Ryana is a designer, storyteller, and strategist with expertise in design research, systems thinking, and sensemaking — all in service of crafting stellar user experiences and leading successful teams.

My Design Philosophy

My design philosophy has been shaped by working in fast-paced startup environments where every decision is pretty consequential, and intentional collaboration is key to the team’s success. My mantra has always been “everyone is a designer!” because I believe deeply in the power of sharing design thinking and creative problem solving practices across teams and departments.

I have a master's in Design for Social Innovation, which has shaped my approach to design being deeply rooted in cooperative practices. I am constantly aware of who is missing from decision making spaces, and negotiating ways to ensure those voices are heard.

Good design happens when intention meets practiced craft and compassionate problem solving.

Notable skills + competencies + professional interests

10+ years designing for human experiences

UX, product, and service design expertise across multiple sectors

Design leadership + thought leadership

I thrive in complexity

I am a highly strategic thinker with expertise in untangling complex problems and building sustainable processes that address real challenges.

I develop an understanding of connections across systems, understanding and articulate the big picture, develop recommendations on what to do next, and then execute on all of that to create solutions that work.

I am a researcher

Developing deep empathy and connection with the people who will interact with tools my team works on is really important to me. I ensure that my team's design decisions are made collaboratively, with the user’s lived experience, expertise, and needs at the center of our choices.

I am a facilitator

I love developing spaces for folks to get their hands dirty in the creative process, and feel connected to design work. I have created and led facilitations both remotely and in-person, for both small groups and large, cross-functional teams.

I build sustainable processes

I've developed an expertise in both developing design processes from scratch as well as iterating/redesigning existing team processes.

I translate for non-technical audiences

I am very comfortable articulating not only the specifics of work for non-designers/non-technical folks (including leadership) but also advocating for design in spaces where it doesn’t always show up.

I choose the right tool for the job

In our rapidly evolving AI-focused environment, I have developed a nuanced POV on when and how to utilize automation versus human brain power and collaboration. AI should be used to enhance our ability to connect with humans, not replace it.

I am a leader and a mentor

My leadership style is rooted in the understanding that everyone brings a different set of skills and interests to a team space. Like a gardener, I build and cultivate teams that will bloom in various ways and produce a variety of fruits.