Who I Am

UX Researcher & Designer

Chicago, IL

Open to Remote

Hi, I’m Emma. I’ve always been drawn to the patterns behind an experience — the invisible connections, processes, and decisions that shape it. That curiosity first took root in software development, where I learned how systems are built and why some work better than others. Today, I approach design like an architect, combining my background in engineering, research, and design to create experiences that are clear, consistent, and scalable.

If I'm not geeking out about systems and processes, you'll find me surrounded by cats, wandering through museum exhibits, indulging in the world of board and video games, or reading just about anything that catches my curiosity.

If my background sounds like a fit for your team, I’d love to hear about what you’re working on!

What I Do

Expertise & Specialties

Accelerate decision-making with clear frameworks that guide teams efficiently

Translate research into product strategy and actionable design priorities

Build scalable patterns that grow with your product without breaking

Reduce design-to-development friction for smoother handoffs and faster delivery

4+

Years Experience

4+

Years Experience

B2B SaaS

Product Spaces

B2B SaaS

Product Spaces

10+

User & Industry Domains

10+

User & Industry Domains

0→1 & Scaled

Products & Systems

0→1 & Scaled

Products & Systems

Background

Work Experience

Product Designer II

May 2025 - Present

Lessen LLC

Lead design across multiple domains and AI initiatives. Redesign workflows and system architecture to deliver data-driven experiences that scale for diverse users.

Product Designer II

May 2025 - Present

Lessen LLC

Lead design across multiple domains and AI initiatives. Redesign workflows and system architecture to deliver data-driven experiences that scale for diverse users.

Product Designer

Dec 2023 - Nov 2024

Workforce.com

Operationalized the design system, accelerated feature delivery, and translated research into high-impact product decisions. Expanded onboarding with improved training resources.

Product Designer

Dec 2023 - Nov 2024

Workforce.com

Operationalized the design system, accelerated feature delivery, and translated research into high-impact product decisions. Expanded onboarding with improved training resources.

Junior Product Designer

June 2022 - Dec 2023

Workforce.com

Supported front-end feature design, defined MVPs, and helped align research insights with product strategy.

Junior Product Designer

June 2022 - Dec 2023

Workforce.com

Supported front-end feature design, defined MVPs, and helped align research insights with product strategy.

Software Engineer, Part-time

Aug 2021 - March 2022

CSG International

Built internal tools to streamline data workflows and improved visibility into team performance with analytics dashboards.

Software Engineer, Part-time

Aug 2021 - March 2022

CSG International

Built internal tools to streamline data workflows and improved visibility into team performance with analytics dashboards.

UX Researcher & Designer

2026 Designed by Emma Blackwell. All rights reserved.

2026 Designed by Emma Blackwell. All rights reserved.

Emma Blackwell