![Priyanka Kar](https://res.cloudinary.com/read-cv/image/upload/c_fill,h_92,w_92/dpr_1.0/v1/1/profilePhotos/q2YOegw1TMY5mV6kBHbSk6Te7M63/7493e08d-99c3-4d84-b901-a533e01c0983.jpg?_a=DATAdtfiZAA0)
About
For seven years, I've grown as a T-shaped designer, driven by curiosity and determination. I embrace change, innovate with kindness, and push boundaries to design a thriving future for all.
I'm a User Experience Designer at VML Chicago and Co-Chair of Ellume, an Employee Resource Group for women and allies. I am deeply passionate about sustainability and accessibility, and I strive to create inclusive experiences where no one is left behind.
On the side, I write opinion pieces for the Digital Design column in My Liveable City , a global urban planning magazine.
Projects
- Implemented the 8 point grid spacing to the Dropcloth, Sherwin-Williams’ design system to help teams become more efficient, create unified user experiences for our customers and ensure digital products and website pages are accessible to all.
*Password: Sherwin2024
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Designed an intuitive, personalized site search experience for Sherwin-Williams to address poor results and unmet customer needs.
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Participated in the end-to-end UX design process, collaborating with strategists and design leads to build the UX strategy.
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Facilitated user journey workshops to uncover needs and iterated on user flows, wireframes, and high-fidelity designs of Default Search, Activated Search, and Search Results Page for web and app, based on usability testing insights.
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The redesign is projected to increase search purchase conversion rates by 15%, boost average order value by 10%, and reduce search failure rates by 25%.
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Transformed Ford Performance’s website into a comprehensive hub for performance enthusiasts and motorsports lovers.
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The redesign integrated news, event updates, resources, and community connections, projected to result in a 35% increase in user engagement and a 40% boost in site traffic.
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These improvements positioned the site as a premier resource, potentially driving a 25% increase in parts sales on ford.com.
Side Projects
I founded a tabletop game called PMS (Periods Make Sense) to educate individuals about menstruation and break period taboos, based on extensive user research into period poverty and awareness.
Writing
- In this issue, I contribute to the complicated ongoing dialogue of climate change by discussing how digital design can lead to carbon emission reduction and behavior change.
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The Slow City seeks to revive aspects that were always part of our cities before they transformed into fast-paced accumulations – prioritizing people over cars, prioritizing nature over development, and making places that prioritize health as much as efficient performance.
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My column was titled 'Technology is Incomplete Without Infrastructure' where I shared my perspective on utilizing both technology and infrastructure to enhance accessibility and champion pedestrians.
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Shifting from car dependency to prioritizing slow mobility cannot be achieved by technology alone. Rather, robust infrastructure and advanced technology combined can provide us with sustainable transportation choices and promote slow mobility.
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This issue examines the intersections of Heritage Conservation with the numerous other fields and efforts shaping our cities today.
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Titled 'From Isolation to Celebration', I shared my thoughts on leveraging technology to create inclusive and accessible festivals that unite communities in a post-pandemic era.
Features
Priyanka Kar, experience designer, VMLY&R:
“With IWD, as gender equality and women’s issues gain more prominence, it is crucial for brands to be mindful of these issues and avoid tokenism. Brands should focus on supporting, facilitating and empowering women in their entirety, rather than use the movement for marketing purposes.
This involves meaningful and long-term commitments to creating a more equitable society for women, such as addressing the gender pay gap, promoting diversity and inclusion, and supporting women in leadership roles. By doing so, brands can contribute to a more positive and lasting impact on society, rather than just using IWD as a marketing opportunity.
Some initiatives that brands or organizations can include could be: diverse hiring practices, employee resource groups, mentorship and leadership programs, partnering with organizations, and ensuring equal pay and benefits.”
Education
Master of Arts in Design for Sustainability
Bachelor of Design in Interior Space Design
Certifications
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Business Leadership
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Team Leadership
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Self Leadership