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I am a Senior UX Researcher and Service Designer with over 13 years’ experience helping organisations design products and services. I’ve led end-to-end research across complex sectors—from health and government to data-driven and systems-focused programs—shaping real-world products. I bring extensive experience running discovery and delivery research, usability testing and co-creation in agile, cross-functional teams, collaborating with designers, business and enterprise architects and product leads to ensure solutions genuinely meet user and business needs. Currently, I’m running an educational LinkedIn series on AI ethics for researchers and designers, sharing practical tips for responsible and inclusive AI adoption. I’m passionate about using research to bridge user insights and emerging technology—helping teams design products that are not just intelligent, but meaningful and ethical.…I am a Senior UX Researcher and Service Designer with over 13 years’ experience helping organisations design products and services. I’ve led end-to-end research across complex sectors—from health and government to data-driven and systems-focused programs—shaping real-world products. I bring extensive experience running discovery and delivery research, usability testing and co-creation in agile, cross-functional teams, collaborating with designers, business and enterprise architects and product leads to ensure solutions genuinely meet user and business needs. Currently, I’m running an educational LinkedIn series on AI ethics for researchers and designers, sharing practical tips for responsible and inclusive AI adoption. I’m passionate about using research to bridge user insights and emerging technology—helping teams design products that are not just intelligent, but meaningful and ethical.

Sophie Walker

UX Designer, Product Designer, UI Designer

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I am a Senior UX Researcher and Service Designer with over 13 years’ experience helping organisations design products and services. I’ve led end-to-end research across complex sectors—from health and government to data-driven and systems-focused programs—shaping real-world products. I bring extensive experience running discovery and delivery research, usability testing and co-creation in agile, cross-functional teams, collaborating with designers, business and enterprise architects and product leads to ensure solutions genuinely meet user and business needs. Currently, I’m running an educational LinkedIn series on AI ethics for researchers and designers, sharing practical tips for responsible and inclusive AI adoption. I’m passionate about using research to bridge user insights and emerging technology—helping teams design products that are not just intelligent, but meaningful and ethical.…I am a Senior UX Researcher and Service Designer with over 13 years’ experience helping organisations design products and services. I’ve led end-to-end research across complex sectors—from health and government to data-driven and systems-focused programs—shaping real-world products. I bring extensive experience running discovery and delivery research, usability testing and co-creation in agile, cross-functional teams, collaborating with designers, business and enterprise architects and product leads to ensure solutions genuinely meet user and business needs. Currently, I’m running an educational LinkedIn series on AI ethics for researchers and designers, sharing practical tips for responsible and inclusive AI adoption. I’m passionate about using research to bridge user insights and emerging technology—helping teams design products that are not just intelligent, but meaningful and ethical.

Available to hire

I am a Senior UX Researcher and Service Designer with over 13 years’ experience helping organisations design products and services. I’ve led end-to-end research across complex sectors—from health and government to data-driven and systems-focused programs—shaping real-world products. I bring extensive experience running discovery and delivery research, usability testing and co-creation in agile, cross-functional teams, collaborating with designers, business and enterprise architects and product leads to ensure solutions genuinely meet user and business needs.

Currently, I’m running an educational LinkedIn series on AI ethics for researchers and designers, sharing practical tips for responsible and inclusive AI adoption. I’m passionate about using research to bridge user insights and emerging technology—helping teams design products that are not just intelligent, but meaningful and ethical.

Skills

Experience Level

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Intermediate

Intermediate

Intermediate

Language

English

Fluent

Work Experience

Volunteer at AI for Global Education

October 1, 2025 - Present

Research strategy & capability building – embedding best practice and mentoring teams in user-centred methods; Stakeholder engagement – building relationships and communicating insights to influence senior leaders; Co-design & facilitation – leading workshops, design sprints and participatory research sessions; Mixed-method analysis – combining qualitative and quantitative methods to generate actionable insights.

Senior User Researcher & Service Designer at UKRI

August 1, 2025 - Present

Supporting the redesign of the Gateway to Research service, mapping end-to-end journeys and service dependencies across channels and systems, conducting research with technical users, and translating findings into clear, actionable insight for Product and Engineering teams.

Founder at Applying Design Ltd

May 1, 2022 - January 1, 2025

A user-centred design training and UX research and/or service design consultancy. Roles included Lead and senior user researcher and service designer; Clients included: The Royal Osteoporosis Society, NHS & AstraZeneca, UKHSA, the BBC, Waitrose, Back Up.

Principal Design Researcher at Snook

September 1, 2021 - May 1, 2022

Led user research and service design; co-managed and trained a 25+ person User Research team; mentored 6 senior researchers; strategic oversight as part of DfE contract.

Senior Service Designer at Snook

January 1, 2020 - September 1, 2021

Led discovery and service design across multiple client projects including Kinship Care Digital Platform, Cyber Health Framework, Homelessness outcomes framework and more; NDA with Home Office involved.

Senior Design Strategist at ANZ Bank (Australia)

May 1, 2019 - August 1, 2019

Led design sprints, embedded research capability in product teams.

Senior Design Strategist at Huddle Agency (Australia)

February 1, 2019 - May 1, 2019

Led research in healthcare and transport for government.

Senior Design Strategist at Barnardo’s

August 1, 2018 - November 1, 2019

Early years and systems change research; designed research repositories and insight playbacks to inform senior leadership decisions.

Senior Design Strategist at Barnardo's

August 1, 2018 - November 1, 2019

Early years and systems change research; designed research repositories and insight playbacks to inform senior leadership decisions.

Consultant (UXR & Service Design) at TPXImpact (formerly Uscreates)

September 1, 2015 - August 1, 2018

Delivered design research and strategy for clients including Cornwall, Luton, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Lambeth and Southwark councils; Public Health England; RSPCA; European Commission; Kinship Care; Coca Cola.