Who Am I?
My name is Kaitlyn Reinhardt and I am a UX Researcher and Designer based in Minneapolis. I’m a former teacher that found their passion in UX research because it allows me to express empathy, collaborate across teams, talk to and learn from a diverse set of individuals and promotes functionality.
What Do I Do?
I use mixed-methods research to connect with users, and use qualitative and quantitative data to identify areas of success and areas for improvement to create the best user experience. I collaborate across teams and work with designers, developers, and product owners. I execute all aspects of research from concept to creation. I report findings and recommendations to stakeholders in a variety of different ways including workshops, highlight reels, and the trusty formal powerpoint presentation. When design skills are needed, I combine research, user flows, wireframing, prototyping, & storytelling to transform tricky problems into engaging solutions.
What Am I Passionate About?
I am passionate about conducting mixed methods research, designing for social impact, continued learning, and making deep connections :) When I’m not nerding out about UX, I enjoy a good podcast, a smooth new vinyl, and my dog Maeve.
What Do I Love Outside of Work?
Outside of work you can find me front stage at a concert, curating the perfect playlist, painting, or rollerskating at the local rink.
What Can I Offer You?
You might be wondering- what makes me an awesome team member? Well, as someone who has spent years in an industry that required collaboration with multi-disciplinary teams, a curious mind, a serious dedication to those I’m serving, and an over-engaged sense of empathy, I can bring an ability to work alongside developers and other design teams, eagerness to constantly improve my professional development, a customer obsessed mindset, and a woo mentality!
How Does Teaching Translate To Research and Design?
I’m so glad you asked! As a teacher of young children, every single thing I did relied on the user experience. From how I set up my classroom to meet children’s goals, to how I crafted each lesson plan to meet the unique needs of my students, I was utilizing design and strategy. Creating an exceptional experience for parents all the way from drop-off to pickup, was service design. By performing classroom ethnography, and observing students to assess their learning and growth, I was performing user research. When I changed the entire classroom into a campsite to increase comprehension on our outdoor safety unit, I designed a multi-sensory touchpoint experience :) Beyond design skills, teaching made me a pro at collaboration with diverse teams and clients. Part of my success as an educator came from working together with other teachers, and keeping parents happy. I am a better researcher and designer, because I was an educator :-)
^ Past Teacher Life
