Ash is a human-centered researcher with over a decade of professional experience drawing meaningful insights from meticulously designed research frameworks.

They live in the Hudson Valley region of New York.

Contact: scrivstudios@gmail.com

Featured Research

NYC Small Business Services

Role: Lead Researcher

Research Objective: Gather perspectives of Non-English speaking business owners in NYC, through qualitative data methods, in order to shape the City's digital customer experience platform designed to address the needs of NYC business owners.

Method(s): 1:1 sessions; multi-lingual sessions; trend analysis; customer journey mapping; personas development; stakeholder engagement; future state design thinking

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Buffalo Public Schools

Role: Lead Researcher

Research Objective: Define a data-driven service design strategy to relieve the primary pain points of families and administrators, while reducing administrative overhead.

Method(s): 1:1 sessions; focus groups; trend analysis; workflow mapping; stakeholder engagement; future state design thinking; systems architecture

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NYC Mayor’s Office of Food Policy, Groceries2Go

Role: Lead Researcher

Research Objective: Define a data-driven service design strategy to meet the needs of NYC residents who used food vouchers and benefitted from grocery delivery services.

Method(s): 1:1 sessions; trend analysis; customer journey mapping; stakeholder engagement; future state design thinking

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Methods

User research and testing
Development of research frameworks
Development of research methods
Session script writing
Qualitative and quantitative data gathering
Participant recruitment and coordination
Focus groups
1:1 sessions
A/B testing
Active listening
Surveys
Group brainstorming sessions
Non-English speaking, translation-friendly sessions
User/customer journey mapping
Audience persona development
Prototypes and usability testing
Data point entry, categorization, and tagging

Outcomes

User/customer insights gathering and analysis
Research synthesis and reporting
Development of creative outcomes, deliverables, and presentation formats
Research reports
Journey maps
Trend analysis
Insight gathering
Sentiment mapping
Pattern mapping
Future state thinking
Recommendations
Stakeholder engagement
Client/Customer/Audience engagement
Demographic analysis
Future state concepting
Service design strategies

Qualitative Ethics

As a qualitative researcher working with highly vulnerable populations—those experiencing financial hardship, language barriers, or accessibility challenges—I am deeply committed to increasing equity of access for all people. I approach this work with sensitivity, ensuring that my research methods are tailored to meet the unique needs of each participant. This includes providing accessible and culturally appropriate materials, offering translation services when necessary, and creating a welcoming environment where participants feel comfortable and respected. By actively engaging with and listening to these voices, I aim to amplify their perspectives and contribute to solutions that promote greater equity and inclusion.

I am committed to creating a safe and inclusive session space for each participant. Active listening is at the core of my practice; by asking thoughtful follow-up questions and guiding the conversation from a place of deep, genuine interest, I can gather higher-quality data and insights. I recognize the value of qualitative data as a deeply personal resource, and I always ensure that participants are compensated for their time and insights. I approach each session without making assumptions about a person’s social, economic, or psychological background. I make it a point to ask for preferred names and pronouns. I also respect the scheduled start and end times of every session- recognizing that each individual’s time is valuable.

CV

Work Experience

UX Lead at Blenderbox Inc. [2017 - present]

As the UX Lead at Blenderbox Inc., I take pride in driving user-centered design processes to ensure that our digital products are both functional and delightful for a diverse range of users. I collaborate with cross-functional teams to define the user experience strategy, design innovative solutions, and guide research initiatives from concept to completion. My leadership is focused on developing research frameworks that help to shape meaningful experiences for real users. I approach this work with a deep commitment to increasing equity of access for everyone.

Manage, mentor, and inspire teams of researchers, fostering a growth-oriented environment that encourages innovation and high-quality data collection.
Conduct user research, usability testing, and data analysis to inform design decisions and validate solutions.
Develop and design complex, multi-modality research frameworks that integrate diverse methodologies to uncover deep user insights and trends.
Categorize and analyze large quantities of qualitative and quantitative data, drawing out trends and meaningful insights that inform design and strategy.
Develop actionable strategies, insights, and roadmaps based on data analysis, ensuring that research findings translate into impactful design and product decisions.
Collaborate with stakeholders, including product managers, developers, and other designers, to define and implement innovative design solutions.
Ensure accessibility and inclusivity are integral to the design process, especially for vulnerable populations.
Develop and execute UX strategies that ensure consistent and high-quality user experiences across all digital products.

Awards

2024
Anthem Community Voice Awards / Finalist / Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; WENYC; awarded to Blenderbox Inc.

Anthem Awards / Siver / Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; WENYC; awarded to Blenderbox Inc.

2023
Anthem Award / Silver / Education – Innovation; NYC Public Schools; awarded to Blenderbox Inc.

Webby Awards / Honoree / Learning & Education Software; Oakland Unified School District; awarded to Blenderbox Inc.

Webby Awards / Honoree / Learning & Education Software; EnrollWise; awarded to Blenderbox Inc.

Communicator Award of Excellence / Medical & Pharmaceutical; NY Blood Center; awarded to Blenderbox Inc.

Web Excellence Award / E-Government; Oakland Unified School District; awarded to Blenderbox Inc.

Davey Awards / Silver / Schools & Universities; South Puget Sound Community College; awarded to Blenderbox Inc.

2021
Anthem Award / Silver / Education – Innovation; NYC Public Schools; awarded to Blenderbox Inc.

Communicator Award of Distinction / Education; NYC Public Schools; awarded to Blenderbox Inc.

Communicator Award of Excellence / Causes & Awareness; State of Childhood Obesity; awarded to Blenderbox Inc.

W3 Awards / Silver / Local Government; Center for Justive Innovation; awarded to Blenderbox Inc.

2020
W3 Awards, Gold; MySchools; awarded to Blenderbox Inc.

W3 Awards, Silver; Center for Court Innovation; awarded to Blenderbox Inc.

W3 Awards, Silver; Carnegie Corporation of New York; awarded to Blenderbox Inc.

W3 Awards, Silver; Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund; awarded to Blenderbox Inc.

2015 - 2019

Webby Awards / Honoree / Government & Civil Innovation; NYC Public Schools; awarded to Blenderbox Inc.

Horizon Interactive Awards / Silver / Print - Brochure; Genetic Alliance Baby’s First Test; awarded to Blenderbox Inc.

Communicator Award of Distinction / Transportation; Massport; awarded to Blenderbox Inc.

Gold MUSE Award, Community Engagement; ‘A is For Art Museum’; awarded to The Philedelphia Museum of Art

Clients

NYC Mayor’s Office of Innovation and Technology

NYC Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development

WENYC

Oakland Unified School District

South Puget Sound Community College

State of Childhood Obesity

Carnegie Corporation of New York

Center for Justice Innovation

The Connecticut State Department of Education

New York Blood Center

Buffalo Public Schools, Department of Education

Harvard University

NYC Department of Education

The Philadelphia Museum of Art

The Rodin Museum

Academic Credentials

MFA/ Museum Exhibition Planning + Design, The University of the Arts; 2015

BFA/ Sculpture, Tyler School of Art + Architecture; 2012