bonjour.

I’m Deepa Gangwani, a User Experience / Product Designer (based in one of the Chicago suburbs) passionate about building web/mobile products that are simple, intuitive, functional and user friendly.

Passionately curious by nature, I love analyzing what people do, why and how they interact with digital products. With a Masters in Human Centered Systems from City University London, and over 8 yrs of digital product design experience, my expertise lies in user research, information architecture, interaction design, interface design (Web & Mobile), usability testing, visual design, design systems and front-end development.

I began my career as a front-end developer and was happily engaged in HTML/CSS work when, by sheer stroke of luck, I was tasked with designing and implementing a microsite for a client (that got them 50% more signups) while working at a digital agency. That's how my design journey started and since then I have worked in various roles as a Web UI Developer, UX Designer, Lead UI Designer and Founding User Experience Designer across the globe, including Asia, UK, and US.

Currently I work as a Product Design (UX/UI) Consultant – primarily for product start-ups. Most of my experience has been with B2B SaaS products primarily in the mar-tech domain -- like event management, customer engagement, referral marketing, social media management products.

As a person, I would call myself a traveler, a wanderer, a non-conformist, a foodie, nature lover and someone who truly believes in ‘Carpe Diem’.

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What I bring to the table...

Product Strategy & UX Research experience
My product strategy and research experience empower me to drive the development of successful products by understanding user needs, aligning with business goals, and leveraging data-driven insights.

I utilize various research methodologies such as user interviews, surveys, and usability testing to uncover valuable insights that shape the product roadmap. This research-driven approach ensures that the resulting designs not only meet user expectations but also effectively solve their problems.
End-to-end design skills with a front-end development background
Because I started my career with front-end development and eventually transitioning to UX and UI design, I possess a comprehensive understanding of the entire design process.

Right from ideation to interaction design with a focus on creating wireframes and prototypes, and translate those designs into high-fidelity UI designs and working with the developers to translate them into functional interfaces, I can do it all :).
Experience in implementing UX processes and systems (incl. design systems)
I have experience in establishing UX systems and processes from ground up, including design systems.

I can create design libraries, pattern libraries, and style guides that streamline the design process, ensuring a unified and cohesive user experience across different platforms and devices. My focus has always been on saving time and costs, enhancing collaboration, and maintain brand consistency across products.
Startup experience, dealing with ambiguity and limited resources
Startups often operate in fast-paced and dynamic environments where resources are limited, and priorities can shift rapidly.

Having worked with startups for the most of my career, I thrive on the ability to quickly iterate, learn from failures, and continuously improve. I am comfortable with experimentation and rapid prototyping, allowing me to gather feedback early and incorporate it into the design process. I embrace an agile approach, breaking down complex problems into smaller, manageable tasks that can be tackled incrementally.
Enhancing product engagement, adoption, and usability
My focus on product engagement, adoption, and usability helps create compelling experiences that resonate with users, driving increased usage, positive feedback, and ultimately, the success of the product.

Outside of work hours...

Travel and food are my passions. Having lived in four countries and visited five continents, I've had the privilege of exploring around 16 countries thus far.

When I'm not working, you'll often find me embarking on new adventures, reading about new destinations, watching travel or food shows, or immersing myself in diverse culinary experiences. Exploring new restaurants and cuisines, experimenting with new recipes, and sharing my gastronomic adventures through food photography are activities that bring me immense joy.