Val is available for hire
Hire ValVal Pucilowski
Verified Expert in Design
Designer
New York City, NY, United States
Toptal member since July 13, 2023
Bio
Val is a passionate mixed-method UX researcher and UX designer with over 10 years of experience working across the entire product development lifecycle with teams of all shapes and sizes. She takes a collaborative, holistic approach to ensure that business and design decisions are rooted in a deep understanding of human needs and behavior. With experience working for large platforms like Instagram, Spotify, Etsy, and Blue Apron, Val is a driven professional ready for her next challenge.
Portfolio
Work Experience
Staff UX Researcher
2022 - PRESENT
- Focused on global growth research, including acquisition, onboarding, and retention.
- Led research across four key markets to inform Instagram's growth and early retention strategy. Scaled the project to address the insight needs of three pillars within Instagram, including the Social graph, recommendation relevance, and creators.
- Uncovered opportunities to address unmet needs that correlated with increased retention via scrappy and qualitative research—the team shifted their roadmap in response.
Technologies: Machine Learning, User Research, User Validation, Qualitative Research, Quantitative Research, UX Research, User Testing, User Experience (UX), UX Design, Design Workshops, User Journeys, Layout Design, App Design, Social Networks, Product Strategy, Design Consultation, UX Strategy, Gamification, Product Design, Design Thinking, Design Thinking Facilitation, Facilitation, Workshop Facilitation, Agile, Journey Mapping, Design Systems, User Journey Maps, Remote User Testing, Usability Testing, UX Audits, Service Design, UX Documentation, Miro, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Documentation, Process Design, Service Blueprints, Leadership, UI Design, Mobile UX Design, Mobile UI Design, iOS
Researcher and Strategist
2013 - PRESENT
Self
- Provided my experience spanning multiple industries and business models.
- Worked for clients, including Samsung, Blue Apron, Bridgewater Associates, and Art in Res.
- Gained experience managing and mentoring researchers and other disciplines, including engineering, product management, and design.
Technologies: Research, Design, Product Management, Data Analysis, User Research, User Validation, Qualitative Research, Quantitative Research, UX Research, User Testing, User Experience (UX), UX Design, Design Workshops, User Journeys, Layout Design, App Design, Product Strategy, Design Consultation, UX Strategy, Gamification, Product Design, Design Thinking, Design Thinking Facilitation, Facilitation, Workshop Facilitation, Agile, Journey Mapping, Design Systems, User Journey Maps, B2B, SaaS, Remote User Testing, Usability Testing, UX Audits, Service Design, UX Documentation, Miro, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Documentation, Process Design, Service Blueprints, Leadership, UI Design, Mobile UX Design, Mobile UI Design, iOS
Head of Research
2021 - 2022
Shortcut
- Managed strategic projects and multiple vendors. Coached colleagues in research.
- Provided valuable insights that led to a strategic shift in growth strategy and improvements in key performance indicators (KPIs) across various stages of the adoption funnel. Made changes to the onboarding process and the initial user experience.
- Worked on brand perception research and spurred a company-wide rebrand from Clubhouse to Shortcut, including the company name, identity, and positioning.
Technologies: Management, Design, Research, User Research, User Validation, Qualitative Research, Quantitative Research, UX Research, User Testing, User Experience (UX), UX Design, Design Workshops, User Journeys, Layout Design, App Design, Product Strategy, Design Consultation, UX Strategy, Gamification, Product Design, Design Thinking, Design Thinking Facilitation, Facilitation, Workshop Facilitation, Agile, Journey Mapping, Design Systems, User Journey Maps, B2B, SaaS, Remote User Testing, Usability Testing, UX Audits, Service Design, UX Documentation, Miro, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Documentation, Process Design, Service Blueprints, Leadership, UI Design, Mobile UX Design, Mobile UI Design, iOS
Lead UX Researcher
2017 - 2019
Spotify
- Led global research in the music and podcast industries.
- Worked with artists, songwriters, managers, labels, and publishers in five key markets. Identified three opportunity areas for Spotify that led to the revision of the industry strategy.
- Gained insights and increased investment in podcast creators, content, and technology; for example, Spotify acquired Gimlet Media, Anchor, and Parcast in 2019. Highlighted unrealized opportunities, such as podcast advertising and discovery methods.
- Led a comprehensive review of Spotify's playlist submission process across product, editorial, and customer support teams, improving internal processes.
- Witnessed a 60% increase in songwriter attribution from the first quarter of 2018 to the first quarter of 2020 for payment.
Technologies: Design, Research, Product Management, Data Analysis, User Research, User Validation, Qualitative Research, Quantitative Research, UX Research, User Testing, User Experience (UX), UX Design, Design Workshops, User Journeys, Layout Design, App Design, Social Networks, Product Strategy, Design Consultation, UX Strategy, Gamification, Product Design, Design Thinking, Design Thinking Facilitation, Facilitation, Workshop Facilitation, Agile, Journey Mapping, Design Systems, User Journey Maps, B2B, SaaS, Remote User Testing, Usability Testing, UX Audits, Service Design, UX Documentation, Miro, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Documentation, Process Design, Service Blueprints, Leadership, UI Design, Mobile UX Design, Mobile UI Design, Android, iOS
UX Researcher
2014 - 2017
Etsy
- Spearheaded global research across seller services.
- Managed an insight roadmap for initiatives across six teams, including ads, payments, shipping, inventory management, dashboard and shop stats, and messages.
- Led qualitative research across three core markets to inform Etsy's seller segmentation and marketplace strategy. As a result, the revenue from seller services witnessed a year-on-year increase of 41.7% in the fourth quarter of 2018.
- Conceived and implemented a standardized way for the Etsy research team to recruit participants using Etsy's databases, including SQL queries and internal tooling.
Technologies: Design, Research, Product Management, Data Analysis, User Research, User Validation, Qualitative Research, Quantitative Research, UX Research, User Testing, User Experience (UX), UX Design, Design Workshops, User Journeys, Layout Design, App Design, Social Networks, Product Strategy, Design Consultation, UX Strategy, Gamification, Product Design, Design Thinking, Design Thinking Facilitation, Facilitation, Workshop Facilitation, Agile, Journey Mapping, Design Systems, User Journey Maps, B2B, SaaS, Remote User Testing, Usability Testing, UX Audits, Service Design, UX Documentation, Miro, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Confluence, Documentation, Process Design, Service Blueprints, UI Design, Mobile UX Design, Mobile UI Design, Android, iOS
Education
2009 - 2013
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Neuroscience and Behavior, Pre-medical, Design, Writing
Wesleyan University - Middletown, Connecticut, US
Skills
Tools
Miro, Confluence
Platforms
iOS, Android
Other
Design, Surveys, Interviews, Research, Workshops, Qualitative Research, Quantitative Research, User Research, User Validation, UX Research, User Testing, User Experience (UX), UX Design, Design Workshops, User Journeys, Layout Design, App Design, Social Networks, Product Strategy, Design Consultation, UX Strategy, Product Design, Design Thinking, Design Thinking Facilitation, Facilitation, Workshop Facilitation, Agile, Journey Mapping, Design Systems, User Journey Maps, B2B, SaaS, Remote User Testing, Usability Testing, UX Audits, Service Design, UX Documentation, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Documentation, Process Design, Service Blueprints, UI Design, Mobile UX Design, Mobile UI Design, Product Management, Management, Leadership, Gamification, Data Analysis, Machine Learning, Concept Testing, Competitive Analysis, Prototyping, Heuristic Review, Usability, Design Principles, Strategy
Experience
- Workshops - 15 years
- Design - 15 years
- Surveys - 15 years
- Interviews - 15 years
- Research - 15 years
- Leadership - 10 years
- Product Management - 10 years
- Management - 5 years
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