Hi, my name is,

Emily Backes (Back-hiss)

I love making people laugh, and my two cats inspired the theme for this site.

Meyers Briggs: ESFJ / Enneagram: 1,6,8

Bowtie: President of SASS

Tux: CEO (Cat EO)

QUICK

FACTS

I have 2 cats that I found on the street, just like anyone who owns cats.

I have strong opinions about how to load a dishwasher.

I bake and decorate cakes as a hobby.

I played the trumpet for 11 years and still tickle the old valves now and then.

In 2019 I broke my humerus and spent 6 months paralyzed from forearm to fingertip.

Red Dirt Res Fishing Trip
Red Dirt '20
Marfa Prada Store
Marfa Prada '20
Custom Mother's Day Cake
Mother's Day Cake '20
Chingona Bike Race
Chingona Race '19

Path to UX

Understanding the UX journey has been a life long lesson
2009

I graduated from the University of Colorado (SKO BUFFS!) with a BA in Sociology. I spent a year working for Vail Corporation in customer service and sales where I learned valuable CX lessons faced by customers of large corporations.

Becoming an Expert in Heuristics
Graduation Day CU
2012

I moved to the DC Metro area in 2012, where I mastered complex Government projects and developed a reputation for innovative problem-solving. I streamlined a redundant government process, increasing efficiency within my contract.

Closing Feedback Loops
Jefferson Memorial during Cherry Blossom
2015

After relocating to San Antonio in 2015, I launched my recruiting career within a government contracting startup, taking on a variety of responsibilities. There, I excelled in conducting user interviews, gathering stakeholder requirements, and effectively managing expectations.

Making UX Research My Jam
SATX, Tower of the Americas
2022

In 2022, my experience recruiting UX designers sparked my interest in the field, leading me to enroll in General Assembly's UX/UI bootcamp for foundational knowledge. I found a natural aptitude for the UX process, I concentrated on developing my weaker design areas.

Jumping Head First into UX Design
Milk Market, Denver
Present Day

Recognizing the need for stronger visual design skills, I independently mastered concepts like grid systems, the golden ratio, and Figma's technical features.

Constant Learning
Maroon Bells, CO

Looking for a detailed summary of my work experience?

read resume

5 Pillars of Emily

what i'm looking for

Frequently Asked (by humans and robots alike)

What does Emily Backes do?

I'm a Senior Product Designer focused on healthcare software UX/UI. I design digital products end-to-end — UX research, interaction design, UI, and design systems — so the whole experience hangs together, not just the pretty screens.

What kind of results has Emily delivered?

A redesigned subscription-cancellation flow that brought back roughly $100k/yr in returning revenue; app sign-ups doubled in 3 months at Sprocket; new-patient scheduling time cut in half at Folsom Psychology; and a redesign of the Sage AI chatbot that doubled resolution rates and cut support tickets by 29%.

What's Emily's background?

10+ years of it: about 8 years in technical recruiting (a whole lot of interviewing and listening), roughly 7 years in government-contracting operations (simplifying processes nobody else wanted to touch), plus formal UX training. It's an unusual blend of research, operations, and design.

What is Emily's design approach?

Research-led. I tie every design decision back to a user or business outcome rather than personal taste, and I lean on my strengths in requirement-gathering, stakeholder management, and leading through ambiguity.

How can I get in touch with Emily?

By email at [email protected].