Diana Chitchiyan, UX Researcher & Designer
diana.chitchiyan@gmail.com • linkedin.com/in/dianachitchiyan • www.uxr.be • Belgium
Summary
UX Researcher & Designer with hands-on experience planning and conducting usability studies, from screener design through synthesis and recommendations. Led two research projects that directly influenced product direction: the first revealed users would never adopt a built-in editor, leading to a complete product repositioning; the second identified critical usability issues in a newly designed interface. Background in visual design enables translating findings into actionable prototypes and detailed specifications. Conducts sessions in English and Dutch.
Professional Skills
- UX Research & Testing: User interviews, remote moderated usability tests, screener & survey design, test scenario creation, participant recruitment, transcription & tagging, affinity mapping, research synthesis
- Concept & UX Design: User flows, journey mapping, wireframing, prototyping, UI design
- Interface & Visual Design: Design systems, visual identities & branding, typography, color theory
- Collaboration & Delivery: Stakeholder alignment (POs, developers, business), research communication through prototypes, design-to-development handoff, iterative prototyping
- Tools: Figma, Figma Make, Axure (learning), Talli, Dovetail, FigJam, Miro, Hotjar, Mouseflow, Adobe CS, Notion
Relevant Experience
UX Designer & Researcher | Mediaforta, ContentRockr SaaS (2024 - Present)
- Planned and conducted usability studies in English & Dutch; first study challenged core product assumptions, leading to a complete product repositioning; second identified critical issues in a newly designed interface, directly informing development priorities.
- Created screener surveys, discussion guides, consent forms, and test scenarios from scratch; defined participant criteria and qualification requirements for each study.
- Recruited participants through screener distribution, managed scheduling via Calendly, and moderated 45-60 minute remote sessions via Google Meet and Zoom.
- Transcribed and tagged sessions in Dovetail across categories (editing behaviors, pain points, system issues); synthesized observations into actionable themes using affinity mapping in FigJam.
- Designed the external reviewer interface (full UI in Figma), then tested it with users — identifying critical issues with comments, track changes, and content discoverability.
- Translated research findings into low-fidelity wireframes and detailed design specifications with numbered annotations for developer handoff; discussed technical constraints in weekly calls.
- Research led directly to bug fixes (paste functionality, formatting controls) and informed the ongoing product redesign; prevented wasted development on features users would never adopt.
- Built and maintained a design system in Figma, refining UI patterns based on usability testing feedback.
Additional Experience
Visual Designer (in-house) | BenQ Europe (2021 - 2024)
- Maintained & expanded B2B visual identity across channels, working closely with marketing teams to create materials aligned with business objectives.
- Delivered design solutions including website optimizations, digital campaigns, event visuals, product brochures, and sales guides.
- Trained the team on design collaboration practices and implemented streamlined processes to improve workflow efficiency.
Visual Designer (freelance) | Various clients (2010 - Present)
- Created brand identities and logos for clients across technology, healthcare, and human rights sectors.
- Developed visual collateral including awareness campaigns, promotional materials, brochures, and event graphics.
- Clients include: Sensolus, Zensor, Kairon Labs, Novo Nordisk, Liga voor Mensenrechten, Freelancers in Belgium Community.
Education & Learning
Introduction to Web Accessibility | edX (2025-2026)
UX Design Professional Diploma | UX Design Institute (2021-2022)
Bachelor & Master in Graphic & Web Design | Hogeschool Gent, School of Arts (2004-2009)
Languages
English (Fluent), Dutch (Professional), Russian & Armenian (Native), French (Basic)
Soft Skills
- Active listening & effective team communication
- Fast learner who values constructive criticism for growth
- Balanced confidence with strong growth mindset & flexible attitude
- Comfortable working autonomously in remote environments