About
My name is Vanessa Garcia. I was born and raised in Miami, Florida to first-generation Cuban parents. I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Design from the Maryland Institute College of Art where I studied classic design principles, philosophy, critical theory, and took courses with titles like “Experimental Typography” and “Design for Social Impact”.
After spending the first half of my career creating beautiful artifacts for audiences to be persuaded by, I decided I wanted to design products that people could use to feel smarter and more in control. I’m interested in projects that bridge user-centered design with the development of emerging technolgies for products and services. Good UX Research has an important role to play in this space—I’ve witnessed first-hand how a newly automated software feature, engineered and deployed in isolation, can make a customer feel confused and frustrated. Inspired by this and other current events, I’ve spent the past 2+ years independently researching HCI and Machine Learning concepts to be able to participate in and guide development conversations. As new and emerging tech becomes more integrated into the average person’s everyday life, I’m driven by a need to ensure that human goals remain a primary guidepost.
Currently, I work at Facebook on the New Product Experimentation team.
Other Education
Self-education is a huge part of my life; my collection of books is an important source of personal and professional advancement. Hardly a day goes by that I don’t directly reference or apply some of their ideas to my day job. I also use online courses, meetups, and a steady stream of articles, papers, and podcasts to keep up with best practices, but my books are my most valued resource. Below, some of my favorites:
Other learning resources I love.
Articles