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Wrangler of Pixels.
Herder of Cats.  
& Humans.

Purr-ficiencies

skills
Requirement Gathering & UI Design is definitely my thing. I love synthesizing complex  data, and translating it into a visual product.
Interviewing and Understanding People is a super power of mine. I spent 8 years in technical recruiting, and it taught me how to listen and speak to users and stakeholders while asking the right questions.
Process Improvement? I gotchu. 7 years in government contracting operations taught me how to prioritize, simplify, and automate manual processes.
I'm currently a Product Designer for Sortly.
Career Snapshot
10+ years of professional experience in project management, technical recruiting, and design.
Product Designer / Sortly / current
UX Designer / Bowtie / 2024
UX Strategy Lead / Tech Fleet / 2023
Emily Portrait
For now, I'm seeking roles in
Product Design, UX/UI Design,
or Freelance.
Emily Backes Professional Headshot

Still not convinced? But wait there's more! Here's a SWOT analysis of my current skill set.

ux research
user interviews
usability heuristics
ui design
wireframes
sketches
product design
project management
agile methods
leadership
information architecture
WEAKNESSES
none, but if i had to pick, it's that I care too much.
oh, i guess i'm slightly allergic to grass (if that's even considered a weakness)
OPPORTUNITIES
Looking for interesting projects & companies
open to freelance work
OPPORTUNITIES
THREATS
the roomba & sentient robots
large bodies of water
kill most bugs
THREATS

Case Catalog

case studies
ux-ui
UX Research
product design

How I Helped Reduce Patient Scheduling Times In Half

Folsom Psychology came with a complex workflow. While they had several existing tools, information was scattered across 6 separate spreadsheets, leading to manual updates and potential inconsistencies
explore case study

.01

Leadership
agile
product strategy

Herding Cats Around The World in 6 Weeks

I worked with Tech Fleet, a passionate community of UX/UI designers, researchers, and developers who volunteer their expertise on pro-bono projects, primarily for non-profits.
herd cats with me

.02

UX-UI
mobile
design
research

How I doubled expected registration and app sign up in 3 months

Delivered a platform empowering people with a fighting chance of recovering their stolen bicycles through a mobile device right at their fingertips. Sprocket provides a social platform to mitigate bike theft before it happens.
find some bikes

.03

Paws & Reflect

journal
How to apply for jobs in a tough market (2024)
LIFE
TIPS & TRICKS

How to apply for jobs in a tough market (2024)

Applying for Jobs in 2024 is painful. Here are a few tips to make it not suck so bad. This is a semi-long read, grab a drink.
New porfolio, who dis?
TIPS & TRICKS

New porfolio, who dis?

I get it, making an effective portfolio & one that also looks good is a tall order, especially when you're new to UX.

Read about my news and insights.

Occasional bad takes, mostly good banter, some helpful UX/UI opinions, life, and random postings.
Read the blog
ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK.
NO, SERIOUSLY.
don't click here

Some nice things people have apparently said about me.

Vidushi Profile Image
Jennifer Scharps
UX/UI Designer

Emily is a skilled professional with particular strengths in user experience (UX) design, client interactions, and time management. These skills make her a highly valuable team member.

She is adept at finding UX solutions, handles difficult client relationships with diplomacy, and consistently meets deadlines thanks to her organizational abilities.

Vidushi Profile Image
Vidushi Bissa
UX/UI Designer

What truly stood out was Emily's unwavering support for the design team. Her leadership style, marked by encouragement, empowered the entire team to contribute their best work.

Sherlyna Profile Image
Sherlyna Mata
UX/UI Designer

Emily displayed a remarkable ability to take decisive action, ensuring our team not only navigated through uncertainties but also thrived.

Nathan Profile Image
Nathan Tufts Brown
UX/UI Designer

Emily has demonstrated a thoughtful and methodical approach to product strategy, stakeholder communication, and design iteration.

Let's Chat.

get in touch