Bio

This bio is written for employers, internship coordinators, and collaborators who want a designer-researcher who thinks critically, communicates clearly, and builds with both user needs and technical constraints in mind.

Jake Christianson headshot
UX Researcher & UX Designer

Human-centered designer, developer, and communicator

I'm a Human-Centered Design and Development (HCDD) student at Penn State with a passion for understanding how people interact with technology and using those insights to create intuitive, meaningful experiences. My work sits at the intersection of user research, design, and development, allowing me to approach problems from both a human and technical perspective.

Through my coursework and projects, I've conducted user research, built interactive prototypes, and developed full-stack applications. I've worked on projects like DealDash AI, where I explored user behavior around decision-making and deal discovery, and Roomeo, where I applied contextual inquiry and usability testing to improve real-life roommate dynamics. These experiences have strengthened my ability to translate user needs into actionable design solutions.

I'm particularly interested in UX research because I enjoy uncovering patterns in user behavior, asking the right questions, and turning insights into impactful design decisions. My background in programming (Java, Python, JavaScript) also helps me collaborate effectively with developers and understand technical constraints when designing solutions.

I'm always looking to grow as a researcher and designer, with a focus on creating products that are not only functional, but also thoughtful, inclusive, and user-centered.

Java Python JavaScript HTML Figma