I’m Raven, a product designer and illustrator based in the DC area.

I currently work as a Senior Product Designer on the Games squad at The New York Times, collaborating with other squads to deliver delightful but challenging daily games for millions of daily NYT users and subscribers.

I have a diverse range of experiences: I earned my BA in Sociology with a minor in Human Development. After graduating, I worked several years as an early childhood education teacher and also as a freelance artist with local social justice movements in the DC area before entering the design industry. I now have several years of experience in design, working in both in-house and agency environments for clients and on digital products. My non-traditional background informs the designer I am today, one who prioritizes research to solve problems and create the most intuitive and inclusive experience possible, whether on screen or in person.

When not designing, you could probably catch me on a family outing, watching a cooking competition show, reading, or sketching with a Chai latte in hand.

Thanks for stopping by!

My Process (most of the time…)

1. Discovery

I use this time to explore all facets of “the problem.” Common strategies I utilize are user interviews, user testing, landscape analysis, audits, workshops, and review of any existing data and research I can get my hands on. Once I’ve gathered as many insights as possible, I extract key findings to guide the next steps of the process.

2. Exploration

Based on key findings from Discovery, I utilize brainstorming techniques, user flow mapping, service blueprinting, wireframes and low fidelity prototypes to organize my ideas into specific directions and solutions.

3. Refinement

After exploring different design directions, I will then either work independently or in collaboration with stakeholders to prioritize solutions. Next, I refine selected designs based on user and business needs, developer capacity, and level of effort to implement using prototype testing and validation calls with collaboration teams. Based on that feedback, I will edit designs and retest as needed.

4. Delivery

Finally, once we feel confident that we’ve refined our design directions to create clear and effective solutions, I work with developers to create the necessary documentation to translate the intended functionality and design specifications so designs can be staged and launched after any needed visual QA.