About Kelsey
Who She Is
Kelsey Wirtzfeld is a UX Designer & Researcher who works with brilliant organizations to help them improve the world, specifically through empathetic, thoughtful, inclusive, and accessible design. Her background in Environmental Studies, 20 years working in Higher Ed, and extensive study of Psychology make UX Design the perfect fusion of strengths and interests.
How She Works
Kelsey believes time spent “working” should be time spent contributing positively to the experience and balance of life on this planet, while retaining the capacity for humor and connection. She has made inclusivity and accessibility a focus of study, and is especially interested in the broader arenas of environmental and humanitarian innovation. Additionally, she brings a passion for biomimicry: adapting nature's designs perfected over eons into sustainable and effective solutions.
What She's Done
Kelsey has worked with developers to implement system and interface improvements for tech infrastructure, including user research and interviewing, accessibility reviews, user flows, usability reviews, feature validation, dashboards, data design, information architecture, sketching, prototyping, and testing.
Most recently, she worked with the team at Owen Jones & Partners to update, redesign, or conceive-and-create intuitive, innovative, thoughtful, and useful websites. Examples of her work include:
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An award-winning site to provide support resources for parents, teachers, and coaches to address mental health issues, bullying, or bias (thechoosekindnessproject.org)
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A thoughtful site seeking to address exploitation in the sex trade through an intersectional, systems-based, survivor-centered, and trauma-informed lens (thelifestory.org)
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A storytelling platform to invite conversation and explore the nature of mental health through a lighthearted play on skateboarding's language (nikesb.com/whysosad)
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A site focused on conserving wild birds and their habitats throughout the Americas (coming soon!)
Where She's Been
Kelsey has lived in eight different states—including a childhood on a small Minnesota farm and a professional life in a big city in Oregon—bringing a hard-working, problem-solving, and compassionate approach to life. When not working, she delights in reading excessively, sketching, kickboxing, playing piano, and photographing nature in its stunning moments of quiet brilliance.
What She's Earned
Kelsey holds a certificate in UI/UX Design from Springboard, a graduate certificate in Publishing from the University of Denver, and a BA in Environmental Studies with a minor in English from Lewis & Clark College. She additionally earned "Rookie of the Year" at Owen Jones & Partners in 2022.
