I'm Emily,
nice to meet you.
I am currently a Graphic Design student at Ball State University, where I’m gaining hands-on experience through an apprenticeship with the Digital Corps. In this role, I collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams of designers, developers, and more to create a more user-centered solution. My work focuses on research-driven design, prototyping, and usability testing, these are skills that allow me to bridge creativity with functionality while designing meaningful user experiences.
How I got started in user research
I am currently a Graphic Design student at Ball State University, where I discovered a passion for combining visual storytelling with problem-solving. Early on, I realized that design isn’t just about aesthetics it’s also about understanding people and creating solutions that make their lives easier. This led me to explore user experience design, where research, empathy, and iteration become just as important as color, typography, and layout.
What I've been working on
Through my apprenticeship with the Digital Corps, I collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams of designers, developers, and stakeholders to create user-centered solutions. My work focuses on research-driven design, prototyping, and usability testing, which allows me to bridge creativity with functionality. Recently, I’ve applied these skills to projects like:
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Medication Adherence App: Conducted research on patient behavior and HIPAA compliance, designed and iterated eight interactive pages including a symptom tracker, reminders, and educational side-effect resources, and tested workflows to ensure clarity, usability, and engagement.
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Student Risk Management Platform: Conducted iterative testing, identified usability gaps in navigation and search functionality, created wireframes for missing components, and refined dashboard visualizations to clearly communicate risk levels and recommended interventions.
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Greenhouse Database: Developed testing plans, optimized the interface for usability, and collaborated with clients to enhance front-end and back-end features based on user needs.
These projects have strengthened my ability to translate complex data and regulations into intuitive, accessible, and engaging user experiences.
What I'm curious about
I’m deeply curious about how design can influence behavior and decision-making, particularly in healthcare, education, and social impact contexts. I want to explore ways to make digital experiences not only usable but also meaningful—helping users feel empowered, informed, and confident in their actions. I’m also interested in how emerging technologies and data visualization can be harnessed to improve engagement, accessibility, and overall user experience in everyday digital products.
Contact me
Email me at: emo.oteroo202@gmail.com or call me at 317-764-6860