Janna Kimel
About Janna Kimel
Janna Kimel is a Senior Manager of UX Research at Hinge Health, where she has built a successful UX Research team and co-led the AccessABLE Employee Resource Group. She has extensive experience in user experience research, having worked at various organizations including Microsoft, Dexcom, and Intel.
Work at Hinge Health
Janna Kimel serves as the Senior Manager of UX Research at Hinge Health, a position she has held since 2021. In her role, she has successfully built a UX Research team from the ground up, completing 65 projects in 2022. She co-led the AccessABLE Employee Resource Group, which focuses on inclusivity and fostering a safe environment for discussions about abilities. Her leadership in these initiatives reflects her commitment to enhancing user experience and promoting diversity within the workplace.
Previous Experience in UX Research
Prior to her current role, Janna Kimel held several positions in UX research across various organizations. She worked at Dexcom as a Senior UX Researcher from 2018 to 2020 and then as a UX Research Manager from 2020 to 2021. Her earlier experience includes a role as a Senior User Experience Researcher at The Regence Group from 2011 to 2014 and at Intel as a Senior User Experience Researcher in Wearable Technology from 2016 to 2017. These roles contributed to her extensive expertise in user experience research.
Education and Teaching Experience
Janna Kimel has a background in education, having served as an Adjunct Faculty member at The Art Institute of Portland from 2009 to 2011. In this role, she focused on soft-goods design and design research, sharing her knowledge and experience with students. This teaching experience complements her practical work in UX research and design, enhancing her ability to mentor and lead teams in her current position.
Entrepreneurial Ventures and Leadership
Janna Kimel has demonstrated entrepreneurial skills by starting and running two companies and two networking groups. This experience showcases her leadership capabilities and her ability to create and manage initiatives that foster collaboration and innovation. Additionally, she developed a democratization program for her research team at Hinge Health, successfully expanding the team to seven members within 18 months.
Early Career and Diverse Background
Janna Kimel's career began in education, working as an Educator at Kohl Children's Museum from 1995 to 1998. She later transitioned into design and research roles, including a position at 180s as Design + Research for Activewear in 2004. Her diverse background includes experience in digital health design and research at Intel from 2005 to 2008, further enriching her expertise in user experience and research methodologies.