I’m Clayton, a user experience researcher

In the recent years of my long and varied experience in UX, I’ve worked on federal government contracts. I have a particular interest in accessible and trauma-informed research and with research ops. Across my recent roles, I regularly plan and conduct usability research sessions and other qualitative and quantitative methods of research. I’ve held a research ops role that included developing and updating research guidance for researchers across VA’s digital ecosystem to follow. I’m the lead researcher for my current contract, meaning that I lead a team of researcher working across several products.

I first found inspiration for human-centered design while working in higher education. Working with talented young minds, I noticed many had similar pain points with technology and software. I had an epiphany - if so many people have the same issue, it must be a design problem. I was excited to find entire Masters programs dedicated to teaching user experience.

As I began one of those programs, to retool my skills and reorient my career, I discovered my passion for UX and particularly in UX research. I worked with my advisor on a grant-funded, eye-tracking, research project about the online experiences of low-literacy individuals. This early work sparked my interest in researching and designing for accessibility and for equity. Experience research has been my main interest and the focus of my career since those days in grad school.