Alex Brunner
About Alex Brunner
Alex Brunner serves as the Associate Director of User Experience Research at Sidewalk Labs, where he leads UX research initiatives and manages research budgets. His extensive background includes roles at Google, Médecins Sans Frontières, and CERN, along with a strong academic foundation in design and management.
Current Role at Sidewalk Labs
Alex Brunner serves as the Associate Director of User Experience Research at Sidewalk Labs since 2021. In this role, Brunner leads the ideation, planning, and execution of UX research studies focused on generative city design and adaptive street design. Brunner manages the UX research budget and oversees relationships with third-party research and recruitment firms. Additionally, Brunner is responsible for building out UX infrastructure, which includes survey tools, recruitment platforms, and data repositories. Brunner also hired and onboarded a User Experience Researcher for the Delve product team and currently manages their performance and growth.
Previous Experience at Google
Brunner held multiple positions at Google from 2009 to 2021. Initially, Brunner worked as a Market Research APMM Intern in Hamburg, Germany. Subsequently, Brunner served as a Data Quality Strategist for EMEA/LATAM in Dublin, Ireland, and transitioned to a User Experience Researcher role in New York, where Brunner worked for five years. In the final role at Google, Brunner was the Onboarding Experience Manager, focusing on enhancing user onboarding processes. This diverse experience at Google contributed significantly to Brunner's expertise in user experience research.
Experience at Médecins Sans Frontières
Brunner worked as a Fellow in User Experience Research at Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) from 2019 to 2020 in the Paris Area, France. During this five-month fellowship, Brunner developed a machine learning application aimed at combating antibiotic resistance. This experience provided Brunner with valuable insights into the intersection of healthcare and technology, enhancing skills in user experience research within a humanitarian context.
Educational Background
Brunner has a diverse educational background with degrees from several institutions. Brunner studied International Business at Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien, achieving an MSc (Mag.rer.soc.oec.) from 2005 to 2010. Brunner also holds a Master's degree in Philosophy (MA, Mag. phil.) from Universität Wien, completed from 2007 to 2012. Further studies include a CEMS MIM in International Management at Handelshögskolan i Stockholm from 2008 to 2009, a User Experience Design program at General Assembly in 2016, and a Product Design program at Pratt Institute in 2018. Brunner also completed a course on Beyond Smart Cities: Emerging Design and Technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2019.
Entrepreneurial Experience
Before joining Sidewalk Labs, Brunner co-founded Young & Smitten, where Brunner served as Co-founder and Wizard from 2013 to 2015 in Dublin, Ireland. This entrepreneurial experience contributed to Brunner's understanding of user experience and product management, further enhancing skills in research and design. Additionally, Brunner worked as a Product Manager at Mobile Jazz in Barcelona for five months in 2012, where Brunner gained further insights into product development and management.