Hello! Welcome In.
I’m Hira. I do lots of things and I talk about them here.
In today’s scroll, you’ll find:
Links To My UX Case Studies
Other Projects I’ve Worked On
Other Cool Things I’ve Done (In My Opinion)
What I Do In My Spare Time
Who Even Am I?
Psst! Click on the picture to learn more about me!
Case Study Spotlight
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Complex Media
Media, culture, and fashion company
A case study on trying to understand the user and working with a large client.
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Pattern Technologies
Online food ordering + loyalty app
A case study on the rewards of validating design choices.
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Dost
Job search platform funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
A case study on desiging for inclusivity.
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Deen
A not-for-profit religious application
A case study in working on a long-term project and leveraging user data.
Research Ethos
I believe that research is not a step in , but a companion to the design process. Research has to happen at every stage: ideation, design, and post roll-out; it needs to be there at every step of the way.
Let’s take a look at some other projects I’ve worked on.
Landscape research and industry analysis, and collaboration with design to create a website for a credit guarantee company based in Pakistan.
NCGCL
DGlobal
Strategy work to understand the landscape for digital banking products and agri-financing in Pakistan - this base research led to the creation of DGlobal’s sister company, Kisaan, which is an agri-financing company in Pakistan.
ShirkatGah
Exploratory work for ShirkatGah. Conducted a mass survey and telephonic interviews with human rights defenders all across Pakistan and condensed research to understanding this groups needs for a potential resource app.
Other Cool Things I’ve Done (In My Own Opinion)
Worked with ECOSOC at the UN and conducted research on digitization, international trade, and access to the COVID-19 vaccine for developing countries.
Conducted interviews for an oral history archive documenting people’s experiences in NYC During the COVID-19 pandemic, housed at Columbia University and funded by the NSF.
Single-handedly organized panel discussions with women entrepreneurs for organizational knowledge building.
What do I do in my spare time?
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What do I do in my spare time? *
Knit Sweaters!
(very slowly) (I’ve been working on this sweater for a year now)
Crochet Cute Small Things!
Like frogs in overalls.
Tend To My Farm!
I’m a huge Stardew Valley nerd.
About Me
Quick Facts
Location: Toronto, ON
Star Sign: Aquarius
Pets: 1 Cat, Siamese
Plants: 1 Peace Lily (Wilting)
Time Spent Online Shopping: Endless
I hold a Masters degree in Sociology from Columbia University and a Bachelors in Economics from Lahore University of Management Sciences. Throughout my education and career, I have deepened my skills in research methodologies, focusing on both quantitative and qualitative work. I feel comfortable studying both people and numbers and am charged by the idea of finding out what story the data is trying to tell me.
I turned to UX research because it is a blend of what I truly find joy in: research and good design. My goal is to always advocate for the user, and to help find that perfect balance between intuitive design and pleasurable experience.
I believe to my core that in order to be a good researcher, you need to be a good listener and have empathy.
On most days (after hours) I can be found on the sofa with my cat, watching some type of trashy TV, and working on whatever new knit/crochet project I’ve picked up. Or out on a run. There’s no in-between.