JULIE RATNER, Ph.D.
RESEARCH EXPERTISE
- Passion for understanding human behavior by conducting emotional design research, contextual inquiries, remote and lab testing, personna creation, collage storytelling, coffee shop field testing, etc.
- Skillful moderator for lab, remote, and field research interviews and focus groups. Familiar with Microsoft Office, Visio, Morae, Ovo, remote and video-editing software.
MISSION
To rapidly solve user experience issues that are initially unintuitive to target audiences. Success is based on immersing research data into the decision-making process in each sprint cycle.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES
Founder. Iterative Design Research Consulting, April 2007 – current (Full-Time) January 2002 – 2007 (Intermittently)
- Create and complete user experience research for e-commerce, software, mobile and entertainment companies, like Expedia, Holland America Line, Eddie Bauer, Intergraph, PhotoRocket, etc.
- Lead both traditional and discount studies from kick-off meetings to results debriefings as an expert consultant or sub-contractor (with Blink Interactive, Produxs, etc.)
- Write participant phone screen recruiting scripts, moderator guides, test plans, surveys, debriefing summaries, and reports complete with conclusions and recommendations.
Director of Research. Big Fish Games, November 2007 – March 2010
- Design and conduct research on game download registration, social games for computer and iPhone. Complete reports and present recommendations to teams, executives, and board of directors.
Senior Usability Researcher. InfoSpace, July 2003 – December 2006
- Conduct research on search and directory, wireless purchasing and voice-enabled traffic applications. Lead research from kick-off to results with Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, AT&T, etc.
Senior Information Architect. Molecular, Inc., January 2001 – January 2002
- Lead and manage research projects for clients including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Fidelity Investments, Boston.com, Yankee Candle, Brown & Company.
Senior Usability Specialist. The MathWorks, Inc., July 1996 – January 2001
- Design, and deliver research findings to evaluate global e-commerce web site, MATLAB controls and financial toolboxes and Simulink.
EDUCATION
- Ph.D., Training & Learning Technology (Human Computer Interaction, Usability Research, Cognitive Psychology), Univ. of New Mexico, Albq, NM
- M.A., Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
- B.A., cum laude, University of Rochester, NY
PRESENTATIONS
Annual Guest Lecturer on “Paper Prototyping” at University of Washington, 2004 – Current. Present at SXSW, UPA, CHI and the Conference on Human Factors & Web.
Contact jratner at iterativedesign dot com