# Chris Centers > Senior UX Researcher w/ Background in Industrial Design Location: Campbell, California, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/chriscenters I have a passion for adventure, problem-solving, and making an impact through design. Along with design in all its forms, I am also a foodie that loves Japanese food, Burmese food, and a good NY bagel. When I'm not working on design, I love attending/hosting social gatherings or going on adventures with my family. I believe that our experiences using digital products extend beyond the digital and impact our physical reality/behaviors. I want to help bridge our experiences between the digital and physical world. I want to help blend our technology with our lives in a way that compliments us. My experience includes team leadership, project management, user experience design, and consumer product design. As a freelancer, I worked with clients such as Williams-Sonoma, Liquid Agency, and Astro Gaming to develop various concepts in short time frames; all while maintaining brand awareness through visual cues and form language. As an industrial designer at Spectrum Brands, I worked primarily on the Remington Men's Shave & Groom team developing product refreshes and new products. I also worked with the Varta group to develop a pair of premium rechargeable flashlights and a family of work light products. ## Work Experience ### Senior UX Researcher @ Credit Sesame Jan 2024 – Present | Mountain View, California, United States ### UX Researcher @ Credit Sesame Jan 2021 – Jan 2024 | Mountain View, California, United States ### UX Content Strategist @ Christopher Centers LLC Jan 2020 – Jan 2021 | San Francisco Bay Area Working with design agency Motionstrand, based in San Diego, CA on a pharmaceutical drug discovery company's services website and e-commerce website. I performed a series of research techniques including surveys, questionnaire analysis with +300 data points, competitive analysis, and market research to provide an in-depth report with recommendations on how to best develop the IA for the new sites. I contributed to the IA work as well. ### Instructor / Instructional Associate / Homework Grader @ General Assembly Jan 2020 – Jan 2021 | Remote Instructional Associate: - Co-Mentored and supported 30 students on a bi-weekly basis - Assessed the quality of student's academic and professional performance, and created action plans based on areas of growth - Reinforced design concepts and methods through the online portals and Slack - Supported lead instructor with lectures, activities, and attendance Homework grader: - Track and grade weekly assignment along with providing appropriate feedback on work. - Provide progress updates regarding class status and areas of improvement - Communicate with lead instructor about students progress and areas of growth Sessions: UXDI-55 (SF), UXDR-4620, UXDR-714, UXDR-803, UXDR-928 ### UX Designer @ Self Employed Jan 2019 – Jan 2020 | San Francisco Bay Area - Developed a service targeting the niche market void between the meal kit service Gobble, Inc. and the cooking app industries in an effort to increase users and promote culinary education in the home - Redesigned the Bumblebee Spaces iPad app to improve the interface between the hardware component and the AI system by creating user-based themes - Designed & prototyped an iPhone app to improve the experience of splitting the check during a dining experience with a group that focused on the idea that each person is only focused on what they owe for the meal - Completed a redesign of the Code for San Jose website focusing on improving the onboarding process and increasing volunteer turnout through improved imagery, content supporting the impact of volunteering, and matching events to a user’s skillset ### Broadcaster @ Digital Lamb Productions Jan 2020 – Jan 2020 | San Francisco Bay Area - Utilized tools such as OBS and 1Fuzion to broadcast content to Hopin for the Women in Product annual conference. - Worked with a remote team of production leads and other broadcasters to ensure a smooth virtual event encompassing 4 stages with close to 3,000 viewers and dozens of presenters over 3 days. ### Presentation Designer @ Mobi Homes, Inc. Jan 2020 – Jan 2020 | San Francisco Bay Area Design and consultation on first-round presentation deck for start-up funding. ### UXD Instructional Associate - Remote @ General Assembly Jan 2020 – Jan 2020 | Online - Co-Mentored and supported 30 students on a bi-weekly basis - Assessed the quality of student's academic and professional performance, and created action plans based on areas of growth - Reinforced design concepts and methods through the online portals and Slack - Supported lead instructor and co-IA with lectures, activities, and attendance ### UX Immersive Instructional Associate @ General Assembly Jan 2019 – Jan 2020 | San Francisco, California - Mentored 24 students+ 1:1 on a bi-weekly basis - Assessed the quality of student's academic and professional performance, and created action plans based on areas of growth - Reinforced design concepts and methods in the classroom - Supported lead instructors with lectures and activities - Championed presentation strategies and delivery techniques to help students improve the quality of their presentations - Led a lecture on creative blocks and unblocking tips to improve student solutioning ### UX Designer @ Code for the City Jan 2019 – Jan 2019 | San Jose, CA UX Designer @ Code for the City | San Francisco, CA | 2-week sprint - Performed an initial site evaluation for usability to determine key areas of improvement - Synthesized qualitative and quantitative derived from surveys to gain insights into volunteering habits - Used a competitive analysis to determine how other nonprofits recruit volunteers - Utilized Figma to create a wireframe prototype and style guide - Performed usability testing on the new prototype to validate the changes made ### Assistant Swim Coach @ Deforest Aquatic Club Inc Jan 2018 – Jan 2019 | Deforest, WI I assisted the coaching staff during practices, helped at swim meets, and substitute as needed to lead practices. I co-coached the age group swimmers as well as the senior swimmers. I was a state level swimmer in freestyle and IM, and a national level swimmer in breaststroke at the high school level - 1998 ### Industrial Design Engineer @ Universal Presentation Concepts Jan 2018 – Jan 2018 | Madison, Wisconsin - Managed 8 projects - start through production. - Designed & built a dozen prototypes for client proofing, preproduction analysis, and material testing - Performed quality assurance revisions of short-run production products to find ways of cutting cost - Client presentations of various design proposals to sell them on the company - Rapid concepting of product displays using pen/paper or Solidworks to gain client business - Sign-off for instruction manuals and bill of material documentation for ordering and production ### Industrial Designer @ Spectrum Brands, Inc Jan 2016 – Jan 2018 | Madison, Wisconsin Area @ Remington Personal Care - Designed the haircut and grooming products HC1085, HC4050, HC4300AU (Rapid Cut Turbo), and MPT1000 (heritage Fold Out Trimmer) - Created lighting animations and timing sequencing for the XR1550/XR1570 rotary shavers - Designed for the UK/Europe, Australia, and North American markets - Design contributions to the BHT6455FF (Shortcut Pro), R5000 (R5), F5000 (F5), and PG6200AU/PG3000 (Graphite) @ Varta Lights - Designed the Work Flex family of work lights: Pocket Light, Area Light, Telescoping, and BL30R - Designed the Night Cutter series flashlights: F20R & F30R - Concepted a family of battery chargers ### Product Design Consultant @ Pocket Systems Jan 2015 – Jan 2016 | San Francisco Bay Area - Designed a housing for a credit/debit card chip reader for online purchasing - Worked with local prototyping businesses to ensure the parts were produced accurately - Worked with a local small-batch production company to refine the parts for production https://pocketsystems.com/ ### Contract Graphic Designer @ David Rio San Francisco Jan 2014 – Jan 2016 - Created 3 product promotion media sheets used at conventions and sales events to gain B2B sales - Designed and installed 1 promotional installation showcasing a new product offering at the SF Food & Beverage show - Designed 2 published magazine ads in Fresh Cup Magazine showcasing the brand & product offerings ### Resident Manager @ Prado Group Jan 2011 – Jan 2016 | San Francisco Bay Area Oversee property management of a 25 unit building in the Hayes Valley District of San Francisco, CA. ### Contract Industrial Designer @ Williams-Sonoma, Inc. Jan 2014 – Jan 2015 | san francisco, california - Concepting and inspiration for 4 internal projects - Design and 3D modeling of vintage bakeware family ### Freelance Industrial Designer @ Eliot Wade /Heather Blaikie Jan 2014 – Jan 2014 | San Francisco Bay Area Freelance consulting and 3D modeling in assistance to head designer Heather Blaikie for Eliot Wade. Project currently unannounced. ### Contract CAD Modeling and Rendering @ Marc Friedland Couture Communications / Creative Intelligence, Inc. Jan 2014 – Jan 2014 | San Francisco Bay Area - 3D model of Abu Dhabi Airport for desktop award - Work with local and International team to consolidate information on the project Link to the actual airport project: https://www.arup.com/projects/abu-dhabi-international-airport-midfield-terminal-building ### Freelance Designer @ Liquid Agency Jan 2014 – Jan 2014 - Concept development for a joint Motorola/Verizon kiosk set highlighting the phones new features through key interactions ### Contract Industrial Design Consultant @ Dorey Design Group Jan 2013 – Jan 2013 | San Francisco Bay Area I designed the initial concept, form development, and 3D CAD work for the Whammerdyne "Truth" | Ultimate 2A3 amplifier. - Design and development of a luxury home amplifier targeting avid audiophiles - Work with non-local client to meet the branding and build requirements for single-unit production ### Principle Product Designer @ EDGE International, LLC Jan 2012 – Jan 2013 - Designed 4 iPhone cases to meet brand and styling intent - Package design for all cases and supporting materials - Product photography and editing for marketing materials - Created dynamic imagery for marketing campaign via social media - Concept generation for tablet cases ### SolidWorks 3D Modeler @ Astro Gaming, Inc. Jan 2012 – Jan 2013 - Create 3D SolidWorks models of undisclosed projects - Modify existing 3D models based on design need - Assist in Retail Kiosk Design - Concept sketching for soft-goods - Basic feedback on UI/UX Project ### Product Design Tutor @ Academy of Art University Jan 2011 – Jan 2012 As a former student of the Product Design Program, I am familiar with the classes and instructors. I help students (via the Academic Resource Center) to improve their skills in classes they are behind in. I typically tutor in SolidWorks, AutoCAD, and perspective. I have also helped with Sketching classes as well as Product Design classes. ### Contract SolidWorks Modeller @ Asia America Corporation Jan 2011 – Jan 2012 - Create and update 3D models - Create production drawings from 3D models ### Contract SolidWorks Modeller @ Chris Myers Industrial Design Jan 2012 – Jan 2012 - Assist in the development of undisclosed project - Create and update 3D SolidWorks model based on feedback ### Furniture Designer (Contract) @ Blueprint Studios Jan 2012 – Jan 2012 - Design for bar system for events - Create 3D model of concept - Create full set of working drawings to release to production - Rushed, short deadline project ### Graphic Design / Packaging Design (Contract) @ Oliso Inc. Jan 2012 – Jan 2012 - Graphic artwork and layouts for vacuum bags and vacuum bag packaging - Graphic artwork and layouts for steam iron packaging - Graphic artwork and layouts for vacuum sealer packaging - Graphic artwork for magazine advertisement - Some concept work for future models of steam irons and undisclosed project ### Resident Apartment Manager @ Laramar Group Jan 2010 – Jan 2011 Oversee property management of a 15 unit building and a 21 unit building in the Marina District of San Francisco, CA. ### CAD Instructor @ KCTCS Jan 2002 – Jan 2006 Taught an introductory class on mechanical drawing and the use of AutoCAD. Primarily 2D, with some 3D introduced at the end. ### CAD Specialist @ Alltech Jan 2004 – Jan 2006 Corporate CAD guy working on all types of projects ranging from metal fabrication drawings, production process drawings, production layout, civil planning drawings, on-site "as built" measuring, architectural planning and construction drawings. ### CAD Instructor @ Spencerian College Jan 2001 – Jan 2001 I taught the following classes: CAD 1 - 5 (covering AutoCAD, Mechanical Desktop, and Autodesk Inventor), Architectural drawing (covering Architectural Desktop and SoftPlan), residential construction, commercial construction, and descriptive geometry. ### CAD Operator @ Ruskin Company Jan 2000 – Jan 2000 Contract employee through Aerotek. While on contract, created a 3D model of the Ruskin mfg. facility (65,000 sq.ft.) for the purposes of machine placement and volume study to aid in the planning of a new facility layout. ## Education ### BFA in Industrial Design - Product Design Academy of Art University ### Certificate in UX - User Experience Design General Assembly ### N / A in Japanese and International Economics University of Kentucky ### Associates in Math & Science Lexington Community College ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/christopher-centers-design - Portfolio: https://www.christophercenters.design - Behance: http://www.behance.net/visualizethis --- Source: https://flows.cv/chriscenters JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/chriscenters/resume.json Last updated: 2026-04-13