# Samita Prakash Belliganood > Product Designer | End-to-End UX/UI | AI & Accessibility | Figma | HCI @ UMD Location: San Francisco, California, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/samita A Product Designer with a Master’s in Human-Computer Interaction from the University of Maryland and a background in architecture, bringing a unique spatial and visual approach to digital design. I specialize in end-to-end product design, from user research and ideation to wireframing, high-fidelity UI, usability testing, and developer handoff. My work blends UX, UI, accessibility, and product strategy to create digital experiences that are intuitive, inclusive, and visually compelling. Recent work includes leading the design of ReStyleX, a mobile-first AI stylist platform, from concept to MVP in an agile startup environment; creating Playwise, an ed-tech platform with a complete design system, brand identity, and interactive prototypes for both web and mobile; and co-designing the award-winning AI Recognition Tool for content authenticity verification, recognized for innovation and accessibility at Info Challenge 2025. I am skilled in Figma, design systems, interaction design, WCAG accessibility standards, usability testing, and cross-functional collaboration. I am currently seeking Product Designer or UX/UI Designer roles where I can drive the full design process and craft impactful, user-centered products. ## Work Experience ### Founding Product Designer @ ReStyleX Jan 2025 – Present | New York, NY ### UX/UI Designer @ Empower Jan 2025 – Present | Boston, Massachusetts, United States Designed and improved webpages for Empower’s platform by conducting content audits, defining information architecture, and building reusable components. Created wireframes and high-fidelity prototypes in Figma, then executed them in WordPress to publish live webpages. Applied UX writing best practices, accessibility standards, and storytelling techniques to enhance clarity, engagement, and inclusivity. Partnered with the Communications team to align content, design, and brand strategy across digital experiences. ### Visual Designer @ Skan AI Jan 2025 – Jan 2025 | Menlo Park, California, United States Collaborated with the Founders to design and convert complex AI system diagrams and product workflows into clear, professional presentation decks for executive and investor use. Created clear, professional presentations by building consistent visual systems and simplifying complex technical content. Enhanced clarity and storytelling for technical material through layout design, visual hierarchy, and process visualization. ### Graduate Course Aide @ College of Information (INFO), University of Maryland Jan 2025 – Jan 2025 | College Park, Maryland, United States Graduate Course Aide for INST362: User-Centered Design ### Graduate Teaching Assistant @ College of Information (INFO), University of Maryland Jan 2024 – Jan 2025 | College Park, Maryland, United States Graduate Teaching Assistant for INST335: Organizations, Management and Teamwork ### Graduate Grader @ College of Information (INFO), University of Maryland Jan 2024 – Jan 2024 | College Park, Maryland, United States Graduate Grader for INST362: User-Centered Design ### UX Designer | Capstone Project @ University of Maryland Jan 2024 – Jan 2025 | Maryland, United States Led UX design for Playwise, an ed-tech platform built around the Read-Watch-Play pedagogy. Contributed to user research and managed project operations during a 5-week sprint transitioning from research synthesis to early-stage design. • Designed and maintained a modular design system for mobile and web, applying visual hierarchy, layout logic, and WCAG 2.1 accessibility guidelines. • Created high-fidelity prototypes in Figma to support usability testing and stakeholder reviews. • Supported research efforts through moderated testing, affinity mapping, and competitive analysis using tools like Miro and ChatGPT. • Designed user flows and task maps to support intuitive course creation and learner engagement. • Project-managed a 5-week sprint during the research-to-design handoff: defined team workflows, scheduled meetings, tracked tasks, and led weekly check-ins to align priorities across UX, research, and visual design. • Coordinated with faculty and external stakeholders, including client Dr. Caro, to align design goals and deliverables; prepared sprint demos to gather iterative feedback. ### UX & Content Designer @ Unknown Jan 2024 – Jan 2025 | United States Blended UX design, content strategy, and visual storytelling to create engaging, research-driven digital experiences for Pedal Kidswear, Mountain Apparel, and the Empower Initiative. Focused on audience insights, cross-platform design, and performance-based iteration. ### Marketing & Design Intern @ Empower Jan 2024 – Jan 2024 | Boston, Massachusetts, United States ### Architectural Intern @ Collage Architecture Studio Jan 2022 – Jan 2022 | Bengaluru, Karnataka, India ## Education ### Master of Science - MS in Human Computer Interaction University of Maryland ### Bachelor of Architecture - BArch in Architecture BMS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, YELAHANKA ### Pre-University Anmol Pre-University College ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/samitaprakash --- Source: https://flows.cv/samita JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/samita/resume.json Last updated: 2026-04-13