Hi, I’m Katie!

I am a multi-disciplinary researcher and designer, with 15 years of experience in both physical and digital products. Teams look to me when they need support with turning abstraction and ideas into concrete insights and recommendations.

I thrive in discovery research and concept testing, and I love to dig into users’ holistic experiences and learn how a product fits into it.

I have experience doing research for physical products and digital interfaces, and running sessions in person and over video.

I have a passion for simplicity in my life and in the things I create, and pursue intentionality and ease in all that I do. I have been told I am very empathetic and good at reading people. This has made me into an observant and curious researcher who anticipates the needs of the user and hones in on both the spoken and unspoken.

In my free time, my main passion is knitting. It combines a relaxing hobby with another outlet for creativity. I have also written about a dozen knitting patterns, ranging from small accessories to clothing.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design
Ohio State University
2005 - 2009


UX Certification - Research Specialty
Nielsen Norman Group
Issued July 2024
Certification ID 1074401

Skills

  • Moderated interviews

  • Contextual inquiry

  • Usability testing

  • Workshop facilitation

  • Rapid ideation and prototyping

  • Report creation

  • Cross-functional collaboration

  • Working with clients and business stakeholders

  • Working with high regulation and heavy constraints

Programs

  • Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop

  • Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, Excel

  • UserTesting and UserZoom

  • Miro and LucidSpark

 

Work Experience

Lead Design Researcher
Humana (Jan 2025 - present)

 I lead qualitative and quantitative research initiatives for the Medicare Advantage digital plan shopping team.

I work cross-functionally with product managers, designers, content writers, and business partners to strategize and act upon research findings.


Senior Service Designer and User Researcher
Humana (Dec 2021 - Jan 2025)

 Advocated for all users, including members, customer service associates, sales agents, and healthcare providers.

Conducted various types of research, reviewed calls and feedback, and created visuals to understand experiences and ecosystems.

Head of Order Management 
Conquest Maps (2016 - 2021)

Ran and oversaw multiple departments related to orders, including Shipping, Operations, and Customer Service.

Streamlined these departments by developing systems, processes and SOPs as we grew, and training staff to be successful in these areas.

Researcher and Designer
Trident Design (2011 - 2016)

Conducted primary and secondary research for clients, analyzed and synthesized results to present and utilize in design process.

Ideated functions and features to improve experience and patentability, and created prototypes for usability testing.

Managed all crowdfunding campaigns from strategy to end, tracking client relationships, timelines and budgets throughout.

 

Contact Me

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katie-ruggiero-00979915

Email: katie.a.ruggiero@gmail.com

Phone: 614-804-7461

References available upon request

PDF Resume