Passionate about assembling IKEA furniture and finding nature in urban spaces

 

I can drive a tractor. I’ve gotten lost in Croatia alone. I grew up in a house that was only heated by a small wood stove. I dressed up in costume to give tours of a historic mansion.

You may think none of that has anything to do with working in research, design, and product, but, like all people, my past experiences guide the mental models I use today. For me, my work goes beyond building empathy and putting myself in someone else’s shoes.

The truth is, I don’t know what it’s like to be someone else. I do know through listening, observing, and conversing, I am able to get to the bottom of what makes people tick. I enjoy creating a deep understanding of people and using that knowledge to create products and experiences that truly solve user problems and create value.

Julia P Headshot
 

Currently

I’m an Experience Design Strategist at Dr. Dish, where I spend my time talking to players, coaches, trainers, and parents to understand how people train, where they struggle, and what could make the experience better. I help shape the strategy, design, and rollout of connected basketball training products used by athletes around the world.

I love working on physical products because you get to see them out in the wild. There’s something exciting about watching people use something you helped create and seeing it become part of their everyday routine.

 

A few projects that really got me excited…

The missing ingredient in basketball training

By introducing consequence and game-like pressure, basketball player performance increased when it mattered most: game time.

Check it out
Check it out
 

The product design makes sense…until you actually watch people use it

Seeing real training environments changed how we built the experience.

Check it out
Check it out
 

Products & features passed every test and still failed after release

Creating a Beta Program allowed testers in the field to uncover edge cases that internal testers never hit.

Check it out
Check it out
 

If customers don’t see value, nothing else matters

Tracking satisfaction over time turned scattered signals into a system that drove the roadmap.

Check it out
Check it out
 

We shipped features, and no one cared

Aligning Product, Marketing, and Sales changed how we brought products to market.

Check it out
Check it out
 

a little about me…

Person carrying a kayak on their head walking along a wooded trail near a river during daytime.
A woman with sunglasses smiling while sitting on a boat, fishing with two fishing rods in a sunny outdoor setting on a lake.
A woman in a yellow life jacket holding a large fish, sitting on a boat at night with a man behind her making a surprised expression, both celebrating a successful catch.
A woman smiling and wearing a black t-shirt and shorts, sitting on a black scooter with the word 'Buddy' on it, on a paved road with green trees and a blue sky with clouds in the background.
A person wearing a blue beanie, gray hoodie with red text, and yellow gloves is standing outdoors in a snowy area, holding a chainsaw. There is a green tractor with yellow and red parts behind them, and a background of leafless trees in a winter sett
A woman with long hair, wearing a black hoodie, blue jeans, and a face mask under her chin, is smiling and holding up a framed certificate in an outdoor park with green grass and trees in the background.
Young woman smiling after a race, wearing a blue athletic shirt, black shorts, and holding a water bottle, with a race bib number 5463 on her shirt. Background shows a small white church, a crowd of people, tents, and a scaffolding structure.
A woman sitting on a boat at sunset, smiling, with a scenic river view and a boat in the background.
A woman standing outdoors on a rocky terrain with mountains and water in the background, wearing a patterned jacket, black leggings, and hiking boots, smiling at the camera.
A woman outdoor in a grassy field during sunset, holding a dried grass stalk, wearing a black jacket and a patterned scarf, with trees displaying fall foliage in the background.
A woman sitting on a large sandstone rock in a canyon with steep red rock walls on either side. Snow covers parts of the canyon, and mountains are visible in the distance under a clear blue sky.
A woman sitting on rocks near a cliff, with a large rock formation and trees behind her. The sky is partly cloudy with patches of blue, and the ocean is visible in the background.
Two fans smiling for a selfie in a basketball arena with players warming up on the court in the background. The arena has many spectators seated and some standing, with digital advertisements displayed around the court.
A young woman smiling, wearing a green shirt, with a backpack, hiking through a dense forest with lush green foliage and tall trees.
A woman wearing sunglasses, a navy beanie, a tan fleece jacket, black pants, and beige sneakers, standing on a grassy field with colorful hot air balloons in the background at a hot air balloon festival.
Woman in sunglasses and red jacket standing with a bicycle in front of a colorful mural depicting clouds, sunflowers, a butterfly, and blue sky.
A woman is smiling and holding a golden retriever puppy wrapped in a colorful Disney-themed blanket outdoors in a park with trees and parked cars in the background.