Cyndi Thompson

Enterprise Applications

I enjoy working on enterprise applications because I like to help people get their work done efficiently and enjoy the challenge of streamlining complex workflows. Enterprise apps differ from consumer apps in that they are typically not chosen by the users themselves but rather required by the company. Creating tools that these users find helpful rather than burdensome and inspire willing adoption is an important and rewarding challenge.

Data Visualization

I enjoy the challenge of exploring complex data to find the best visual representation to let its patterns emerge clearly. We created a number of different visualizations for the Cyber-ITL to bring forward trends in different areas of their cyber security reporting. I designed the trend charts as well for my Directed Research Group on child asthma tracking.

Design Leadership

Having led a small design team, I am interested in techniques for how to best lead teams to project success and in promoting design best practices within the organization. I promoted user research and usability testing at our company and integrated them into our design process. I promoted continuous learning by bringing in topics of discussion from books, blogs, and podcasts. I introduced and facilitated new brainstorming and collaboration exercises to inspire fresh idea generation and team engagement.

Mixed-Method Research

My primary motivation for going back to school to get my Master’s in Human Centered Design was to gain more experience with and understanding of user research best practices. I studied both qualitative and quantitative research and have a broader toolbox now for how and when to apply practices of either. I promoted using mixed-method research in my Design Team Lead role, using triangulation to choose methods that cover a spread between qualitative and quantitative as well as behavioral and attitudinal data.

Inclusive Design

I am well versed in WCAG 2.0 Standards having performed accessibility evaluations and subsequent updates on several government websites, as well as leading accessibility compliance on the websites we created. I am interested in how project teams can improve our processes to make sure accessibility is a distributed responsibility across disciplines and not treated as an after thought to be applied at the end of a project.

I am a proponent of using participatory design methods to include marginalized voices in the design process (as well as hiring diverse teams!). I used participatory design to create a wearable prototype solution for people with light and noise sensitivity as part of a student team.

Design for Social Good

I get especially excited about design projects that I feel have a positive impact on the community. In 2017 I volunteered as part of IXDA’s Seattle Social Good Series to work with a team on to research, design, and prototype an app and texting system to help low-income housing prospective tenants have an easier way to be alerted about housing opportunities. In school I’ve focused on several health related projects including researching design opportunities to support mental health therapy for seniors and designing at an asthma tracking app to help children and parents co-manage child asthma symptoms and encourage behavior change.