Susana La Luz Hawkins
About Susana La Luz Hawkins
Susana La Luz Hawkins serves as the Research Department Director for Design & Customer Experience at Chase, where she has worked since 2018. With a background in design research and education, she has held various roles in academia and industry, focusing on user-centered design and strategy.
Work at Chase
Susana La Luz Hawkins serves as the Research Department Director for Design & Customer Experience at Chase, a position she has held since 2018. Based in the Columbus, Ohio area, she leads initiatives that focus on enhancing customer experiences through research-driven design strategies. Her role involves guiding multi-disciplinary teams to create meaningful experiences that prioritize user needs and insights.
Previous Experience at Lextant
Prior to her current role, Hawkins worked at Lextant as the Director of Design Research & Social Innovation from 2011 to 2018. In this position, she contributed to the development of innovative design research methodologies and social impact projects. Her work at Lextant emphasized the importance of user-centered design in creating impactful solutions.
Teaching and Academic Involvement
Hawkins teaches an undergraduate course on Introduction to Design Research, where she covers essential topics such as methodology development, fielding, analysis, synthesis, insight translation, and strategy. She previously served as a lecturer in the Department of Design at The Ohio State University from 2016 to 2021, where she shared her expertise in design research with students.
Educational Background
Hawkins earned her Master of Fine Arts in Design Thinking & Design Leadership from Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis, completing her studies from 2008 to 2010. She also holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from Indiana University Bloomington, which she obtained between 1998 and 2003. Her educational background supports her extensive knowledge in design and research methodologies.
Community Engagement and Early Career
In her early career, Hawkins worked with Girls Incorporated of Greater Indianapolis as a Development Designer through the AmeriCorps Vista program in 2009. She also served as an independent consultant for Girls Incorporated from 1999 to 2010. Additionally, she held a position at the University of New Mexico as the Coordinator of Development Relations and Marketing for nearly a year in 2006-2007.