RÉSUMÉ / DESIGN · RESEARCH · TEACHING
Résumé.
Maral Akbarianvaryan
Profile
Human-centered designer and researcher working across HCI, mental health, human behavior, communication, and trust. My background in industrial design, UX research, teaching, and hands-on making shapes a practice grounded in curiosity and care.
Education
Research interests
HCI · Mental Health · Human Behavior · Communication · Trust · Trauma-Informed Design · Digital Experiences
Skills
Desk research · User and expert interviews · Surveys · Focus groups · Field studies · Ethnography · Usability testing · Moderated and unmoderated testing · Card sorting · Heuristic evaluation · A/B testing · Quantitative analysis · Benchmarking · Competitive analysis
Personas · Empathy maps · Journey maps · Problem statements · Value propositions · Research synthesis · Insight communication · Cross-cultural research · Design strategy
Interaction design · Information architecture · User flows · Wireframing · Low- to high-fidelity prototyping · Rapid iteration · Design systems · Accessibility · Service design · Responsive design
Figma · Miro · Adobe Illustrator · Adobe Photoshop · Adobe InDesign · Procreate · AutoCAD · SolidWorks · Fusion 360 · Shapr3D · 3ds Max · Blender · KeyShot · Vizcom · AI-assisted design tools
3D modeling and rendering · 3D printing · Laser cutting · Photography · Packaging design · Typography · Iconography · Color theory · Visual hierarchy · Storytelling · Storyboarding
Experience
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Wayne State UniversitySupport 80+ students in learning design research, ideation, concept development, prototyping, and critique methods. Guide students in translating user needs, brand goals, and project constraints into meaningful design outcomes. Adapt teaching approaches to different skill levels, cultural backgrounds, and project directions to support an inclusive learning experience.
Writer
Designooor Lighting MediaWrite about lighting-focused design across architecture, urban installations, and product experiences, translating design ideas and project decisions into clear, accessible stories.
Visual Brand Lead
ZarafeLed the visual direction for Zarafe’s notebook brand. Collaborated with designers on logo development, brand identity, and visual assets. Sourced artwork from different artists, managed artist communication and permissions, and supported the integration of original artwork into notebook products.
Packaging Designer
FreelancerTranslated brand identity into packaging concepts for physical products. Developed visual and structural packaging directions that connected brand language, material choices, usability, and product experience. Focused on creating packaging forms that communicated the product clearly while supporting practical interaction and production needs.
Footwear Designer
DegermanLed footwear design development from research and concept exploration to final production. Created technical drawings, selected materials, and coordinated with production teams to support quality, comfort, durability, and manufacturability. Translated client needs and market direction into functional, product-ready design solutions.
Product Designer
NamadDesigned and prototyped modular industrial felt products using CNC machining and laser cutting. Conducted research and competitor analysis, then refined concepts through iterative prototyping, testing, feedback, and development. The resulting designs reached more than 7,000 product sales.
Interior Designer
IderoDesigned functional interior spaces around client needs, translating requirements into spatial layouts, material selections, and visual concepts. Focused on comfort, usability, accessibility, and spatial flow while supporting projects from early concepts through execution.