Nice to meet you! I’m Maria Alejandra
(double name, like Mary Katherine, but make it Latina)
💡 How I think about design process :
Good designs come from good research, understanding user needs and what will constitute success for the company. This means close collaboration with customers, clarification of business goals and rigorous prioritization.
We all know the drill: Empathize > Define > Ideate > Prototype > Test. But I won’t pretend these steps get done thoroughly every time when resources are thin and timelines are short. Advocating for the importance of each step and getting them built in to project plans is often part of my role as a design leader.
Iteration is where it’s at. Allowing for rounds of feedback, within the design team, product team, wider company and with end users, helps refine design and ensure we are on track to meeting goals.
👩🏻💻 Me at work : Collaborative, curious, creative.
I love a challenge and thrive in multicultural, cross-functional, empathy-led teams.
Distilling complex information into simple, and accessible designs is my forte.
I’m naturally inclined to see and solve problems and create and foster relationships.
🐝 Me in general : Active, inquisitive, caring.
I was born in Argentina, grew up in Georgia and spent my 20s in Austria.
I’m a busy bee and you’ll find me playing tennis and soccer, going to concerts.
I love being a tia to three sweet nieces and cat mom to two kitties.
I am passionate about social justice and advocating for progressive policy change.
🚨 Nerd Alert : I love to learn.
I have three Bachelor’s degrees and a Master’s.
I was a Foundation Fellow at the University of Georgia, and a Fulbright Scholar at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna.
I once turned an Atlanta History Center event into my birthday party and recently participated in a semi-competitive puzzle challenge 🤓