# Zeynep Aksu > UX Researcher & User Experience Designer; Entertainer of Ideas & Meaning Miner Location: San Jose, California, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/zeynepaksu As an UX Design Researcher & User Experience Designer, my goal is to understand humans and make an impact on their lives. My background in Theology (B.S.) and Education (M.S.) has let me understand how emotions, thoughts, stories, subconscious, and unconscious biases impact people’s feelings and perception of a behavior. I create useful, beautiful, simple, and friendly designs that people love. Outside of work, I enjoy baking and decorating cakes, hiking, spending quality time with my family and friends, and swimming. Let's get in touch if you want to make something that people will love. My skills & tools Include: - User Experience (UX) - User Experience Design (UED) - User Researcher - Wire-framing/Prototyping - Figma (Software) - Affinity map - Personas - Empathy mapping ## Work Experience ### UI/UX Design Trainee @ Springboard Jan 2022 – Jan 2024 | San Francisco Bay Area Mastered skills in sketching, wireframing, interaction design, prototyping, and usability testing as a part of a framework focused on the discovery, design, and evaluation phases of user-centered design. UI/UX Projects Lyyka Village: Lykkå Village is a platform that connects parents, especially single moms and newcomers, for community and co-living in Montreal. -Analyzed client documents and identified reliable information. -Conducted Heuristic analysis to identify and improve design flaws. -Resigned activities page, event display card, and created a payment flow. -Employed iterative design methodology with user testing and interviews. -Delivered mid-fidelity designs for further user testing. Savr Recipes: A new startup simplifying cooking with clear, engaging instructions for exceptional meals. - Conducted competitor analysis to identify understand user needs. -Used Crazy 8's for rapid design brainstorming. Created high-fidelity screens and prototype in Figma -Conducted user testing for enhanced cooking experience. ConnectUp: Event based social networking App. Objective was to increase event attendance. - Conducted user research and analysis to identify pain points and opportunities for improvement, resulting in the development of a design solution that increased event attendance. - Contributed to the development of the ConnectUp mobile app by participating in the design process from ideation to prototype. Delivered mockups in Figma and collaborated with product managers to ensure that the design addressed business problems. Arya AI: AI writing assistant for non-native English speakers. Objective was to design product from scratch. - Conducted user research for Arya AI, applying insights to create an exceptional user experience. - Crafted intuitive and engaging interfaces with Figma, showcasing creativity and attention to detail. -Successfully developed the new extension app, applying my expertise in user-centered design and design thinking principles. ### UX Researcher & Designer @ Lykka Village Jan 2023 – Jan 2023 | Sunnyvale, California, United States Lykkå Village is a platform that connects parents, especially single moms and newcomers, for community and co-living in Montreal. Analyzed client documents and identified reliable information. Conducted Heuristic analysis to identify and improve design flaws. Resigned activities page, event display card, and created a payment flow. Employed iterative design methodology with user testing and interviews. Delivered mid-fidelity designs for further user testing. ### Middle School Teacher @ Ata Middle School Jan 2015 – Jan 2016 | Ankara, Turkey Teach religious culture and morality to 6-8th graders Curiosity Catalyst: Designed interactive curriculum, igniting student passion and learning hunger. Empathetic Communicator: Built safe spaces through active listening & inclusive dialogue, ensuring all voices were heard. Confident Problem Solver: Utilized student-centered research to continuously improve lessons & address diverse needs, cultivating a growth mindset in students and myself. ### Middle School Teacher @ Eşref Bitlis Middle School Jan 2014 – Jan 2015 | Siirt, Turkey Teach religious culture and morality to 6-8th graders - Facilitated group activities that improved students' teamwork and leadership skills. - Organized field trips and outdoor activities that improved students' participation. - Majority of the class scored full marks on the end of year national exam. - Convinced three students to continue their education. ### Teacher @ Community Education Center and Evening Art School Jan 2013 – Jan 2014 | Ankara, Turkey Taught Arabic language classes to adults. ## Education ### English as a Second Language (ESL) Lake Washington Institute of Technology ### Master of Education - MEd in Religious Culture and Moral Knowledge Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi ### Bachelor's degree in Theology/Theological Studies Suleyman Demirel University ### UI/UX Springboard ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/zeynep-aksu --- Source: https://flows.cv/zeynepaksu JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/zeynepaksu/resume.json Last updated: 2026-04-13