Hi, I’m Hannah Deering.
I am a UX and Product Designer with over 10 years of experience and a track record of delivering impactful, innovative solutions in complex spaces.
UX Portfolio
Teaching, Speaking & Coaching
Teaching others helps bring clarity to my own learning and processes.
Management & Coaching
I believe great managers are like awesome band managers. They should book the right venues, promote proper practice, makes sure the stage is set to make their people look like SUPERSTARS!
I love fostering growth in others and giving them the resources and feedback they need to thrive. I am deeply proud of the part I played to improve Workiva’s UX department Great Place to Work® score to 97%, the highest in R&D, in 2022.
I have also been hired by startups to provide leadership development and coaching to UX designers that don’t have a design manager.
University Lecturer
From 2022 to 2023, I explored teaching and curriculum development at my alma mater, Iowa State University. I taught graduate level UX courses in UX research and design methods and perspectives on emerging tech.
Student Feedback: “I think you did a great job teaching this class! I loved being able to hear your perspective from your career and how it translated into the work we made throughout the course. It really made me feel like I was making things that mattered and not just arbitrary design projects. I really liked how you had the class set up and how motivating you were for each student or project.”
Yoga Teacher
Yoga has been an instrumental tool for me to manage stress and find balance in my mind, body, and emotions.
I am in the process of obtaining my 200 hour Yoga Teaching (RYT-200) credentials with a specialization in teaching yoga to kids.
Girls Who Code Instructor
In 2017, I co-founded a Girls Who Code chapter at the local library and engaged weekly with a group of middle school girls to teach the basic fundamentals of programming and software development. I have stayed in touch with some of the original cohort and a few have gone on to pursue careers in tech.
Selected Meetups & Conference Talks
Crafting Product Vision Stories (Recording, Slides)
Denver UX Meetup, 2021
Product Visiontyping (Recording)
Experiencing UX Meetup, 2018
Beyond High or Low: Multi-Fidelity Rapid Prototyping (Slides)
University of Illinois WebCon, 2016
Build It Better: How To Make Technology People Love (Slides)
Iowa State Program of Women in Science & Engineering, 2016 & 2017
Other Topics I’ve Presented About:
Strategic Storytelling, Storyboarding, Leadership through Influence, Battling Burnout, Product Discovery & Development Process, Intro to UX, Intro to Creative Coding for Girls
Humbling Colleague Recommendations
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![Photo of Susan Rice, VP of UX]()
“I HIGHLY recommend Hannah for any leadership role. She's a people-first, collaborative leader - there to coach, mentor, and support her team and those around her. She's highly curious and can quickly turn insights into vision and strategy - focusing on balancing user needs and business objectives.”
Susan Rice, VP of UX @ Workiva
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![Headshot of Edward Cupps, Director of Product Design]()
“Hannah is a creative force-multiplier second to none. She has an uncanny ability to capture a product vision, get everyone onboard, and execute on that vision through her own hands or through the hands of others. On top of that, she knows how to teach these skills to others and always brings out their best, regardless of the discipline.”
Edward Cupps, Director of Product Designer @ Mural
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![Headshot of Alex Kim, Sr. UX Manager]()
“Hannah is a fantastic leader. She has provided immense support during some of my most challenging times. I feel lucky to have worked with someone passionate about solving problems and equally compassionate for those who experience them.”
Alex Kim, Sr. UX Manager @ Workiva
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![Headshot of Lauren Evans, UX Manager]()
“Hannah is one of those people you don't forget. Not only is she an amazing user-centered designer but she can abstract and teach her approaches to others in a really fun way. As a leader, she leads with empathy, transparency, and courage. She proactively seeks everyone's voice and knows how to draw a team together to drive further impact.”
Lauren Evans, Senior Manager of Research and Design @ Auditboard
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![Headshot of Alex Iselin, Principal UX Researcher]()
“Hannah epitomizes what it means to be a leader. In the years we worked together, her talent and authenticity moved the company forward in several areas. Not only did she elevate the UX team and practice, but she also advanced company support for women and families, and championed a culture that prioritizes mental health and self care.”
Alex Iselin, Principal UX Researcher @ Workiva
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![Headshot of Amanda Fisher, VP of Project & Delivery Management]()
“Hannah is one of the best coworkers and leaders I've had the privilege to work with. She's thoughtful, collaborative, and leads with compassion. If she puts her mind to something, she will see it to fruition. Complex problems and situations are no match for her tenacity. Her creativity and empathy for customers leads to the best sort of outcomes.”
Amanda Fisher, VP of Project & Delivery Management @ Workiva
Book Sketchnotes
I enjoy capturing the key takeaways to books that have shaped my thinking in a visual format.
Writing
How To Tame Your Stakeholder (uxdesign.cc Bootcamp)
As UX and product people grow, stakeholder management quickly becomes one of the most important and challenging skills to master.
Aug 9, 2022
Stakeholder: Ghost Decision-Maker
Ghost Decision Makers show up in projects where no one seems to know who the decision maker is.
Aug 8, 2022
Stakeholder: Two-Headed Supporter
Two-Headed Supporters encourage your project along, but ultimately have higher priorities that get in the way of them providing more…
Aug 8, 2022
Weeds Dragons can’t stop from diving into the details no matter how hard you try to keep them flying higher.
Aug 8, 2022
Looking Back to Celebrate Your Awesomeness
The UX Team’s annual achievements celebration has become one of the favorite rituals of the year. Learn Why and How we do it.
Jan 27, 2021
Saying No When Work Gets Crazy
Start getting ruthless, protective, and even a little bit selfish about your time. Commit to less, say no to more.
Feb 2, 2020
Agile development has been revolutionary for software. Continuous improvement helps products get constantly better. What about the people?
Oct 2, 2019
The Hidden Benefits of Taking Your Parental Leave in Full
Sep 2, 2019
Research indicates women often receive feedback that is more vague and less tethered to business outcomes than their male counterparts.
Oct 2, 2017
Remote Collaboration Pain? Try a Dash of Drawing!
Use a digital whiteboarding tool to get everyone on the same page during long virtual meetings.
May 25, 2017