Yuqing (Alice) Xiao
UX Researcher/Design Strategist
Phone:
912-844-9972
Email:
Education
Savannah College of Art and Design
Industrial Design MFA
Design Management MA
Profile
I am a skilled UX Researcher / Design Strategist with a deep proficiency in various qualitative research methodologies, searching for human-centered solutions. I excel at selecting appropriate research methods, establishing clear execution frameworks, and adapting approaches to dynamic project needs. My expertise lies in collecting and analyzing authentic qualitative data directly from users, identifying behavior patterns, and synthesizing actionable insights. I am experienced in collaborating with cross-functional teams and possess strong data visualization and presentation abilities, effectively communicating research findings to inform strategic decision-making.
Skills
Quantitative Research
Survey
Experimental Study
Observation/Shadowing
Prototype Test/Usability Test
Qualitative Research
Observation/Shadowing
Contextual Inquiry
In-depth Interview/One-on-one Interview
Ethnography Study/Field Research
Focus Groups/Co-creation Workshop
Usability Test/Card Sorting
Semantic Differential Method
Softwares
Figma/Miro/Canva
Microsoft Teams/Slack/Lark
Adobe Creative Suite (PS/AI/PR/ID/XD/AU)
Microsoft Office (PowerPoint/Excel/Word)
Survey Monkey/Google Form
Optimal Workshop
Visualization & Communication
User Journey Map/User Persona/Archetype
Value Position Canva/Value Pillar
Affinitization/Affinity Diagram
Business Model Canvas
Blue Ocean Strategy Map/Stakeholder Map
Empathy Map
Story Board(Sketches/AIGC)
Competitive Mapping
Other Research/Design Methodology
Lextant Contextual Research Method
RKS Psycho-Aesthetic Design Thinking
Brand Diagnose Workshop/Stakeholder Workshop
Participatory Design
R&D Iceberg Model (self-developed)
Interdisciplinary Knowledge
Design Thinking
Semiotics
Psychology of Gaming
Behavioral Economics
Brand Archetypes
Sustainability Theories and Tools
Work Experience
User Experience Researcher (Volunteer)
Moonton Games
2024.8-Now
Remote (Part-time)
Responsibility
-Hosted in-depth, one-on-one interviews with various types of game players across diverse regions and adapted the research guidelines to changing circumstances
-Collected, translated, and synthesized qualitative data, helping other departments make decisions
-Built user persona, concluded user behavior patterns to classify players and generate insights
-Refined interview guidelines based on research progress and game development phase
Impact
-Helped the game development team to optimize the game interface to improve user satisfaction
-Supported the commercialization team in revising pricing strategies and sales models
-Fostered strong relationships with player communities, helped the operations team to improve player retention and increase in-game purchases
-Enhanced the volunteer training process by sharing best practices in interviewing, leading to better data authentic and research efficiency
Innovative Researcher (Contract)
Georgia Conservancy
2023.6-2023.9
Savannah, GA
Responsibility
-Conducted secondary research to understand the project background and define design objectives
-Conducted in-depth interviews with crucial stakeholders (Georgia fishermen, marine experts, sustainability experts, etc.) to gain diverse perspectives
-Designed and facilitated co-creation workshops, recruiting participants (seafood consumers, fishermen, chefs); hosted and guided participants to promote their creative thinking in the workshops.
-Collected, analyzed, and visualized workshop data to identify key insights and proposed feasible solutions in the research report and presentation.
Impact
-Helped the Georgia Conservancy to develop a 1-year, 5-year, and 10-year sustainable fishery development plan.
-Fostered collaboration of fishermen and chefs, helped Georgia Conservancy to promote black bass recipes, organize whale protection celebrations, and increase public awareness and donations
-Established long-term collaboration between SCAD and the Georgia Conservancy
Lead User Experience Researcher(Contract)
Procter & Gamble
2022.09-2022.11
Savannah, GA
Responsibility
I served as the lead UX researcher for the SCADpro team, helping P&G's Gillette series of brands develop brand strategies and new user experiences for Gen Z and Gen A.
-Conduct secondary research (market trend research, competitive research, historical product analysis) to understand the development of Gillette products and their performance in the current market, and the competitors' pros and cons
-Conduct primary research (survey, field study, one-on-one interviews, contextual inquiry, probes) to understand the target user group's views and actual usage experience of Gillette products, as well as their expectations for an ideal hair removal experience
-Communicate with the branding and marketing team, packaging design team, and UX design team to deliver insights, propose design opportunities, and help other teams improve the design to align with a consistent vision
Impact
-Clarified the existing negative impressions of GenZ and GenA users on Gillette products, helped the marketing and brand teams re-plan the positioning of multiple brands in the Gillette family, and increased brand inclusion and sustainability of future development
-Discovered the target users' pain points in the current journey, helped the packaging design team create a new symbol system, broke the gender stereotypes in hair removal product design, and enhanced brand inclusivity to cater to market trends
-Helped the UX design team discover new touchpoints by building a user journey map and redesigned the in-store shopping experience to increase user shopping efficiency and satisfaction
User Experience Designer(Contract)
NHS in UK
(National Health Service)
2019.09-2019.11
Glasgow, UK
Responsibility
I work as a user experience designer in a user experience design project in cooperation between the Glasgow School of Art and the National Health Service in the UK.
-Responsible for secondary research to understand the existing services and products in the UK NHS system, as well as user feedback
-Develop a primary research plan, mainly including field visits, one-on-one interviews, and questionnaires in the gynecological clinics of NHS Ayrshire & Arran. Strictly abide by the research code during the research process to protect patient privacy
-Deliver research conclusions with a visualization model, turn insights into design opportunities, and communicate with stakeholders and clients
-Support the work of the graphic design team, assist in the design and iteration of print materials and digital products (APP and website), and finally deliver high-quality prototypes
Impact
Help NHS Ayrshire & Arran staff to gain a deep understanding of patients' user experience, promote patients' understanding of NHS workflows, and enhance the emotional connection between patients and medical staff
Support NHS Ayrshire & Arran to provide sensitive, personal, and human-based care provision within the NHS, including updating the website design to meet patients' needs better, reducing patients' emotional problems caused by lack of communication and low information transparency with printed materials, and improving patient satisfaction
Education
Sep 2021- Nov 2024
(Sep 2019 - Feb 2020)
(Sep 2016 - June 2020)
Master of Fine Art | Industrial Design
Master of Art | Design Management
Major in Industrial Design (GPA 3.89/4.0) and Design Management (GPA 4.0/4.0). Elective courses include Kinetic Design, SCADpro, Sustainability Theory, Biomimicry Design, and Furniture Design.
Savannah College of Art and Design | Savannah, GA
Exchange Program | Product Design
Joining the Product Design program as an exchange student.
GPA (72/100) Rank (2/29)
Glasgow School of Art | Glasgow, UK
Bachelor of Engineering | Industrial Design
Glasgow School of Art | Glasgow, UK
Receive general education in design and professional training in industrial design. (GPA 4.23/5) Elective courses include Sustainable Consciousness, User Study, Social Psychology, Interaction Design, Jewelry Identification.
Awards
Certificate
Lextant Certificate - Design Research & Insight Translation
This certificate represents completing the Contextual Research course developed by Lextant in collaboration with SCAD and mastering fundamental processes and methods of front-end user experience research. The skills acquired include selecting design methods, creating a research discussion guide, defining and recruiting target users, preparing research materials, pilot testing, facilitating effective conversations in interviews, documenting and structuring the data notes, creating data visualization, doing insight translation, and creating storyboards to demonstrate the vision of an ideal user experience.
SCADamp Certificate: Speak, Visualize and Connect
This badge represents the completion of 18 hours of SCADamp training, mastering skills of effectively articulating compelling content to a variety of audiences (SPEAK), showcasing a professional presence through high-impact visuals (VISUALIZE), and adapting interpersonal communication to maximize professional opportunities (CONNECT), across a spectrum of formal/informal contexts.
Figma Certificate - SCAD Figma Bootcamp
This badge certifies proficiency in Figma and its main functionality, including- Ideation, collaboration, and organization in FigJam - Shape operations, effects, styles, tools, auto-layout, components, prototyping, animations, grids & rulers, and alignment in Figma Design - Design, animations, styles in Figma Slides