About Me

My approach

My academic training in cultural anthropology (BA) and human factors in information design (MS) allows me to draw from both qualitative and quantitative research methods.

I love to augment talking to real users with behavioral analytics tools like Hotjar and Google Analytics.

And, I understand the critical importance of linking research insights to business goals and KPIs. Presenting findings to stakeholders in an easy-to-digest format is crucial for gaining buy-in.

While I love writing detailed reports, I know that leaders and executives rarely have time to read them. They need a deliverable they can skim with clear results and recommendations called out, such as a short slide deck or a one-pager with key points. In my past roles, I’ve crafted excellent templates for recurring metrics reports, and am also happy to create a different deliverable when needed (for example, a short video recap).

View my resume for more specific info on my skills and experience.

Skills

Methodologies

  • User interviews (remote and in-person)

  • Facilitating focus groups and group workshops

  • Survey/Questionnaire design

  • Formative/Exploratory user research

  • Summative user testing and task analysis

  • Quantitative data analysis and synthesis

  • Ethnography

  • Card sorting

  • Heuristic reviews

Tools

  • Figma, Miro, Mural

  • Google Analytics

  • Hotjar

  • Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey

  • UserTesting

  • Adobe CC (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop)

  • Google Suite, Microsoft Office Suite

  • Slack, Teams

  • A good ol’ whiteboard and sticky notes

Soft Skills

  • Presenting findings to stakeholders

  • Building trust with colleagues for cross-functional projects

  • Creative problem-solving

  • Ability to adapt and pivot based on timeline or change in scope

  • Mentoring and coaching junior colleagues to support their career growth in UX

Miscellaneous

Certifications:

CPACC (Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies)

Accessibility matters to me, and it should matter to you too.

An estimated 1 in 4 people live with a disability at some point in their life. Don’t exclude these prospective customers and clients!

I make it a priority to incorporate accessibility into the research and design process as early as possible, and advocate for compliance being the bare minimum rather than the ultimate goal.

Specific examples of how I incorporate accessibility when conducting research are:

  • reaching out to prospective participants to see if they need accommodations prior to an interview

  • presenting findings in multiple formats e.g. emailing key points, longer reports when needed, offering a 1-1 walkthrough

  • including audio descriptions of images when I’m presenting on a topic for audience members with visual impairments

  • presenting accessibility and inclusion as a way to improve a company’s bottom line and expand their customer base

I am a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Compentencies (CPACC), which demonstrates I have broad knowledge on many topics related to disability and accessibility, such as universal design, and type of disabilities many people experience.

Portrait of UX Researcher Lauren Dunn.

    • I love going to concerts, especially of cover and tribute bands.

    • I enjoy writing creative nonfiction.

    • I watch way too many procedural crime shows, especially those with comedic undercurrent or a female lead.

    • I have a wicked sweet tooth and am obsessed with eating a specific brand of gummi bears, as well as ice cream sundaes.

  • I have always been obsessed with human behavior. As a young kid, I loved social studies and humanities classes. After college, I took an HTML/CSS course on a lark and loved it.

    As my interest in technology grew over the next few years, I discovered the UX field. UX work sits allows me to focus on both of my top professional interests: researching human behavior at the intersection of technology.

    I also have spent many years working at an organization devoted to cultivating empathy. Through that experience, I have become a tireless advocate for the user, and creating inclusive and accessible products and services.

  • Maybe you're looking for:

    There are many more. But if you're not looking for a UX researcher, you'll have to go back to your search results and find a different Lauren.

See Some Examples of My Work

View My Portfolio