Jihee Park
Junior UX Researcher
Butte, MT
Jihee Park
Junior UX Researcher
Butte, MT
As a researcher driven by a deep curiosity for human behavior, my passion for UX research stems from a deep desire to understand what people do, why they do it, and how to empower them. My diverse academic background and experience in sociology, statistics, and hospitality uniquely equipped me with the skills to understand user needs, develop research methodologies, and build empathy. This has led me to believe in the power of research, enabling us to view problems from different angles and uncover crucial insights to drive impactful solutions for better products and services.
At Marketade, I leverage my knowledge to translate user pain points into actionable insights through various methods, including both qualitative and quantitative research. This provides a holistic understanding of the problem and informs mindful design decisions that support both user needs and business goals.
As a continuous learner and a collaborator, I strive to improve my skills to better understand user needs and bridge them with effective design directions through close collaboration with team members.
Recent Work
- Comprehensive mixed-methods UX research projects for internal platforms at a global travel services company — I co-led a series of in-depth usability research projects targeting multiple internal platforms used by travel advisors for profile creation, resource access, and booking management to streamline their workflows and optimize the user experience. My role encompassed the entire research cycle — from designing research plans and recruiting participants to utilizing diverse methodologies like surveys, card sorting, and in-depth interviews to collaborating with stakeholders through workshops. Through this comprehensive approach, we were able to identify both critical UX issues and broader friction points, and translate them into actionable recommendations. Leveraging these insights, I played a key role in developing wireframes that directly addressed the identified issues, significantly enhancing the user experience for travel advisors. This research not only improved platform efficiency but also empowered advisors to deliver better service to their clients.
- Iterative usability testing for a Fortune 200 fast-food leader’s mobile app ordering experience — I played a key role in supporting a two-phase iterative approach focused on uncovering friction points within the new mobile app ordering flow. By conducting and analyzing 38 in-depth interviews with participants across the U.S., our team was able to gather crucial insights that not only pinpointed key areas of friction but also shaped our actionable design recommendations. This research led our client to recognize and address significant friction points in the app’s ordering flow and overall user experience.
- Usability research on library search for a renowned U.S. private R1 research university — Knowing how to utilize the library is crucial for academic success, especially at top research universities. To optimize the library search process for undergrads, grad students, and faculty members, I co-led a research project to evaluate the current system and compare it with library search systems at other top universities. Leveraging both qualitative and quantitative research methods, we identified what was working well and what was not in the current system, pinpointing friction points and areas of improvement to streamline the search experience. By conducting in-depth interviews with university students and faculty across a variety of majors and specialties, we gained a deeper understanding of their diverse, and sometimes similar, interests, needs, and typical search behaviors. With these insights, I co-facilitated a collaborative workshop with key stakeholders to discuss the key findings and next steps. This helped stakeholders to prioritize focus areas and establish clear action plans based on our recommendations.
- Mobile app prototype testing for a top provider of cultural exchange and au pair services in the U.S. — I co-led a multi-phase iterative research project focused on enhancing a new mobile app matching experience for host families and au pairs. Our comprehensive research uncovered key challenges, leading to a complete overhaul of the app’s workflow, including profile creation, profile browsing, and optimizing the match-finding process. Through recruiting and interviewing host families across the U.S. and au pairs from around the globe, we gathered valuable insights into their needs, preferences, and challenges within the prototype. Presenting these findings and supporting research highlights allowed our clients to fully grasp the app workflow from the users’ perspective and prioritize focus areas for improvement. These insights drove significant enhancements in the app’s user experience for both host families and au pairs.
Past Experience
- Before joining Marketade, I worked as a UX research consultant, where I led end-to-end user research projects for a large metropolitan public library. My role involved leading the redesign of their website and information architecture through a mixed-methods approach. This included conducting in-depth interviews, performing competitive analysis, and analyzing quantitative data to improve the website’s organization and to better serve the needs of its audience.
- I also worked as a research coordinator at a non-profit organization based in Providence, Rhode Island. I developed a mixed-methods research plan, which included constructing in-depth interviews and survey questionnaires, aimed at understanding the self-reliance of refugees in Rhode Island and their perceptions of COVID-19 vaccination.
Education
- M.S. from Brown University in Social Analysis and Research
- B.S. from University of Florida in Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management; Minor in Statistics
Outside the Office
- Coffee is my morning ritual. I love exploring local coffee shops and trying different beans to find the perfect cup to jumpstart my day. Recently, I’ve joined the world of tea, exploring different options in my area for both stress relief and a relaxing pre-bedtime ritual.
- In my spare time, I enjoy curling up with a good book while listening to lo-fi hip hop remixes or vintage oldies. I love visiting local libraries or second-hand bookshops, immersing myself in the cozy atmosphere and smelling the unique scent of vintage books.
- Blessed to be able to call Montana my new home, I explore the beautiful natural scenery by visiting nearby walking trails and state parks. I seek out every opportunity to savor the breathtaking landscapes across western Montana.
Case Studies of Jihee’s Work
Product/Market Fit Research for Verizon’s Innovation Group
A Verizon team needed to test key assumptions to move closer to product/market fit for a new enterprise software concept. Our rapid research cycle delivered new user insights that helped answer their questions and validate/invalidate their hypotheses.
Prototype UX Testing of a New McDonald’s Mobile Ordering Flow
A McDonald’s product innovation team was redesigning a key app experience. To uncover friction points prior to rollout, McDonald’s partnered with Marketade on 2 rounds of UX testing with rapid design changes in between.
Jihee’s Toolbox
- User Interviews
- Surveys
- Concept Testing
- Usability Testing
- Heuristic Evaluations
- Personas
- Journey Mapping
- Wireframing