SKILLS & EXPERIENCE: UX LEADERSHIP
SKILLS & EXPERIENCE: UX LEADERSHIP
HILLARY HECKWOLF
I started my career in 2008 managing nonprofit programming and operations, where I learned the power of leadership, collaboration, and building solutions with human-centered design principles. Since 2015, I’ve focused my efforts on UX design and strategy, leading projects that span large website redesigns, strategic IA, and UX process improvements.
Guided by a growth mindset, I’ve evolved my skills and approach to deliver experiences that are both innovative and user-centered. Today, I bring that passion to mission driven organizations, creating digital experiences that empower the doers of good to better serve their communities.
HOW I WORK
Design Project Management
I have experience managing heavy project portfolios—previously prioritizing and sequencing 20+ active initiatives, and now typically guiding 5–10 ongoing projects at a time. I keep teams aligned by setting clear priorities, communicating openly, and ensuring each effort contributes to organizational goals while moving forward efficiently.
Leadership Philosophy
I lead by balancing hands-on support with empowering others to grow. My nonprofit background shaped my commitment to empathy, community building, and relationship-driven leadership—whether managing 10 interns per semester, mentoring junior designers, leading hiring processes, or fostering cross-team collaboration. I bring humor, compassion, and camaraderie to every team and project I lead.
Research & Discovery
I start every project with discovery to align user needs and business goals, define scope, and set clear requirements. Methods include stakeholder interviews, surveys, competitive analysis, card sorting, heuristic audits, and contextual inquiry.
Prototyping
Building on research insights, I use prototyping to bring ideas to life and test solutions early. Depending on project needs, this can range from low-fidelity sketches and paper prototypes to clickable wireframes and detailed annotated designs. I also draw on front-end knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to support design implementation.
Testing & Analysis
Usability testing is an ongoing process of evaluating and refining design decisions. Early in projects, I use methods like tree testing to validate navigation and information architecture. For usability studies, I create testing strategies and scripts, run moderated or unmoderated sessions (captured via video, screen recording, or third-party tools), and analyze results to guide iteration and deliver clear recommendations.
Sharing Results
At every stage, I keep stakeholders aligned through tailored communication—whether high-level presentations for executives or detailed findings for project teams. This ensures transparency, collaboration, and momentum throughout the project.