Contemplating how to mesh optimal user experience, business goals, and eye-catching design.
Hey, There.
Hi. I’m Dara Thomas, a Canadian-born Senior Product Designer based in Atlanta, GA. I’m passionate about technology, human relationships, and the design theory that sits at the intersection of it all.
I draw connections from my prior background in sociology, equity studies, occupational safety, and visual arts to create products that empathize with, delight, and serve the user. From concept to final product, I love crafting meaningful human-centered experiences for digital ecosystems.
I get excited about A.I., eye-catching micro-interactions, designing secure applications, and accessibility, and I’m always researching new topics in those areas. I’m also passionate about creating products and digital spaces that are inclusive and user-friendly for all.
I’m currently seeking new opportunities, so please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m excited to learn about your UX mission statement and discuss how I can join and contribute to your team!
Previous Work.
A few of the client projects that I've done either UX research or design and prototyping for. Out of respect for their NDAs I can't display this work here, but let's meet - I'll be happy to discuss more about them.
Technical Skills & Tools.
Qualitative & Quantitative Research :: Information Architecture :: Competitive Analysis :: Journey Mapping :: Affinity Mapping :: A/B Testing :: User Interface Design :: Wireframing & Prototyping :: Figma :: Sketch :: Adobe XD :: Adobe Illustrator :: Adobe Photoshop :: Otter.ai
Other Stuff I'm Good At.
:: Owning projects from conceptualization to handoff.
:: Leading design teams.
:: Connecting with Users in interviews.
:: Infusing empathy into my designs.
:: Meeting deadlines.
:: Avoiding the dishes. *side-eyes Self *
Qualitative [&] Quantitative.
As a trained sociologist, I'm deeply interested in what makes people 'tick', and I'm equally at ease parsing through numerical data, conduct in-depth interviews and utilizing qualitative methods to deeply understand users' motivations and pain points. My aim is always to understand users holistically while simultaneously helping businesses to realize their goals.
[Rapid] Prototyping.
My varied product design experiences have given me the opportunity to hone my prototyping skills. I prefer a clean and minimalistic aesthetic, and can iterate quickly. My favorite tool is Figma. (though I'm comfortable with Sketch and Adobe XD, too).
[Past] Work.
I am comfortable conducting research and conceptualizing design for a variety of industries, having created and contributed to products for the automotive, health care, pharmaceutical, occupational safety, food & beverage, and retail sectors, as well as for a number of nonprofit organizations.
Work Aside.
When I’m not busy designing engaging user experiences, I can usually be found...
1. creating large scale papercut and confetti portraits at my easel.
DEUX: Taking in live jazz, Afro-Brazilian, and flamenco concerts.
III: Scoring the latest mint-condition finds to add to my budding vinyl collection.
...._ : Learning to play my favorite songs on my bass.
