Cozette Kosary, M.A., B.E.D.
UX Researcher and Strategist
ABOUT
Hello! I am Cozette, a UX Designer and Researcher with a Master's in Interaction Design and a knack for empathy.
I have a passion for human-centered design with a methodical, calculated, and systematic approach to research. I am often seen as bold, eclectic, and vibrant - I love to push boundaries and fully embrace people in my creative process. I am also an advocate for social impact and believe representation is important. As an ally for social change, I will often be behind the scenes helping to pass the mic to those without a voice.
Ethnography and Ideation are my weapons of choice in thinking through interaction models and new design possibilities.
WORK
Move To A New Dwelling
Equality Jam
Design Thinking through COVID-19.
My Role: My Role: Design Thinking Workshop Content Editor, Facilitator, Moderator, and Educator.
Final Results: 4 Events, 130 Social Media Posts, 22 Political Volunteer Hours, Engaged 5 Community Partners, 237 Participants, and Donated $3,135.92 to Community Causes.
Leadership: #HRCMONDAYS
YMCA Community Assessment
Usability Design Tool
route me
Nurturing U
Nurturing U
Past Design Work
Nurturing U
DESIGN PROCESS
Design Thinking Model
1. Begin with a design problem.
2. Observe the current situation by looking at users, what they are doing, and how they are feeling.
3. Once you understand the situation, brainstorm what the problem is and ways you can gain more insight about it.
4. Make something to gain more information or to better the situation.
5. Test what you made on users.
6. Observe how users respond to what you made.
7. Evaluate if and how the situation changed.
8. Reflect on the situation by empathizing with users and applying theories to what you made.
9. Iterate the process by: making decisions on how to improve your results; testing what was made; observing tests; evaluating tests; reflecting on the results; and iterating again.
10. Repeat until a new product, service, or system emerges.
***Cozette Kosary's Design Process is a fusion of Hugh Dubberly's "The Creative Process" with Tim Brown's "Design Thinking Process."
RESUME
Skills
Work Experience
Software
Adobe Creative Suites
Auto CAD
Balsamiq Mockups
Microsoft Office
Mural
Sketchup
Methods
Conceptual Models
Conducting Interviews
Conducting Surveys
Customer Journey Maps
Ethnographic Research
Mental Models
Participant Observation
Persona Development
Rapid Ideation
Situated-Action Prototyping
Scenario Development
Service Design Blueprints
Storyboarding
Task Analysis
User Testing
Trained Disciplines
CX Strategy
Design Management
Design Thinking
Diversity Equity Inclusion
Environmental Design
Graphic Design
Human Centered Design
Service Design
UX Design
UX Research
Education
M.A. Interaction Design
The University of Kansas
May 2012
B.E.D. Environmental Design
Texas A&M University
May 2010
Cum Laude
Freelance Work
Program Manager Oct. 2018 - April 2021
Division: Community Engagement
Human Rights Campaign DFW Steering Committee
Managed a team of 20 building a robust community engagement strategy engaging volunteers and 50 strategic stakeholders (employee resource groups, community organizations, coalitions, and marginalized communities) in the planning of 53 outreach events to support organizational growth and impact initiatives.
• Designed and led Design Thinking Workshop to redefine goals during COVID-19 resulting in 130 social media engagements, 22 political volunteer hours, 5 community partnerships, 2 outreach events with 237 non-member participants, and $3,135.92 donated to community causes.
• Spearheaded Statewide recruitment for Volunteer Trainings on Diversity Equity Inclusion, Transgender 101, and Transgender 102.
Program Manager Jan. 2017 - Jan. 2019
Division: Marketing and Communication
Human Rights Campaign DFW Steering Committee
Managed a team of 5 and worked cross-functionally with 7 departmental leads to develop and deploy a marketing strategy that encompassed brand positioning, multi-channel communications, and growth initiatives with a focus on fueling grassroots movement and fundraising initiatives.
• Copyedited content and created 155 graphics for print media and digital communications.
• Pioneered 12 #HRCMondays CX experiences, building partnerships with11 community organizations, and fundraising $2,000.
Interim Executive Director March 2015 - Oct. 2016
Real Live Connection (Dallas Teen Pride)
Restructured organization day-to-day management and 17 staff to stabilize programs and enhance services.
• Forged community partnerships by attending 100+ community events and sitting on 6 nonprofit boards.
• Brokered Dallas Pride partnership to include a Teen Pride Zone within all Pride events moving forward.
Strategist Aug. 2014 - March 2015
Division: Brand and Communication
Real Live Connection (Dallas Teen Pride)
Developed and led nonprofit marketing strategy including brand and social media strategy, CRM engagement, and CX design.
• Leveraged audience segmentation and creative testing to achieve 420% higher participation in events.
• Campaigned 6 presentations, amplified verbal and written communication, and facilitated collaborative trainings regarding LGBTQ Youth Inclusion, Youth Homelessness, and Teen Pregnancy.
Researcher Sept. 2014 - Dec. 2014
Special Project: Community Assessment Advisor
YMCA
Utilized a range of methods including benchmark study, interviews, surveys, market research, and walkthrough analysis to assess the Teen Friendliness of 8 YMCA facilities and draft report to complete grant qualifications.
Additional Work Experience
Project Manager Oct. 2012 - Current
Kosary Cabling Inc.
Provide telecommunications services to customers by combining technology with product expertise in Data Networks, Structured Network Cabling, Surveillance Systems, Telephone Systems and Wireless Systems. Oversee business interactions (emails, billing, project proposals, product delivery, and quotes). Improving profit margins by 170% by streamlining operations, workflow, and negotiating competitive vendor contracts.
Graduate Teaching Assistant July 2011 - May 2012
University of Kansas
Design Methods and Industrial Design Studio | Spring 2012
Human Factors | Fall 2011
Mentored and assisted 50 undergraduate students and 8 graduate students through qualitative and quantitative research process, product ideation, and concept testing for Wayfinding Solution Project, Mobile Technology for Elderly Project, Affordance Analysis and Anthropometric Analysis.
Graduate Teaching Assistant July 2011 - May 2012
Special Project: Interaction Design Student’s Master Thesis
University of Kansas
Collaborated with visually impaired master student to define requirements for low fidelity prototyping tool to include visually impaired users earlier in the design process. Created functional paper prototypes using Pen Friend and RIFD technology. Planned and facilitated usability tests. Summarized verbal and tactile analysis of usability test results and recommended changes for research.