Matea Montanaro
5 years of HCD experience
I am driven by a deep curiosity into the workings of the world. This translated into love of the sciences, art, and human behavior.
Human-centered design lives at the intersection of all three. It's where analytical thinking, creative problem-solving, and understanding people produces transformative outcomes.
UX is where I get to do all of this at once, and build things that truly make the world better.
What to expect from me
Bringing momentum
I've been told I have "get-it-done" energy. I love digging into complex problems, finding clarity, and keeping things in motion until the work is done well.
Centering on people
Whenever possible, I let research do the talking. Design principles take you far, but the most useful insights are context-specific, and those come directly from users.
Aiming for max impact
I design with outcomes in mind. Business and user impact must be key considerations from day one, or design risks loosing value.
Want to collaborate? Get in touch below.
A peek at my process
At the highest level, my process is as follows
Develop an understanding
Map the problem space including the people in it, risks, and opportunities.
Polish the understanding
Keep learning. Challenge assumptions. Close knowledge gaps. Prioritize.
Act on that understanding
Act with intention.
Make design decisions traceable back to research or design principles.
Repeat
Stay curious.
Circle back as many times as needed.
I envision a world where human-centered design uplifts everyone, and renders our lives more delightful.
Industry experience
NGOs
Environmental sector
Healthcare
Education
Community platforms
Biotech
Education
Masters of Human-Computer Interaction
UC Irvine
Bachelors of Environmental Design
UC Berkeley
Additional Certifications
AI for EdTech, Learnquest AI
Certificate of Design Innovation, Jacobs Institute
Outside of UX
You'll likely find me writing, running with my high-energy dog, or enjoying a warm cup of tea.
