April Starr

April Starr Email and Phone Number

Human Centered Design @ Cook County Government
118 N Clark St,
April Starr's Location
Greater Chicago Area, United States, United States
April Starr's Contact Details

April Starr personal email

n/a
About April Starr

I am an experienced practitioner, leader, and educator in Human-Centered Design with over two decades of experience. ex-IDEO | dScout | iota | Motorola Solutions | e-lab. My expertise encompasses government, consumer electronics, automotive, telecommunications, financial services, retail, industrial products, consumer packaged goods, education, and healthcare. I excel in addressing complex, systemic problems. My problem-solving experience spans strategic (“innovation”), operational (“service design”) and tactical (“UX”) product development.

April Starr's Current Company Details
Cook County Government

Cook County Government

View
Human Centered Design
118 N Clark St,
Website:
cookcountyil.gov
Employees:
2281
April Starr Work Experience Details
  • Cook County Government
    Cook County Government
    Chicago, Il, Us
  • Career Break
    Caregiving
    Career Break Dec 2024 - Present
  • Cook County Government
    Deputy Director, Office Of Research Operations & Innovation
    Cook County Government May 2024 - Dec 2024
  • Zenext Llc
    Subject Matter Expert: Design For Public Safety
    Zenext Llc Sep 2023 - May 2024
  • Self-Employed
    Human Centered Design Consultant
    Self-Employed Apr 2023 - May 2024
    Helped various organizations in the Public Safety sector, including start-ups, academic institutions, and public safety agencies, adopt a human-centered approach to problem-solving. Designing for public safety required sensitivity to complex community issues, internal cultural challenges, operational service design and workflow considerations, as well as the safety and mental health of first responders.
  • Motorola Solutions
    Director Of Experience Research
    Motorola Solutions Feb 2021 - Apr 2023
    Chicago, Il, Us
    I led and expanded the Experience Research & Strategy Team within the CTO organization at Motorola Solutions. My team, consisting of researchers and design planners, collaborated with product managers, data scientists, and designers to identify new opportunities and refine an ecosystem of applications for mission-critical communication and collaboration.
  • Motorola Solutions
    Sr. Manager Of Experience Research
    Motorola Solutions Jul 2019 - Feb 2021
    Chicago, Il, Us
  • We All Code
    Board Member
    We All Code Jun 2020 - Dec 2021
    Chicago, Illinois, Us
  • Narrative Science
    Design Advisor / Former Director Of Product Design
    Narrative Science Aug 2018 - Jun 2019
    Chicago, Illinois, Us
  • Iit Institute Of Design
    Adjunct Faculty
    Iit Institute Of Design Jan 2008 - 2019
    Chicago, Illinois, Us
    Courses include:Service Design Workshop: Responsive ServicesService Systems WorkshopResearch MethodsCoding & AnalysisPrototyping
  • Independent Consultant
    Independent Consultant
    Independent Consultant Apr 2015 - Aug 2018
    Executed and advised on a variety of research and design initiatives includingproduct and service definition, generative and evaluative research, prototypecreation, and workshop facilitation.Project examples:• Defining new product & service opportunities• Positioning and defining new service features• Planning and executing pilot tests for new service concepts• Using behavioral data collected from sensors to enhance the user experience of a service
  • Mcgraw-Hill Education
    Director Of Experience Design, International & Professional
    Mcgraw-Hill Education Jul 2016 - Jun 2018
    New York, Ny, Us
    Led concept design & product planning efforts for next-generation educational productsProvided human-centered design training for product managers and other stakeholdersDefined and implemented a concept development and product planning process
  • Dscout Mobile Research
    Director Of Analytics & Insights At Dscout Mobile Research
    Dscout Mobile Research Sep 2014 - Mar 2015
    Chicago, Il, Us
    Managed dscout’s service business including sales, client service, management, and quality assurance.Oversaw and scaled a team of researchers, strategists and specialists - including hiring, training, mentoring and content support.Helped to productize key aspects of the consulting service.Left position to tend to a family health situation.
  • Sapientnitro
    Senior Manager Marketing Strategy And Analysis
    Sapientnitro Jul 2013 - Sep 2014
    Boston, Ma, Us
    I worked within the iota group at Sapient Nitro where I led sensor-based research programs for clients, helped to streamline internal research operations, and developed communication tools to explain the groundbreaking sensor-based research that IOTA conducts.Guided the execution of sensor-based research programs for clients including translation of research questions into technology instrumentation plans, data analytics, visualization, and reporting.Built internal research capabilities and streamlined internal operations by designing web-based tools that pull live data from large data sets to support research management and analysis functions.Directed the design of interactive data visualizations, live dashboards, sales collateral, and overall branding for iota.
  • Independent Consultant
    Independent Consultant
    Independent Consultant Sep 2010 - Sep 2013
    Defined the user experience for a personalized content serviceHelped develop a b2b service that sells sensor-derived behavioral data as a market research productBuilt a Design Research capability including roles, tools, & process within a CPG R&D organization.Defined the user experience of b2b healthcare software
  • Uic Innovation Center
    Visiting Research Specialist
    Uic Innovation Center Sep 2011 - Jul 2013
    Chicago, Il, Us
    As a visiting research specialist at the UIC Innovation center, I worked at the intersection between academic research and corporate development of products and services. Partnered with academic researchers to help them think about their research with a human-centered and business-centered lens.Conducted future-facing research for corporate partners that identifies areas for innovation, leveraging the academic knowledge from the Univeristy of Illinois.Worked with various university organizations to promote and execute innovation projects. Planned and led innovation workshops for corporate and university sponsors including the development of training materials and exercises.Responsible for the planning, conducting, and translation of human-centered research into opportunities for design. Defined and developed innovation training materials. Specific projects include:• Bridging the Digital Divide: How Technology Use is Disrupting the Traditional Higher Education Model & What We Can Do About It• Mobile Devices in a Laboratory Setting: Engaging Students in Anatomy through Content Creation and Collaboration• Reinventing the Computer Lab by Rethinking of the Needs of Students• Personalizing the Higher Education Experience• The Future of Health Care Delivery: A Systems-Based Approach to Creating Connected Care Experiences• Reducing the Stigma of Hearing Loss: Product and Service Systems to Support those with Hearing Impairment• Fundraising for Higher Education: New Service Approaches for Development and Alumni Engagement
  • Uic Innovation Center
    Adjunct Assistant Professor, School Of Design
    Uic Innovation Center Jul 2010 - May 2013
    Chicago, Il, Us
    I teach graduate and undergraduate Graphic and Industrial Design students Human Centered Design Research Methods, approaches to transform information into opportunities for design, and using storytelling to make arguments for design directives.Courses include:Research MethodsIntegrated Product DevelopmentUndergraduate Industrial Design ThesisGraduate Industrial Design Thesis
  • Iota Partners, Llc
    Project Manager
    Iota Partners, Llc Oct 2011 - Jul 2012
  • Ideo
    Independent Consultant
    Ideo Jun 2011 - Oct 2011
    San Francisco, California, Us
    I supported various IDEO projects as a human factors specialist.
  • Human Practice, Inc.
    Design Director
    Human Practice, Inc. Feb 2011 - May 2011
    Chicago, Illinois, Us
    Helped define the key features and user experience of their offeringCreated wireframes, experience scenarios, and helped plan research studies and the first service pilot. Guided the brand positioning and visual language of the service to speak to both medical and consumer stakeholders.
  • Ideo
    Design Researcher, Project Leader & Human Factors Community Lead
    Ideo Feb 2006 - Jul 2010
    San Francisco, California, Us
    As a Project Lead and Design Researcher:Led teams and clients through the process of identifying new opportunities from definition through execution to market. Responsible for ensuring the project content met the needs of the client and that design teams were inspired, informed, and empathic to the needs of end users. Tended towards working on projects with highly ambiguous or complex problems and where the solution bridged a complicated tangle of divergent stakeholder needs.As the Human Factors Community Leader:Responsible for growing craft and community by sharing leading edge work, creating internal points of view for business development efforts, hiring, mentoring, and guiding content across projects.
  • Illinois Insitute Of Technology
    Adjunct Faculty
    Illinois Insitute Of Technology Jan 2005 - May 2006
    Chicago, Illinois, Us
    Taught a series of introductory design courses for undergraduate business majors at the Illinois Institute of Technology.
  • Pactiv
    Product Researcher
    Pactiv 2005 - 2006
    Lake Forest, Il, Us
    Led consumer insights efforts by conducting internal studies and managing external research programs across $450 million+ businesses including tableware and food packaging.
  • Motorola
    Senior Human Factors Engineer
    Motorola 2003 - 2005
    Chicago, Illinois, Us
    Directed an international research study shadowing first responders (Police, Fire and EMS) Collaborated with engineers, user interface and industrial designers on the development of a context-aware communication system that delivered critical information in a timely and safe manner.
  • Insight Product Development
    Contractor
    Insight Product Development 1999 - 2002
    La Verpilliere | Chicago , Fr
    Conducted qualitative research to identify and define new product offerings for clients.Worked with design teams to ensure concepts aligned with user research findings.
  • Method
    Interaction Designer
    Method 2000 - 2001
    Charlotte, North Carolina, Us
    Identified and translated user, business, and content requirements into information architectures.
  • Sapient
    Experience Modeler
    Sapient 1999 - 2000
    Boston, Ma, Us
    Conducted observation, interviews, and participatory exercises with end-users to shape innovative, user-centered Web applications for clients.
  • Ford Motor Company
    Contractor
    Ford Motor Company 1999 - 1999
    Dearborn, Michigan, Us
    Documented Ford’'s product development process through interviews and observational research.Recommended ways to improve relationships between design teams and external contractors.
  • E-Lab
    Design Intern
    E-Lab 1998 - 1998
    Conducted qualitative consumer research using a range of methods: video ethnography, beeper studies, photo diaries, and interviews. Developed new product concepts for clients such as Polaroid and Warner-Lambert.

April Starr Education Details

  • Illinois Institute Of Technology
    Illinois Institute Of Technology
    Design Planning
  • Carnegie Mellon University
    Carnegie Mellon University
    Industrial Design

Frequently Asked Questions about April Starr

What company does April Starr work for?

April Starr works for Cook County Government

What is April Starr's role at the current company?

April Starr's current role is Human Centered Design.

What is April Starr's email address?

April Starr's email address is ap****@****ons.com

What is April Starr's direct phone number?

April Starr's direct phone number is +171647*****

What schools did April Starr attend?

April Starr attended Illinois Institute Of Technology, Carnegie Mellon University.

Who are April Starr's colleagues?

April Starr's colleagues are Steven Smith, Ronnie Norris, Gary Hagopian, Jami Jenkins, Vanessa Lawrence, Wendy Schilling, Matthew Howroyd.

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