Designing with Empathy

Informed by Experience

With over a decade spent listening to users, solving their problems, and understanding their frustrations across tech, healthcare, and service industries, I bring a unique perspective to UX design. My background spans from supporting users of digital paper tablets at reMarkable to helping healthcare providers navigate complex systems at UnitedHealth Group. This experience taught me that great design isn't just about aesthetics—it's about truly understanding people's needs and creating solutions that work.

About Me

Karen Fe Dagaas - UX Designer

My journey into UX design began not in a design studio, but on the front lines of customer service. Every support ticket, every frustrated call, every moment of user confusion became a lesson in human-centered problem solving.

Working across industries, from digital products at reMarkable to healthcare systems at UnitedHealth Group, I've witnessed firsthand how design decisions ripple through to real people's daily lives. As a mother of three, I bring a unique perspective on how products fit into the chaos of everyday life. I've experienced the frustration of poorly designed apps while juggling kids, the relief of intuitive interfaces when time is scarce, and the importance of accessibility when you're multitasking through parenthood.

I've heard the pain points, celebrated the wins, and most importantly, learned to listen deeply to what users actually need versus what they say they want. This foundation in customer empathy now informs every wireframe I sketch, every prototype I build, and every user test I conduct. Good UX is about understanding real people with real problems and creating solutions that actually fit their lives.

User Research
Deep understanding of user needs through years of direct interaction
Empathy-Driven Design
Designing solutions based on real user pain points
Problem Solving
10+ years of resolving complex user challenges
Cross-Industry Insight
Experience in tech, healthcare, telecom, and service sectors

Projects

Conservation International Design System
Design System

Conservation International - Design System

Developed a comprehensive design system for Conservation International, creating consistent UI components, patterns, and guidelines to support their environmental conservation initiatives across digital platforms.

Design System UI Components Figma Documentation
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Supply Chain

Sea Supply Manager

Designed an intuitive supply chain management platform for maritime operations, streamlining inventory tracking, order management, and supplier coordination for sea-based logistics teams.

UX Research Enterprise Design Dashboard Workflow
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Food Tech

Flavour Fusion

Created a delightful user experience for a recipe discovery and meal planning application, helping home cooks explore diverse cuisines and create personalized cooking experiences.

Mobile App User Research Prototyping Visual Design
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Let's Create Together

I'm always interested in hearing about new projects and opportunities where I can apply my unique blend of customer service expertise and UX design passion to create meaningful user experiences.