Kiyana Dubard
Strategic communicator and systems thinker designing research-driven approaches to complex problems.
I analyze how people interact with systems and translate those insights into product strategy, user research, and clear communication.
Reframing Recipes as Technical Documentation: A User-Centered Approach
This project explored how everyday instructions—like cooking recipes—can be reframed as technical communication systems. I redesigned a traditional recipe into a structured, step-by-step user guide, focusing on clarity, sequencing, and accessibility for a broader range of users.
In doing so, I applied principles of instructional design and user-centered communication, such as reducing ambiguity, organizing tasks into logical steps, and incorporating visual support to improve comprehension. This project highlights how even familiar processes can benefit from intentional design, particularly when considering users with varying levels of experience. It also reflects my interest in how systems can be simplified and made more intuitive through thoughtful communication.
Designing Accessible Information: A User-Centered FAQ for Prospective Students
In this project, I contributed to the development of an FAQ sheet for the Master of Arts in Professional Communication (MAPC) program, with the goal of improving how key information is communicated to prospective students. The focus was on anticipating user questions, organizing information logically, and presenting content in a way that is both accessible and visually digestible.
This work required thinking from the user’s perspective—identifying common concerns such as program structure, cost, and career outcomes—and translating those into clear, concise responses. I also considered how layout, hierarchy, and visual design impact readability and engagement. This project reflects my ability to combine content strategy with user-centered design to create communication materials that are both informative and easy to navigate.
Atmosfy App — A/B Usability Research Study (UX research, University of San Francisco, 2025)
This two-phase research project examined whether video-based content on Atmosfy, a short-form discovery app for dining and nightlife, could increase user confidence in venue selection compared to traditional text-based review platforms.
In the A-test, I conducted participant-based research with users aged 20–30, using a structured usability survey that combined Likert-scale, face card, and open-ended responses. I evaluated user perceptions of the app’s onboarding experience, visual design, content format, and overall trustworthiness. While participants responded positively to the app’s immersive video experience, they expressed hesitation around its limited user base, intrusive social prompts, and similarity to existing platforms.
For the B-test, I conducted an expert heuristic evaluation using six of Jakob Nielsen’s usability principles, benchmarking Atmosfy against Instagram through a controlled discovery task in the same geographic area. This analysis surfaced interface-level friction points that helped explain user hesitation identified in the A-test. Together, these findings demonstrate how combining participant research with heuristic evaluation can provide a more complete understanding of both user perception and product usability.
Skills Demonstrated
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User research design
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Survey methodology
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Heuristic evaluation
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Comparative product analysis
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Insight synthesis
Key Insights
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Visual appeal alone does not establish user trust
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Social features can create friction when introduced too early
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Platform familiarity influences user confidence
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Heuristic evaluation can validate and explain user-reported concerns