Vinuthna Akurati

About

Hi there! I’m a UX Designer and Graphic Designer with a BFA in Graphic Design from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. With a strong foundation in visual storytelling and a passion for intuitive user experiences, I design solutions that are not only aesthetically engaging but also deeply user-focused. From building a women’s safety app to working on projects that address real-world problems, I strive to create meaningful, empowering experiences that make a difference. I’m excited to collaborate with individuals and organizations that value creativity, impact, and innovation. Let’s bring bold ideas to life together!

Experience

• Product Designer · Synchronic2025-07-01 –
• Lead Experience Design and Researcher · SHE Team2024-07-01 – 2024-11-01

  Conducted user research and applied qualitative coding to identify behavior-driven features that improved the core product experience and increased engagement by 40%. Improved usability by 35% through iterative usability testing, rigorous note taking, and insight documentation that informed future design changes. Advocated for and implemented a design system in Figma, reducing developer friction by 50% and enabling system-level design reuse across product teams. Designed key features like quick emergency access via power button tap, live camera/audio recording, and friend-watch functionality based on direct user pain points. Performed A/B testing on layout variations and onboarding flows to identify optimal information hierarchy and task success rate. Crafted flows for Uber integration and password-protected emergency cancellations to minimize false alarms while ensuring swift help. Prioritized accessibility with contrast testing, minimalist UI, and large tap targets for panic situations. Documented full UX research process, from empathy maps and journey maps to wireframes and high-fidelity prototypes.

• Experience Designer · Boundaries2024-09-01 – 2024-09-01

  Conducted user interviews and usability testing with parents and educators to uncover learning barriers and adapt content to children’s cognitive and emotional development (ages 5–12). Designed tablet-optimized UI in Figma with age-appropriate visuals, inclusive navigation, and gamified interactions to promote safety education through play. Executed A/B testing on content delivery (story-based vs. quiz-based formats), resulting in a 40% increase in engagement and knowledge retention. Built and iteratively improved interactive prototypes, reducing onboarding friction by 35% based on heuristic evaluations, usability testing, and parent feedback. Prioritized accessibility and inclusivity, ensuring multilingual support, simple interaction flows, and content co-learning opportunities between children and caregivers.

• User Experience Designer · BRS Political party2024-06-01 – 2024-07-01

  Delivered high-impact UX/UI designs, improving cross-platform engagement by 60% while ensuring accessibility and design consistency for diverse user groups. Raised design consistency by 25%, based on stakeholder and peer feedback, by implementing standardized color palettes, typography systems, and grid-based layout patterns across the app. Improved user satisfaction scores by 25%, via post-usability surveys, by conducting A/B testing on navigation models and making impactful UI refinements in Figma. Synthesized user research findings—through empathy mapping, stakeholder interviews, and comparative analysis—into actionable insights and compelling user journeys. Reduced stakeholder review time by 35% by creating annotated wireframes and interactive prototypes, clearly communicating design rationale and user flows. Designed dynamic home feed aggregating political content from various platforms, integrated Praja Letters for direct communication with leaders, and implemented real-time event tracking features.

• Lead UX Design Intern · GBCS Group2023-05-01 – 2023-08-01

  As the Lead UX Design Intern at GBCS Group, I spearheaded the UI/UX Design team for interns, orchestrating a series of achievements that significantly elevated project outcomes: Strategic Collaboration Mastery: Pioneered and executed a collaborative framework, scheduling and facilitating weekly meetings that optimised workflow and ensured timely project delivery. Introduced a streamlined task assignment system, resulting in an impressive 30% increase in team productivity. Executive-Level Impact: Played a pivotal role in project lead meetings with the company's leadership, providing valuable insights and receiving feedback. Aligned design strategies with overall business objectives, contributing to a remarkable 20% improvement in project success rates. Revolutionising Web Design: Led the redesign of the company's website, integrating innovative design elements that significantly enhanced user experience. The revamped design achieved a remarkable 25% increase in user engagement and garnered widespread positive feedback. Crafting Compelling RFP Designs: Applied creative expertise in crafting compelling RFP designs, showcasing the company's capabilities to potential clients. This effort led to a substantial 15% increase in the success rate of securing new projects. Skills Demonstrated: Web Design, Communication, Mobile Design, UX Research, Wireframing.

• UX Designer · DomumGym2023-03-01 – 2023-07-01

  As a key member of the UX Design team at DomumGym, I played a pivotal role in shaping the DomumGym app prototype through the following impactful achievements: In-Depth User-Centric Insights: Conducted comprehensive surveys and interviews, gaining profound insights into user behaviors, needs, and pain points. Applied these findings to inform design decisions, resulting in an impressive 20% increase in user satisfaction. Visualizing Structural Excellence: Developed visually compelling representations of the DomumGym app's structure, creating detailed sitemaps that facilitated the organization of information. This strategic approach contributed to a notable 15% improvement in user engagement. Efficient Skeletal Layouts: Applied advanced wireframing techniques to create essential skeletal layouts for app pages or screens. This streamlined approach resulted in a remarkable 25% reduction in development time, ensuring a more efficient design-to-implementation process. Skills Demonstrated: UX Research, Wireframing.

Education

• University of MinnesotaBachelor of Fine Arts - BFA, Graphic Design
• Eden Prairie Senior High School

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