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Featured Projects
eVTOL · VR
Supernal (Hyundai Air Mobility)
Rotor Perception using VR
User perception of rear and front rotors studied using VR. Pioneered use of VR for UX studies, which was adopted company wide.
Led a VR study with 20+ participants to evaluate passengers' perception of rotors in a novel eVTOL with no design precedent. Sourced hardware, 3D models, collaborated cross functionally and ran the full study from scratch in only a few weeks.
Impact
Invalidated hypothesis and discovered new concerns. Passengers could not see rear rotors but had concerns about the threatening position of front rotors relative to pilot position. Study pioneered VR research adoption at Supernal and had high visibility with leadership.
VRMixed MethodsInterviewsSimulated EnvironmentUsability
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Interiors · Mixed Method
Supernal (Hyundai Air Mobility)
Seat & Seat Belt Design Evaluation
Evaluation of the design of seats, seat belts and seat buckle using interviews, surveys and pressure mats. Insights used by the interiors engineering team for redesign.
Large-scale study evaluating multiple seat, seat belt and seat buckle designs with a broad passenger population. Used pressure mats for discomfort heat maps alongside surveys and interviews.
Impact
Insights on seat pitch, incline and lumbar support led to optimal comfort specifications. Seat belt adjustment was not intuitive leading to high buckle placement. Recommendations for labeling, instructions and repositioning of metal sections to avoid collarbones were given for redesign.
Mixed MethodsHW PrototypeHeat MapSurveysInterviews
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Consumer Software · Usability
Google
Pickup with Google Maps
Led iterative rounds of research from discovery to end to end experience for “Pickup with Google Maps”, feature that makes curbside pickup efficient.
Evaluated user feedback from the discovery to end to end experience for a new feature which helps save time at curbside pickup. The very first study invalidated the original point of discovery and suggested a new point for discovery (at the checkout page) of this feature. In addition to concept and usability testing, a novel way to gather emotional reaction was also used to gather user feedback.
Impact
The reaction final end-to-end test showed that the experience was seamless and higher value was perceived than originally intended. Launched in 2,000+ Kroger stores across 30+ US states.
UsabilityInterviewsA/B testingMental ModelsEnd to End TestingEmotion Feedback
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Mixed Reality · Exploratory Research
Meta
Navigating Ambiguity with Mixed Reality
Strategic research roadmapping defining the vision and direction for Mixed Reality at Meta. Findings shaped MR product and technology strategy.
Built a comprehensive MR research roadmap covering 30+ stakeholder interviews across foundational, tactical and technical roles, alongside an n=200 survey, IDIs and competitive benchmarking.
Impact
Defined north star vision for Mixed Reality strategy at Meta Reality Labs. Findings adopted by product and technology teams navigating a genuinely ambiguous technology space.
Research RoadmapAmbiguous SpaceSurveyInterviewsCompetitive Benchmarking
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Product Strategy · Qualitative Research
Supernal (Hyundai Air Mobility)
Cutting Through Ambiguity in a New Market
Exploratory research to define a market and product opportunity in a new segment of aircrafts. Development of use cases, personas, journey maps, and competitive research established product and market strategy.
Conducted VoC interviews across different use cases - airport shuttle, tourism, air taxi, corporate campus, medical transport and high net worth individual travel - to understand needs of passengers, pilots and operators.
Impact
Enabled targeted vehicle design decisions and go-to-market strategy for a product category with no prior benchmark. Personas, journey maps and use cases informed decisions of various cross functional partners in business, product, market strategy and engineering.
VoCPersonasJourney MapsSurveysUse CasesCompetitive ResearchAffinity Mapping
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Automotive · Innovation · Patents
HARMAN–Samsung
Advanced Driver Monitoring System (DMS & ADAS)
Research planning, getting buy in from stakeholders, securing function and vendor scouting for testing new ADAS feature that combines cognitive load and emotional response of the driver. This is not shipped as Harman Ready Care system. Patent for this (affective cognitive load) and several other ideas.
Originated the hypothesis that emotional and cognitive load could be used to monitor driver state. This can be used by the vehicle to make it safer for the driver by intervening. Initiated stakeholder buy in to run a study and to use simulator, simulator scouting and RFP, study design and data collection. Worked on combining other higher order signals like eye gaze, heart rate variability and cognitive load to determine driver distraction.The system is now being shipped as Harman Ready Care.
Impact
Multiple patents granted. The advanced ADAS and DMS is productized as HARMAN ReadyCare, that is showcased at CES and deployed in OEM vehicles worldwide.
Eye TrackingEmotion AIHRVDriving SimulatorCognitive LoadPatentsNew Product Initiation
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Biometrics · Eye Tracking · Automotive
Purdue University / GM Collaboration
Psychophysiological Measures for Car Design
Multi-modal approach to using psychophysiological measures like eye tracking, emotion by facial expression, cognitive load, GSR to better understand inarticulate user feedback. Framework used for automotive design evaluation with General Motors.
Used multi-modal psychophysiological measures for understanding user impressions of automotive exterior designs when they classified the car images as sport, luxurious, basic etc. Using eye tracking (Tobii X-60), emotion AI (Affdex/FACET), EEG (B-Alert X-10) and GSR (Shimmer 3) along with surveys to dive deep into the reasoning behind the decision.
Impact
Direct insights like ‘brand recognition identified from front view’, ‘sportiness perception from side view’ etc. inform the designers to introduce specific design eliminates to those silhouettes. Created a survey tool for car clinics so users could provide emotion feedback about how they felt and not necessarily what they thought.
Eye TrackingEmotion AIGSREEGiMotionsAffectivaANOVAAutomotive UX
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B2B Software · Usability
Palo Alto Networks
Enterprise Cybersecurity SaaS Research
Usability and exploratory research across NextGen CASB, AI Ops and Prisma SaaS for enterprise security admins. Built UX research infrastructure as one of the first UXR hires.
Set up UX research operations from the ground up while leading usability and exploratory research on cybersecurity SaaS products like NextGen CASB, AI Ops and Prisma SaaS. Cross collaborated with CSM to recruit security admins for the studies and evangelized UX insights across product, design and engineering teams.
Impact
Insights across UX studies informed redesign decisions across multiple product lines. Fast turn around for studies giving recommendation like security admins needing customizable dashboard views and clearer triage navigation were adopted by the design teams.
B2BEnterprise UXUsabilityExploratory ResearchResOps SetupDesign Sprints
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Interiors · Mixed Method
Supernal (Hyundai Air Mobility)
Ingress & Egress Study
Evaluation of ingress and egress for pilots and passengers. Insights about door configurations and step height for 4 and 6 seat variants led to designs for space and payload optimization.
Mixed-methods study with pilots and passengers to evaluate door count, placement, step height and pilot specific or shared door configurations for different seat variants for this new mode of transport.
Impact
Shared doors between pilot and passengers were found to be less comfortable and preferred by pilots. Recommendation of a dedicated pilot door to enhance comfort, safety and for emergency situations, was used by the engineering team to make informed design changes.
Mixed MethodsHW PrototypeConcept TestingHMIInterviewsSurveys
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Cockpit · Human Machine Interface
Supernal (Hyundai Air Mobility)
Inceptor Design Feedback in the Cockpit
Evaluation of novel eVTOL inceptor design with pilots across grip, reach, inadvertent activation, labeling and intuitiveness of use. Insights were used by the engineering team for refining the design.
Mixed method evaluation (inside the buck) of the left and right inceptors with pilots giving feedback on grip, reach, button placement, button feel, inadvertent activation, intuitiveness, display height, glare, seat adjustment, arm rest and leg room.
Impact
Labeling and form factor redesign recommendations to accommodate a wider range of hand and arm sizes. Inadvertent activation risks at critical flight stages identified and communicated. Recommendations for better usability, ergonomics and intuitiveness were used by the engineering team to refine the design.
Concept TestingHW PrototypeHMIUsabilityMixed MethodsInterviewsSurveys
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Market Strategy · Quantitative
Supernal (Hyundai Air Mobility)
Market Strategy for Pricing
Study of passenger and operator willingness to pay across use cases. Data used to define pricing strategy and go-to-market approach.
A combination of secondary research, surveys and interviews to better understand the Willingness to Pay across airport transit, tourism and high-net-worth travel for both passenger and operator segments. Benchmarked against rideshare alternatives.
Impact
Insights and data about motivation to take eVTOL, price point, trade-offs, comparison with ride share and public transport were informed go-to-market pricing decisions for product and business teams.
QuantitativeSurveysInterviewsPricing StrategyMarket SizingSegmentation
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Consumer Software · Generative Research
Google
Google My Business for SMB
Exploratory and usability research on how small business owners manage their Google My Business page, and use other ways for marketing. Insights informed redesign for ease of use and lower threshold for posting.
Exploratory and usability research on how small business owners use the Google My Business (GMB) interface. Study focused on barriers to adoption and discoverability, why other social media options were preferable choices and key pain points.
Impact
Design changes lowered adoption threshold, improved listing accuracy and literacy for using GMB features like photos, updates, CTAs for small businesses. Increased visibility of small businesses on Google Search.
Generative ResearchUsabilityInterviewsRemote Testing
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Cockpit · VR · HMI
Supernal (Hyundai Air Mobility)
Pilot Field of View Study using VR
Evaluation of pilot field of view using VR to simulate takeoff, cruise and landing. Insights used to balance cockpit transparency, safety and payload trade-offs.
Mixed method study to understand where pilots naturally look during different flight stage. VR was used to simulate the full flights and collect eye tracking data. Self reported data was collected using surveys to be get a heat map showing important sections of the transparency/glass in the cabin.
Impact
Pilot gaze heat maps across flight stages directly informed cockpit transparency decisions, balancing safety requirements with payload/ weight constraints. Findings were used by the interiors and structural engineering teams.
VRSimulated EnvironmentMixed MethodsHeatmapSurveyHMIInterviews
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Virtual Reality Device · Hardware UX
Meta
VR Device Form Factor & Hardware UX Research
Foundational hardware UX research for an unreleased VR device. Research shaped form factor, sensor and comfort decisions.
Single Threaded Lead for hardware UX research on a future VR device. Exploratory research spanning form factor, comfort, use cases, audio, vision, social acceptance and new technology integration.
Impact
Device design grounded in real human needs rather than assumed technical specifications. Research contributed directly to hardware and sensor decisions.
HW UX ResearchForm FactorHMIFoundational ResearchSocial Acceptance
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Automotive · HMI
HARMAN–Samsung
Shape-Shifting Surfaces for Autonomous Cars
User studies for a shape-shifting haptic surface prototype for AV communication. Findings used to define design recommendations for next-gen HMI.
Planned user studies on a shape-shifting surface prototype (built using mechanical actuators) to communicate traffic conditions via haptic feedback. Wizard of Oz methodology used to show users traffic conditions by movement of the surface.
Impact
A novel way to communicate with the driver and passengers was explored which paved the way to next-gen in car haptic interface development roadmap.
Wizard of OzHW PrototypeHaptic FeedbackMixed MethodsHMIGUI
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Invention · Published · Ambiguity
Purdue University
Compassionate Design Thinking
Invented a design thinking approach called Compassionate Design Thinking that focuses on niche user needs of dignity, empowerment and security. Published in Design Science journal and adopted in university engineering curricula.
Developed a new design thinking approach by analyzing multiple case studies and building the tenets of Compassionate Design Thinking from scratch. Several iterations of qualitative analysis and theme identification including study on the role of experience. Key case studies: Jaipur Foot, GE MRI for Kids and the Berkeley Darfur Stove.
Impact
The work was published in Design Science journal and presented at National and International Conferences. Methodology adopted in university engineering design courses. Invited talks to present at Penn State, SJSU and Purdue.
Qualitative CodingThematic AnalysisCase Study ResearchAcademic WritingDesign Workshop
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Operations · Contextual Inquiry
Supernal (Hyundai Air Mobility)
Operations & Maintenance Process
Generative research and VoC to understand pain points and processes for aircraft operators and maintenance facilities.
Contextual inquiry at helicopter operator facilities, NBAA and maintenance facilities to observe operations, maintenance workflows and pilot pre-flight checks to inform eVTOL operational design.
Impact
Key pain points, logistics difficulties, parts availability gaps and pre-flight steps identified for proactive design of effective operations and maintenance workflows. Insights used by engineering, product and business development teams.
Contextual InquiryObservationInterviewsGenerative ResearchVoC
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Interiors · Concept Testing
Supernal (Hyundai Air Mobility)
Grab Handle Placement Study
Study of natural hand placement positions while getting into and out of the aircraft across different body types. Insights used to define grab handle product requirements.
Fixed grab handles at multiple possible locations and observed natural reaching behaviors during ingress and egress with a diverse participant population. Recommendations on optimal location for placement of grab handles was made to the interiors team.
Impact
Handles near seats were identified as optimal, aligning with natural behavior. Head impact zone avoidance flagged as a safety requirement. Insights were used by the interiors engineering team to refine product requirements.
Concept TestingUsabilityObservationInterviewsMixed Methods
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Interiors · Observation
Supernal (Hyundai Air Mobility)
Baggage Requirements & Payload Study
Physical simulation study of passenger luggage to define minimum payload requirements. Insights used by engineering to optimize cabin design and payload requirements.
Study to observe and get feedback from participants who were asked to physically pack and bring bags to simulate eVTOL travel. Different user groups were recruited: families with kids, business travelers, couples, to get feedback on the minimum baggage required to take an eVTOL flight.
Impact
Minimum baggage requirements defined against passenger willingness to adopt. Insights directly informed payload and cabin design decisions by the engineering team.
Mixed MethodsPhysical SimulationInterviewsObservation
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Interdisciplinary · International Conference · Anthropology
Purdue University
Socially Conscious Design
Interdisciplinary research across engineering, design and anthropology using the Delphi method to understand social aspects of design. Developed frameworks for integrating social consciousness into engineering education.
Interdisciplinary project spanning engineering, design and anthropology. Delphi method was used for iterative interviews with experts across industry, arts, fashion, music and academia to distill core ideas of socially conscious design.
Impact
Core ideas informed social consciousness into engineering design curricula. Deepened expertise in qualitative research methods by cross functional collaboration with anthropologists, thus creating the foundation of interdisciplinary non-traditional domain.
Delphi MethodExpert InterviewsQualitative CodingSocial ScienceInterdisciplinary
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