Kamusta (hello), I’m Kristian!
I'm a UX Designer, musician turned creative, mentor, motivator/speaker, cat, and dog dad, and aspiring workout enthusiast. I’m passionate about getting deep into product problems, bringing the voice of the customer upfront, and working collaboratively with my teams. I fully advocate creating products that are rigorously researched and tested by users every step of the way. My design goals are to tackle innovative user experience problems, educate, inspire individuals on design, and continue to challenge myself and others on projects that are out of the ordinary.
One random fact about me— I went to Japan out of the blue and didn’t sleep for a week. The ramen and temples were worth it! I currently live in Atlanta with my partner Tyler, Ember (the hairless ones), Rufus the schnoodle, and Nash the golden doodle. It’s a full house!
I love to chat with other creatives about anything design. I’d love to share ideas!
Reach out: delacruzdynamics@yahoo.com (yes, I still have a yahoo account 😆)
The kiddos in their element
Experience
Amazon • Atlanta, GA
Lead UX Designer, September 2022–Present
🌅 Amazon Photos - Shared Albums
• Led the redesign of the device personalization experience for Amazon Photos. This contributes to ~25% of device personalization to 6million Echo Show devices.
• Led the redesign of the out of the box and first time user experience for new and existing Amazon Customers. My goal was redesign a delightful setup for customer to personalize Amazon Devices with their personal photos. The effort will touch 6 million customers who currently have Echo Show devices.
• Led, strategized and planned multiple usability testing to learn and understand customer behaviors on 'shared albums'. The effort contributed to deeper understanding on accessibility issues and content concerns. Some methodologies included, content testing, unmoderated testing, first impression and click testing.
Microsoft • Atlanta, GA
Product Designer, May 2021–September 2022
Cloud Experiences Studio - Identity
• Solving technical problems for Azure identity governance
• Lead Designer enabling enterprises to streamline and automate complex identity workflows for their end-users.
• Lead Designer for hybrid cloud provisioning user experiences. Executing a strategy to increase customer usage.
• Executing and strategizing a health and monitoring experience for Azure Cloud Sync.
Azure Identity Accessibility Lead
• Accessibility lead for the identity design team. Learning, documenting, advocating, building, and influencing accessibility needs for the Admin design system.
• Led a team of designers to holistically think about accessibility on the Azure Admin portal.
• Facilitated discussions and processes on documenting accessibility case studies.
Mentor
• Design mentor for Microsoft Reach program a 3+ month mentor program for underrepresented individuals looking to get into design, research, or content.
• Mentee’s book 30min calls twice a month from a diverse group of Microsoft Designers to gather insight, advice and long-term mentorship.
USAA • Nashville, TN
Sr. Product Designer, December 2020–Present
• Enabling, educating, coaching, evangelizing, and leading collaborative human-centered activities within Chief Design Office.
• Lead and design an accessible and duplicatable user experience for Toolkits — allowing Designers, Product Owners, Business Partners, and leadership to use reusable methods for better human-centered results.
Asurion • Nashville, TN
Sr. Product Designer, March 2018–December 2020
Clients: AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, The Home Depot, Amazon
Booz Allen Hamilton • Rockville, MD
Lead Product Designer, February 2015–March 2018
Lead Designer to creating human-centered experiences on mobile applications, responsive websites, data-visualization and strategizing for digital products.
Clients: Department of State, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Department of Labor, Army, Air Force, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Institute of Health (NIH)
Shepherd University • Shepherdstown, WV
UX Design Adjunct Instructor, January 2017–May 2017
Instructed and built the first cohort of User Experience Design for Shepherd University’s
Graphic Design BFA program. The students built an empathic approach on designs and executed user experience processes on digital application development
Choice Hotels International • Rockville, MD
Designer, August 2014–February 2015
Ignite Media Solutions • McLean, VA
Web Designer, June 2014–August 2014
Discovery Communications • Silver Spring, MD
Graphic Designer, June 2013–Present
Awards
210, 2015 Parents’ Choice Silver Honor, 2015
Voices from the Storm, AAF, District 2, Student Gold ADDY, 2013
Voices from the Storm, AAF, Greater Frederick, Student Gold ADDY, 2013
The Beauty of Fashion, AAF, Greater Frederick, Student Silver ADDY, 2013
Engagements and Panels
Arizona State University Engagement
Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona: “What The F*CK is UX Design?”
October, 2018World Usability Day, Washington, D.C.: “The Foundations of the Unknown. UX Edition”
October, 2018University of Maryland Masters Program, College Park, MD: “UX Your Portfolio”
November, 2018Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, WV: Panel: Design Careers
November, 2018General Assembly, Washington, D.C.: Panel: Landscape of Design and Career in UX Design
December, 2018