# Rachana Nataraj

> UX Designer and Researcher @Ingleside | User Experience Designer | Product Designer | MS Human Computer Interaction Spring’25

Location: United States, United States
Profile: https://flows.cv/rachananataraj

I'm a UX Designer passionate about inclusive, research-driven design that improves lives, especially in accessibility, social impact, and ethical technology.
A few of my favorite achievements so far:
• Conducted IRB-approved UX research for conversational assistants, leading to a CHI 2025 publication addressing older adults' social engagement challenges.
• Improved cloud integration UI usability by 60% at PwC through cross-functional collaboration and layout optimization.
• Designed a food rescue platform that increased meal distribution efficiency by 40% and reduced food waste by 25%, blending design with real-world logistics.
I love crafting thoughtful, human-centered solutions through prototyping, storytelling, and collaborative design. Let’s connect and build meaningful experiences together!

## Work Experience
### Product Design/UX Expert @ Mercor
Jan 2025 – Present | San Francisco, California, United States

### UX Designer and Researcher @ Ingleside
Jan 2025 – Present | Maryland, United States

### UX Researcher @ Indiana University Indianapolis
Jan 2023 – Jan 2025 | Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Conducting NSF-funded research on improving offline social engagement for older adults using conversational assistants (CAs). Led 20 IRB-approved scenario-based interviews to explore barriers like isolation, accessibility, and communication.
- Developed and implemented an IRB-approved interview protocol to conduct 20 scenario-based interviews with older adults, combining qualitative and quantitative methods.
- Uncovered 3 key design implications for future CAs by mapping user journeys and synthesizing findings through affinity mapping and storyboarding.
- Conducted data analysis to identify usability gaps and design opportunities for intuitive, voice-based interfaces.
- Authored, presented, and published findings at ACM CHI 2025 in Yokohama, Japan, under the paper titled "Skeptical Yet Curious: Attitudes Towards Conversational Assistants for Supporting Social Engagement among Older Adults Living Alone."

### Graduate Teaching Assistant @ Indiana University Indianapolis
Jan 2024 – Jan 2024

### Associate @ PwC Acceleration Centers
Jan 2022 – Jan 2023 | Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

### Intern @ PwC Acceleration Centers
Jan 2022 – Jan 2022 | Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

### Web Development Intern @ Axcend Automation and Software Solutions pvt.Ltd
Jan 2021 – Jan 2021 | Bangalore Urban, Karnataka, India


## Education
### Master of Science - MS in Human Computer Interaction
Indiana University Indianapolis

### Bachelor of Engineering - BE in Computer and Information Sciences, General
BMS Institute of Technology and Management

### Vidyaniketan Public School - India

### The New Cambridge High School - India


## Contact & Social
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/rachana-nataraj-00b19179
- Portfolio: https://www.rachananataraj.com

---
Source: https://flows.cv/rachananataraj
JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/rachananataraj/resume.json
Last updated: 2026-04-13