I’ve been told I’m relentlessly detail-oriented, ask (though perhaps too many) good questions, and above all, genuinely care about delivering experiences that improve peoples’ lives.

Here’s me on paper: I’m currently a Senior Product Designer at the ACLU, but previous roles have landed me at Target and Resideo (Honeywell Home). In June of 2019, I graduated from the Human Centered Design and Engineering (HCDE) Department at the University of Washington.

Now, the important bit: Though I wholeheartedly believe that every new and existing product can be transformed with a bit of UX magic, I find myself gravitating toward those that lie within the wellness and accessibility space. With my degree and Global Health minor in tow, I am itching to refine digital and physical interfaces that serve patients and people with disabilities. Several life experiences led me to this point—to name a few: creating a transfer device for people with limited mobility through HuskyADAPT, traveling to South Africa to learn about disabilities in resource limited settings, playing on a Special Olympics Unified soccer team, and most recently, designing an interactive teddy bear to support children’s emotional and mental health.

In my eyes, design is so much more than pushing pixels or making things look nice—it’s about empowering people to have what’s owed to them: gratifying, fair, purposeful lives.

If any of this sentiment resonates with you, I’d love to hear from you! And if not, you’re still welcome to reach me at ritikag@live.com.