Julia Chamberlain

I'm a user researcher with 7+ years in hardware and software user experience research, working in domains including Microsoft Surface hardware & experiences research, research for accessibility, AI, web platforms, and applications. I co-founded the 19K+ member User Research Collective group on Facebook. I received my BS in Human Centered Design & Engineering from the University of Washington in Seattle.

User Researcher II, Microsoft Surface
SEPTEMBER 2018 - JANUARY 2023 | REDMOND, WA

• Led user research for four product lines of Microsoft Surface hardware products including the Surface Pro, Surface Pen, Surface Headphones, and Surface Earbuds. 
• Worked with stakeholders to plan and conduct a variety of usability studies, surveys, diary studies, sentiment analyses, interviews, focus groups, Wizard-of-Oz studies, studies in collaboration with the disability community, and more. This research alongside each product team gave actionable insights into underlying user needs for future products, recommended improvements for better usability and accessibility, and areas where we could re-optimize spending.
• Led user research on a new product that had an +20% increase in consumer attach rate and engagement growth of +6%.

User Research Contractor at Microsoft, Onvia, CDK Global
OCTOBER 2015 - AUGUST 2018 | Various locations and agencies listed below

• As a User Researcher at Microsoft Surface in Redmond, WA (via CompuCom agency) working from October 2017 - August 2018, I conducted studies on multiple Microsoft Surface product lines, translating complex research questions into studies that explored novel product spaces and improved the user experience.
• As a Usability Researcher at Microsoft AI in Redmond, WA (via Aquent agency) working from February 2017 - August 2017, I planned and ran studies including contextual inquiry, interviews, surveys, empathy mapping, and iterative studies with national and international participants about a new AI-driven conversational interface platform. Our results adjusted the team’s assumptions, expanded the roadmap to tackle newfound opportunities, and gave recommended improvements.
• As a contract UX Researcher at Onvia in Seattle, WA (via Aquent agency) working from May 2016 - August 2016, I led a series of in-person and remote usability studies to aid the first product redesign in 15 years. Identified user misconceptions on key features & needs from a newly-mobile platform, and translated findings into actionable recommendations.
• As a contract Web Design Specialist III at CDK Global in Seattle, WA (via Apex agency) working from October 2015 - March 2016, I applied UX principles to the design and coding of responsive websites and established new style guidelines to rebrand a luxury client.

User Research Student, Avvo & UW 
JANUARY 2015 - MARCH 2015 COURSE | SEATTLE, WA

• In a partnership between Avvo & UW’s HCDE graduate program, I designed a usability test that found that customers lacked enough information to confidently make a purchase. We recommended design changes that resulted in a +600% improvement in conversion.

University of Washington 2015 | SEATTLE, WA | CUM LAUDE
B.S. in Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE) and B.F.A. in 3D4M

• Boeing Scholarship, HCDE 
• Dana Sakson Scholarship, HCDE 
• P. Rathvon Scholarship, College of Arts & Sciences