3cpath d='M11 20H7a3 3 0 0 1-3-3V7a3 3 0 0 1 3-3h10a3 3 0 0 1 3 3v4'/%3e%3cpath d='m4 15 4-4c.928-.893 2.072-.893 3 0l3 3'/%3e%3cpath d='m14 14 1-1c.31-.298.644-.497.987-.596'/%3e%3cpath d='M18.42 15.61a2.1 2.1 0 0 1 2.97 2.97L18 22h-3v-3l3.42-3.39z'/%3e%3c/svg%3e" width="40px" /> Ideation/Sketching, Rapid Wireframing and Prototyping

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<aside> <img src="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg stroke-width='1.5' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24' stroke='%23347EA7' fill='none' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'%3e%3cpath stroke='none' d='M0 0h24v24H0z' fill='none'/%3e%3ccircle cx='6' cy='19' r='2'/%3e%3ccircle cx='18' cy='5' r='2'/%3e%3cpath d='M12 19h4.5a3.5 3.5 0 0 0 0-7h-8a3.5 3.5 0 0 1 0-7H12'/%3e%3c/svg%3e" alt="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg stroke-width='1.5' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24' stroke='%23347EA7' fill='none' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'%3e%3cpath stroke='none' d='M0 0h24v24H0z' fill='none'/%3e%3ccircle cx='6' cy='19' r='2'/%3e%3ccircle cx='18' cy='5' r='2'/%3e%3cpath d='M12 19h4.5a3.5 3.5 0 0 0 0-7h-8a3.5 3.5 0 0 1 0-7H12'/%3e%3c/svg%3e" width="40px" /> Mapping Out User Stories and Journeys

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<aside> <img src="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg stroke-width='1.5' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24' stroke='%23347EA7' fill='none' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'%3e%3cpath stroke='none' d='M0 0h24v24H0z' fill='none'/%3e%3cpath d='m11 18-2-1-6 3V7l6-3 6 3 6-3v10'/%3e%3cpath d='M9 4v13'/%3e%3cpath d='M15 7v5'/%3e%3ccircle cx='16.5' cy='17.5' r='2.5'/%3e%3cpath d='M18.5 19.5 21 22'/%3e%3c/svg%3e" alt="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg stroke-width='1.5' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24' stroke='%23347EA7' fill='none' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'%3e%3cpath stroke='none' d='M0 0h24v24H0z' fill='none'/%3e%3cpath d='m11 18-2-1-6 3V7l6-3 6 3 6-3v10'/%3e%3cpath d='M9 4v13'/%3e%3cpath d='M15 7v5'/%3e%3ccircle cx='16.5' cy='17.5' r='2.5'/%3e%3cpath d='M18.5 19.5 21 22'/%3e%3c/svg%3e" width="40px" /> Creating Sitemaps and Userflows

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<aside> <img src="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg stroke-width='1.5' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24' stroke='%23347EA7' fill='none' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'%3e%3cpath stroke='none' d='M0 0h24v24H0z' fill='none'/%3e%3cpath d='m4 16 6-7 5 5 5-6'/%3e%3ccircle cx='15' cy='14' r='1'/%3e%3ccircle cx='10' cy='9' r='1'/%3e%3ccircle cx='4' cy='16' r='1'/%3e%3ccircle cx='20' cy='8' r='1'/%3e%3c/svg%3e" alt="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg stroke-width='1.5' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24' stroke='%23347EA7' fill='none' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round'%3e%3cpath stroke='none' d='M0 0h24v24H0z' fill='none'/%3e%3cpath d='m4 16 6-7 5 5 5-6'/%3e%3ccircle cx='15' cy='14' r='1'/%3e%3ccircle cx='10' cy='9' r='1'/%3e%3ccircle cx='4' cy='16' r='1'/%3e%3ccircle cx='20' cy='8' r='1'/%3e%3c/svg%3e" width="40px" /> Strategic Thinking and Problem Solving

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<aside> <img src="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg stroke-width='1.5' id='Layer_1' data-name='Layer 1' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24'%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cstyle%3e.cls-rkag1zsv1kbqdpx7pqp2n-1%7bfill:none%3bstroke:%23347EA7%3bstroke-miterlimit:10%3b%3b%7d%3c/style%3e%3c/defs%3e%3cpath class='cls-rkag1zsv1kbqdpx7pqp2n-1' d='M1.5 23.5a4.77 4.77 0 0 1 4.77-4.77 4.77 4.77 0 0 1 4.78 4.77'/%3e%3ccircle class='cls-rkag1zsv1kbqdpx7pqp2n-1' cx='6.27' cy='13.95' r='2.86'/%3e%3cpath class='cls-rkag1zsv1kbqdpx7pqp2n-1' d='M13 23.5a4.77 4.77 0 0 1 4.78-4.77 4.77 4.77 0 0 1 4.72 4.77'/%3e%3ccircle class='cls-rkag1zsv1kbqdpx7pqp2n-1' cx='17.73' cy='13.95' r='2.86'/%3e%3cline class='cls-rkag1zsv1kbqdpx7pqp2n-1' x1='12' y1='2.5' x2='12' y2='13.95'/%3e%3cpolyline class='cls-rkag1zsv1kbqdpx7pqp2n-1' points='8.18 6.32 12 2.5 15.82 6.32'/%3e%3c/svg%3e" alt="data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg stroke-width='1.5' id='Layer_1' data-name='Layer 1' xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 24 24'%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cstyle%3e.cls-rkag1zsv1kbqdpx7pqp2n-1%7bfill:none%3bstroke:%23347EA7%3bstroke-miterlimit:10%3b%3b%7d%3c/style%3e%3c/defs%3e%3cpath class='cls-rkag1zsv1kbqdpx7pqp2n-1' d='M1.5 23.5a4.77 4.77 0 0 1 4.77-4.77 4.77 4.77 0 0 1 4.78 4.77'/%3e%3ccircle class='cls-rkag1zsv1kbqdpx7pqp2n-1' cx='6.27' cy='13.95' r='2.86'/%3e%3cpath class='cls-rkag1zsv1kbqdpx7pqp2n-1' d='M13 23.5a4.77 4.77 0 0 1 4.78-4.77 4.77 4.77 0 0 1 4.72 4.77'/%3e%3ccircle class='cls-rkag1zsv1kbqdpx7pqp2n-1' cx='17.73' cy='13.95' r='2.86'/%3e%3cline class='cls-rkag1zsv1kbqdpx7pqp2n-1' x1='12' y1='2.5' x2='12' y2='13.95'/%3e%3cpolyline class='cls-rkag1zsv1kbqdpx7pqp2n-1' points='8.18 6.32 12 2.5 15.82 6.32'/%3e%3c/svg%3e" width="40px" /> Agile and Scrum Methodologies

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Tools

Skills

Awards

<aside> 🏆 ACES Award - HealthIT.gov Client Redesign Project - Sky Solutions - December 2023

</aside>

Memberships

<aside> 👥 UX Professionals of America - Minnesota Chapter - 2016 to Present

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Education

Skills (1)

About Me - Rachel Smith Jahnz (”Jans” = “Cans”)

I'm passionate about understanding how people interact with technology across diverse contexts. I excel in comprehensive user research, from planning and testing to analysis and presentation. By building genuine connections with users and leveraging effective research methods, I craft and engineer inclusive, accessible user experiences and digital interactions.

Work Experience

Web Designer and Developer (Volunteer) | Uniting Distant Stars

June 2016 - Present

Leveraging UX expertise and responsive design in engineering high-converting WordPress and SquareSpace themes, while enhancing accessibility and visual appeal, boosting user engagement and online donations by 50%
Fostering strong partnerships with Uniting Distant Stars staff and employing active listening and empathy to craft designs that exceeded nonprofit engagement and fundraising goals

UX Strategist I | Sky Solutions

December 2021 - March 2024

Contributed to key projects for Social Security Administration and Department of Defense contracts. I hold a Public Trust level security clearance.

Directed comprehensive user research initiatives, conducted interviews and usability tests to generate actionable insights, significantly enhancing user satisfaction and driving tangible agency improvements
Transformed user research insights into versatile, accessible wireframes and prototypes, addressing diverse team needs and evolving product requirements

UX Designer and Researcher (Volunteer) | U.S. Digital Response ******

September 2020 - July 2021

Crafted user research surveys, moderated remote user tests, edited and synthesized notes using Google Forms/Docs and Miro
Presented research findings to team members and our county board client, highlighting key user behaviors, areas for improvement and actionable next steps for Phase 2 of the project
Collaborated with other UX designers on Trello and Slack on UX designs created using Figma

UX Researcher and Designer (Contract) | Optum

August 2019 - February 2020

Analyzed the Optum Developer website using UX/UI heuristics, improving website usability
Orchestrated and led 60+ developer-focused feedback sessions at Optum, extracting critical insights to drive product enhancements and user satisfaction

UX Designer (Contract) | Wells Fargo

April 2019 - May 2019

Synchronized design and development of a comprehensive Wealth Management platform, significantly enhancing customer satisfaction for tens of thousands of clients nationwide
Spearheaded cross-functional collaboration between business analyst and marketing teams to evaluate user behavior and align user-centric designs with strategic goals, significantly enhancing user satisfaction and product performance

User Research Lead and Advocate | Literacy Minnesota

September 2017 - August 2018

Promoted a redesign initiative for Northstar Assessment's Flash modules, ensuring seamless alignment with core assessment objectives and gaining stakeholder support
Oversaw a user research initiative, leading a cross-functional team to conduct 50+ interviews across 3 Twin Cities nonprofits, delivering actionable insights that drove Northstar Assessment's redesign and development strategy
Elevated Literacy MN's Northstar Assessments by translating user feedback into actionable UX/UI enhancements, creating a more accessible and eﬀective digital literacy learning platform

UX Research Assistant (Contract) | Best Buy **

April - May 2017

Led 70+ cross-functional testing sessions and analyzed user feedback insights, boosting productivity, bridging the gap between Best Buy's retail and corporate teams, and resulting in enhanced collaboration and streamlined operations

Reach Out

My Skills

Tools

Awards

Memberships

Education

About Me - Rachel Smith Jahnz (”Jans” = “Cans”)

Work Experience

Web Designer and Developer (Volunteer) | Uniting Distant Stars

UX Strategist I | Sky Solutions

UX Designer and Researcher (Volunteer) | U.S. Digital Response ******

UX Researcher and Designer (Contract) | Optum

UX Designer (Contract) | Wells Fargo

User Research Lead and Advocate | Literacy Minnesota

**UX Research Assistant (Contract) | Best Buy ****

UX Research Assistant (Contract) | Best Buy **