Maria (Chihiro) J.
About Maria (Chihiro) J.
Maria (Chihiro) J. is a Lead UX Designer with over six years of experience in user research and design. She has worked at various organizations, including Q-Centrix, Shure Incorporated, and the University of Michigan, and holds both a Master of Science in Information and a Master of Business Administration.
Current Role at Q-Centrix
Maria serves as the Lead UX Designer at Q-Centrix, a position she has held since 2021. In this role, she focuses on creating user-centric designs that enhance the overall user experience. Her work involves collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure that design solutions align with business objectives and meet user needs.
Previous Experience in User Experience Design
Maria has extensive experience in user experience design, having worked at Shure Incorporated as a User Experience Designer II from 2019 to 2021 and as a User Experience Designer I from 2015 to 2019. Her roles involved conducting user research and designing intuitive solutions in Agile environments, contributing to her over six years of expertise in the field.
Educational Background
Maria holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, which she completed in 2023. She also earned a Master of Science in Information (MSI) with a focus on Human-Computer Interaction from the University of Michigan from 2013 to 2015. Additionally, she obtained a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Informatics and Anthropology from the University of Michigan from 2008 to 2013.
Transition from Archaeology to UX Design
Maria transitioned from a background in archaeology to a career in user experience design. This shift reflects her ability to apply analytical skills and a deep understanding of human behavior to create effective user-centered designs. Her diverse educational and professional experiences contribute to her unique perspective in the UX field.
Research and Internship Experience
Throughout her career, Maria has engaged in various research and internship roles. She worked as a Research Assistant at the University of Michigan's THinC Lab and Transportation Research Institute, and held internships at companies such as GE, North American Bancard, and ForeSee. These experiences provided her with a solid foundation in user research and design principles.