Lara Chikhani, Designer in Beirut, Lebanon
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Lara Chikhani

Verified Expert  in Design

Designer

Location
Beirut, Lebanon
Toptal Member Since
July 17, 2019

In addition to 12 years of experience in UX design, Lara is an independent consultant who works with startups, agencies, and established businesses—helping them build better customer-centric products. She also mentors and trains university students and professionals how to apply proper UX techniques to the products they are making.

UX DesignUX ResearchUX StrategyWireframingUser PersonasProduct ResearchersPersonasUsability TestingIdeation WorkshopsMobile UXDigital StrategyUser Experience (UX)WordPressUXPinAdobe Experience Design (XD)

Portfolio

Image of Content Curation App project
Content Curation App
PublishingMobile WebDesktopAccount ManagementCurationUser Profiles+ 10 more
Image of Smart Lighter Device project
Smart Lighter Device
DevicesMobile UXBehavioral DesignUsability TestingPersonasCustomer Journeys+ 4 more
Image of Bank Intranet Revamp project
Bank Intranet Revamp
Investment BankingIslamic BankingIntranetsUX DesignFunctional SpecificationsCustomer Interviews+ 5 more
Image of To-do List Management App project
To-do List Management App
Task ManagementPersonasCustomer JourneysUser TestingWireframingStartups+ 4 more
Image of Ticketing Platform project
Ticketing Platform
TicketingEventsAccount ManagementWireframingWebsite CMSUX Design+ 2 more
Image of Travel Ticket Buying Platform project
Travel Ticket Buying Platform
Travel & LeisureAccount ManagementWeb ApplicationsWireframingResponsive DesignPersonas+ 7 more

Work Experience

User Experience and Digital Strategy Consultant

2015 - PRESENT
Self-employed
  • Held workshops and training sessions for startups and accelerators, teaching them how to incorporate UX design into their daily process.
  • Designed apps for multiple startups including, education technology, publishing, grocery shopping, eCommerce, smart lighter, and mobile games. In each scope, I supported the client from the idea stage and until the project is running live with customers.
  • Conducted expert reviews and usability testing for a 3D builder, education technology, and CRM products.
  • Taught web and interactive design to university students.
  • Mentored and supported startups in their UX design needs.
  • Implemented various client WordPress websites, including an online journal, a training center, a financial institution, and a construction website.
Technologies: Visio, Adobe Experience Design (XD), Zeplin, Sketch, Adobe Illustrator, UXPin, UX Research, UX Design, UX Strategy, User Journeys

Head of UX | Consultant

2018 - 2019
Cetera Technologies
  • Designed the cross-platform experience for both mobile and web for a content-curation startup.
  • Supported the development team and QA with functional-specification documents that detail every interaction and behavior.
  • Conducted usability testing to optimize the current experience.
  • Performed user research to understand the need of customers and to come up with needed features.
  • Designed personas, customer journeys, and customer engagement plan based on different customer milestones.
Technologies: Zeplin, Sketch, InVision App, UXPin, UX Research, UX Design, UX Strategy, User Journeys

Marketing Automation and Life Cycle Planning Consultant

2013 - 2015
Johnson Luke
  • Designed and implemented a marketing strategy for a real estate developer that aims at engaging customers through the life cycle process.
  • Conducted usability tests for banks to enhance their current experience.
  • Designed and launched landing pages for different clients, creating the full funnel from lead reception and until purchase.
  • Created a digital strategy for payment solutions for a bank that aims at engaging card users more.
  • Conducted expert reviews for different products in fields of real estate, banking, and event management.
Technologies: Eye Tracking, MockFlow, Microsoft PowerPoint, Adobe Illustrator, InVision, UX Design, UX Strategy, User Journeys

Lead User Experience Consultant

2008 - 2013
Element^n
  • Designed a self-care portal for a telecom company.
  • Performed expert reviews and usability testing for different mobile device providers.
  • Gave an expert review for an insulin monitoring device.
  • Designed a platform for social media broadcasting; it was an app and mobile platform.
  • Conducted user research and created a user experience design for a real estate community portal.
Technologies: Jira, MockFlow, UX Research, UX Design, UX Strategy, User Journeys

Managment Consultant

2006 - 2008
BD Consult
  • Reengineered the processes of a cement factory for the purpose of automation.
  • Automated the processes of a warehousing company.
  • Designed the journey and processes that aimed at automating a university's internal flow.
  • Created solution benchmarks for a dairy production company.
Technologies: Visio
2002 - 2005

Bachelor of Science (BSc) Degree in Computer Science

American University of Beirut - Beirut, Lebanon

JUNE 2019 - PRESENT

Bootcamp in Healthcare Innovation

MIT Bootcamps & Harvard Medical School

OCTOBER 2017 - PRESENT

Techwomen Fellow

Techwomen

MAY 2017 - PRESENT

UX Management

Nielsen Normal Group