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Brittny Lapierre

UX Researcher & Product Designer

Seasoned UX Researcher and Product Designer passionate about team leadership, design thinking, and data-driven decision making. Creates impactful solutions that empower people to achieve their goals.

User Research

I am a passionate advocate for user research, firmly believing that smart business decisions stem from a deep understanding of who you are building for. As a self-proclaimed user research nerd, I thrive on uncovering insights through various methodologies, from interviews and field studies to surveys and diary studies. This dedication ensures that every design decision is rooted in real user needs and behaviors, driving impactful and user-centered solutions.

UX Design, Prototyping, and Development

I love channeling my creativity through UI design and rapid prototyping, which serve as my artistic outlets. Designing intuitive and visually appealing user interfaces allows me to blend aesthetics with functionality, crafting experiences that are both beautiful and effective. Rapid prototyping, on the other hand, lets me experiment with ideas quickly, bringing concepts to life and iterating them in real-time. This process ensures that my work remains both innovative and user-focused.

Usability and Accessibility Testing

I am a strong believer in data-driven design, using user testing and accessibility testing to validate and continuously improve my work. By conducting thorough usability tests, I gather valuable feedback directly from users, allowing me to refine and enhance the user experience based on real-world interactions. Additionally, I prioritize accessibility testing to ensure that my designs are inclusive and usable for everyone. This rigorous testing process not only validates my design choices but also drives meaningful improvements, making my solutions both intuitive and accessible.

Case Studies

Canadiana

Surveys, Accessibility Testing, Unmoderated Usability Tests, System Usability Scales, Quantitative Analysis

Canadiana.ca, a major digital archive, required modernization and a transition to a more user-friendly open-source system to improve accessibility and user experience. Leading the UX research for this project, I orchestrated the adoption of Blacklight, developed by the University of Virginia and Stanford. To ensure a seamless transition, I designed a pop-up survey that garnered 13,000 responses, with 1,300 volunteers participating in usability testing. I also conducted focus groups to develop detailed user personas. Using methods like surveys, accessibility testing, unmoderated usability tests, and System Usability Scales, I performed quantitative analysis to refine the system, delivering a modernized Canadiana.ca with an enhanced and intuitive user experience.

IBM Fast Start

Project Management, Personas, User Stories, Wireframing

IBM needed an engaging and user-centric online experience for their Fast Start Conference to effectively showcase their innovations and facilitate attendee interactions. As the UX designer, I led the project management and design efforts to create a seamless online conference platform. I developed detailed personas and user stories to ensure the platform met diverse attendee needs. Through wireframing, I designed intuitive navigation and interactive elements that enhanced user engagement. This comprehensive UX approach resulted in a dynamic and effective online conference experience, meeting IBM’s objectives and exceeding attendee expectations.

Mirador Viewer

User Interviews, WCAG Checklist, Moderated Accessibility-focused Usability Testing, Unmoderated Usability Testing, Qualitative Analysis, Quantitative Analysis

The Mirador Viewer, a leading open-source tool for exploring digitized cultural objects, struggled with accessibility challenges, limiting its usability for users with diverse needs. As the UX researcher, I followed a universal design approach; performing accessibility tests, gathering actionable insights from a diverse user base, and conducting in-depth UX studies, I guided enhancements through the viewer's plugin system. This approach resulted in a more inclusive, intuitive, and user-friendly Mirador Viewer, broadening its appeal and usability. Through iterative feedback and UX studies, the viewer became more accessible and user-friendly for a broader audience.

Manifest Editor

Design Thinking Workshops, User Interviews, Moderated Usability Testing, Qualitative Analysis

Digitization staff at a digital archive required an efficient method to add digitization notes, correct scanning errors, manipulate documents in bulk, integrate content from other repositories, and collaborate effectively. As the UX researcher, I conducted Design Thinking Workshops, user interviews, and moderated usability testing to inform the development of a user-friendly IIIF Manifest Editor, similar to Google Slides. The consultancy Digirati implemented these insights into a tool that meets the staff's needs for streamlined document management and collaboration.

Design Deliverables

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I am active publishing Design Thinking workshop templates on to the Figma Community

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