Senior User Experience Researcher, Designer, Strategist with 10+ years of experience shaping enterprise, AI-powered fintech, health tech, and global consumer experiences at the intersection of human behavior, emerging technology, and complex systems. I specialize in translating ambiguity into clarity through research, systems thinking, storytelling, and design.\n\nI uncover the motivations, workflows, and friction points that shape how people interact with technology, and then turn those insights into intuitive, trustworthy, and human-centered interfaces with measurable impact.

Joshua Kirk Smith

Senior User Experience Researcher, Designer, Strategist with 10+ years of experience shaping enterprise, AI-powered fintech, health tech, and global consumer experiences at the intersection of human behavior, emerging technology, and complex systems. I specialize in translating ambiguity into clarity through research, systems thinking, storytelling, and design.\n\nI uncover the motivations, workflows, and friction points that shape how people interact with technology, and then turn those insights into intuitive, trustworthy, and human-centered interfaces with measurable impact.

Available to hire

Senior User Experience Researcher, Designer, Strategist with 10+ years of experience shaping enterprise, AI-powered fintech, health tech, and global consumer experiences at the intersection of human behavior, emerging technology, and complex systems. I specialize in translating ambiguity into clarity through research, systems thinking, storytelling, and design.\n\nI uncover the motivations, workflows, and friction points that shape how people interact with technology, and then turn those insights into intuitive, trustworthy, and human-centered interfaces with measurable impact.

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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Senior UX Designer (Freelance) at Freelance
February 1, 2026 - Present
Led end-to-end UX design strategy for AI- and ML-driven health tech products focused on longevity, biological age reversal, and educational innovation within a fast-paced startup environment. Partnered with executive leadership, stakeholders, and engineers to transform complex technical concepts into intuitive, scalable digital experiences through wireframes, interaction flows, and strategic UX frameworks.
Senior UX Architect (Freelance) at Ketchum
March 1, 2024 - Present
Led UX design, strategy, research, and front-end experience architecture for enterprise and consumer brands including Wendy’s, AstraZeneca, Blue Cross Blue Shield, SLB, Kikkoman, Green Giant, and Office of Minority Health. Translated complex business goals into scalable, user-centered digital experiences; directed end-to-end UX initiatives across healthcare, finance, sustainability, and consumer product ecosystems.
Senior UX Researcher (Contract) at Microsoft (via Allegis Global Solutions)
April 1, 2024 - October 1, 2025
Led research strategy and execution for complex productivity and AI-powered employee calendar experiences, translating deep user insights into actionable design guidance for future products; ensured usability and adoption of Copilot in calendar workflows for executives and knowledge workers.
Designer Researcher at Truist
October 1, 2022 - December 31, 2023
Owned research in three product areas for a commercial banking online platform, delivering findings for discovery and evaluative initiatives with an annual budget of $120,000. Led end-to-end user research on mobile and web applications for fraud and credit card features; collaborated with cross-functional teams to integrate insights into the full user-centered design cycle.
UX Researcher II at Edward Jones
October 1, 2021 - September 30, 2022
Owned research for omni-channel portfolio and investment apps, delivering significant findings through qualitative and quantitative methods; supported full user-centered design cycle and fostered strong relationships with financial advisors and stakeholders.
UX Specialist at Security First Insurance
August 1, 2019 - September 30, 2021
Launched 4 insurance chatbots, reducing call center costs; managed corporate website content, integrating campaigns and product launches; created holistic Customer Experience Journey Maps for insurance services.
Research Consultant at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
January 1, 2015 - August 31, 2019
Owned research across multiple contracts (Target, Meta) in UX Lab and Game-based Education and Advanced Research Simulation Labs; supported education and research initiatives.
Senior UX Designer at Freelance
February 1, 2026 - Present
Led UX design strategy for AI- and ML-driven health tech products focused on longevity, biological age reversal, and educational innovation within a fast-paced startup environment. Partnered with executive leadership, stakeholders, and engineers to translate complex concepts into intuitive, scalable experiences and strategic UX frameworks.
Senior UX Architect at Ketchum
March 1, 2024 - Present
Led UX design, strategy, research, and front-end experience architecture for enterprise and consumer brands, translating complex business goals into scalable, user-centered digital experiences for clients including Wendy’s, AstraZeneca, Blue Cross Blue Shield, SLB, Kikkoman, Green Giant, and the Office of Minority Health. Drove end-to-end UX initiatives spanning research, information architecture, wireframing, and HTML/CSS implementation across industries.
Senior UX Researcher (Contractor) at Microsoft (via Allegis Global Solutions)
April 1, 2024 - October 1, 2025
Led research strategy and execution for complex productivity and AI-powered employee calendar experiences, translating deep user insights into actionable design guidance to shape future Copilot-enabled calendar products while ensuring usability and adoption.
Design Researcher at Truist
October 1, 2022 - December 1, 2023
Owned research across three product areas, delivering findings for a commercial banking online platform across discovery and evaluative initiatives, managing an annual budget of $120,000; collaborated with cross-functional teams to turn insights into design decisions.

Education

Master of Science in Human Factors at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
January 11, 2030 - June 3, 2026
Bachelor of Arts in Human Factors Psychology at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
January 11, 2030 - June 3, 2026
Master of Science (MS), Human Factors at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL
January 11, 2030 - June 3, 2026
Bachelor of Arts (BA), Human Factors Psychology at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL
January 11, 2030 - June 3, 2026

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Healthcare, Financial Services, Software & Internet, Professional Services, Retail, Media & Entertainment, Education, Government, Other