Emily Gran

Senior Experience Researcher and Strategist

I am a UX Researcher and Strategist with expertise in translating deep user insights into cohesive hardware and software experiences. With a background in human-machine interaction and years of experience in both consumer tech and automotive, I bring a strategic mindset, a collaborative approach, and a belief that great products should adapt to users—becoming dynamic partners rather than static tools. I’m seeking a role where I can drive impact through actionable insights, and help build thoughtful experiences that integrate seamlessly into people’s lives.

Professional Experience

Senior Experience Strategist & Researcher

Ford Motor Company Sept. 2021-Present

  • Lead strategic user research to define product opportunities, informing roadmaps for hardware and software experiences for both Ford and Lincoln products and services

  • Conduct in-depth user research, including interviews, surveys, and usability testing, to uncover pain points and drive data-backed design decisions

  • Create journey maps, personas, and task flows to align teams around the customer experience and guide the design process

  • Partner cross-functionally with design, engineering, and marketing to translate research insights into innovative solutions

  • Develop compelling research narratives to communicate findings and influence leadership

Experience Designer & Researcher

HP, Inc., June 2018-Sept. 2021

  • Led global user research to shape next-generation hardware and software experiences for consumer and small business users

  • Conducted research in China and India as well as the US to identify customer pain points and define product-market fit for a first-to-market refillable toner tank printer

  • Designed and executed longitudinal segmentation research to redefine post-pandemic customer segments and personas

  • Worked closely with product managers, engineers, and designers to integrate insights into the product development cycle

  • Developed and presented high-impact research reports that influenced product strategy and business decisions

Internships

Experience Research Intern

Experience Research Intern

HP, Inc. June-Sept. 2017

  • Worked on an interdisciplinary team of interns to create a new product for HP from concept creation through execution

  • Conducted user research to gather insights that informed product design decisions

  • Conducted surveys and moderated focus group testing, in-home ethnography, and usability testing to understand user needs, pain points, and concept resonance

  • Translated research insights into actionable design recommendations that impacted the final design

  • Presented final design proposal to Senior Design Leadership

Exponent Nov. 2016-May 2017

  • Moderated in-depth interview sessions to help improve facial recognition technology

Education

Master's Degree in Human Systems Engineering

2016-2018

Bachelor's Degree in Psychology

2012-2016

My Master's Degree in Human Systems Engineering provided me with a strong foundation in user-centered design and research methods. I also had the opportunity to work on several projects that involved designing and evaluating interactive systems.

My Bachelor's Degree in Psychology gave me the tools to create empathy and understanding for users and fostered my curiosity about why people behave the way they do. I utilize my knowledge of psychology and sociology every day when I investigate what makes an experience great, and design products and services for customers.

Skills & Expertise

Research & Analysis

  • Qualitative & quantitative research

  • Usability testing (remote & in-person)

  • Surveys

  • Ethnographic research

  • Competitive analysis

  • Data synthesis & insight generation

Strategy & Design Thinking

  • Problem definition & framing

  • Research-informed design strategy

  • User journey mapping

  • Service design

  • Storytelling & data visualization

Collaboration & Communication

  • Cross-functional teamwork (design, product, engineering)

  • Stakeholder engagement & workshop facilitation

  • Presenting research findings to leadership

  • Aligning user needs with business goals

Tools & Technologies

  • User research tools (UserTesting, dscout, Optimal Workshop)

  • Survey platforms (Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey, Google Forms, Typeform)

  • Data analysis (Dovetail, Excel, Miro)

  • Design tools (Figma, Miro, Adobe XD)