About
Hi, I'm Roman Yanish- User Experience Designer at Aptitude.
I am 28 year old designer and researcher living in Fort Collins, Colorado. I graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Individualized Studies exploring the intersection of art, technology, and health - combining existing programs from the Institute of Global Studies, School of Journalism, and Center for Spirituality and Healing. I’m a big picture thinker who’s not afraid to go out of the box.
I was selected to be in the inaugural fellowship program for New Sector Alliance in 2015, along with 24 other young professionals in the Twin Cities. I raised $5 million for a Latinx-serving non-profit that resulted in the expansion of their headquarters, including a technology center for recent immigrants.
I am a life-long learner and achieved certificates in User Experience Design, User Interface Design, and Front End Development from CareerFoundry in 2021.
I am deeply passionate about local food systems and help operate a community garden in Fort Collins that hosts programming for teens and youth in the foster program.
Currently Reading:
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
The State of Affairs by Ester Perel
Currently Studying
Unmoderated Product Feedback
Accessibility Design
Process
Every project has its own size and scope, with different stakeholders and different goals, but one thing they all share is the need for a methodological problem solving approach. This isn’t to say there is a simple formula, but my process tends to take the following shape:
1. Research
The very first thing I do - whether I’m designing an app or a flyer - is gather information. My creativity is built on a foundation of analytical data and qualitative information that give me insight into what the problem is, what solutions have been tried, and what ideas haven’t been thought of yet.
2. Strategy
Next comes strategy. Before we can execute, we need to know our plan. This is the stage where I align business goals with customer needs. I brainstorm possible solutions and compare how each one serves the user as well as the business. I take the best of what’s out there, merge it with what hasn’t been tried yet, and draw the line between the current issue and the desired outcome.
3. Design
After coming up with possible solutions, it’s time to put the plan in motion. My approach is to start simple, creating a skeleton solution that can validated/invalidated quickly so that we can get to the best solution efficiently. I use a variety of tools during this stage including pen and paper, Balsamiq, Adobe XD, and more.
4. Testing
There is a huge difference between thinking a design will work and knowing that a design works. I perform a variety of testing methods including A/B testing, preference testing, usability tests, and 5 second tests to validate/invalidate a design. Then I analyze the results, fix problems, and develop an improved version. Depending on the project, this stage can be repeated multiple times.
More Work I’ve Done (While Not Working)
I am also maker of digital media, including: photography, filmmaking, illustration, and more. This is my playground for experimenting with new forms of storytelling and evoking emotion. When I’m not in front of a computer I’m typically out at the beach, surfing, hiking, carefully curating Spotify playlists, falling over at yoga, or cooking with friends.
Interested in getting in touch? Drop me a Note.