ABOUT
Hey there! I'm Naveena! I'm so glad you chose to spend your time on my portfolio and to get to know me!
As a kid, I wanted to be a detective—piecing together clues, solving mysteries, and uncovering the truth. Today, I still do that, but through design and research. Whether investigating user needs, untangling complex systems, or crafting seamless experiences, I approach every challenge like a mystery waiting to be solved.
I believe that great design is about impact, not just interfaces. Technology has the power to empower, include, and make life better—but only if we design it that way. I approach my work with empathy, storytelling, and a responsibility to create meaningful, human-centered experiences. Whether it’s improving accessibility, advocating for inclusive design, or crafting seamless digital interactions, kindness and intention guide every decision I make.
My path into UX wasn’t linear. I started as a Software Engineer, but I was always drawn to the why behind technology, not just the how. That curiosity led me to Human-Computer Interaction, where I blend research, storytelling, and design to create thoughtful experiences. Much like my own journey, design isn’t just about the final product, it’s about the process, iteration, and learning along the way. The best solutions emerge from exploration, experimentation, and a willingness to embrace complexity.
Kind Words from Those I’ve Worked With
"Fabulous attitude combined with fantastic performance” immediately comes to my mind when reflecting on Naveena. Working as an Application Engineer in my team for about two years, Naveena made significant contributions to the development of remarkable features. I was impressed by her quick learning aptitude and her capacity to take ownership of assigned tasks. Naveena consistently maintained a positive demeanor, demonstrating resilience in any given situation.
Her attributes make Naveena an asset to any team."
Pradeep Gupta
Director of Engineering, Oracle
"Naveena was the Application Engineer for the Talent Management products that I managed. She reviewed my functional requirements and asked relevant follow-up questions to help her understand how to best implement each new feature. She was very detail-oriented with each feature that she worked on. She considered various functional scenarios that could occur in order to ensure the feature would behave as needed. She was also a quick learner of the Talent suite. It was a pleasure to work with her!"
Nancy Lang
Product Manager, Oracle
"Throughout the project, Naveena brought a real sense of professionalism and fully embraced the challenge with great interest. Her contributions directly led to the success of the overall team project, which involved using a range of HCI techniques to conduct a user observation and design a device that could be used to capture the experience of visually impaired people using fully autonomous vehicles.”
Peter Hayton
HCI PhD Student at NewCastle University
"Naveena supported my co-design research study with older adults during my PhD. The study involved older adults as co-designers for designing technologies that can support social connection. Naveena was very efficient in her design skills and was a reliable support for the entire duration of the study. She always delivered on time and contributed diligently to the project. Besides contributing what was asked of her, she also went above and beyond suggesting ways to improve the study design. It was great having her on board. I only wish her the best in all her future endeavors.”
Dr. Pallabi Bhowmick
Postdoctorate at UIUC
Follow along as I explore design, research, and the stories in between.
Experience Design : My perspective
In the everchanging, dynamic field of user experience design, this profound statement by Margaret Wheatley resonates as a guiding principle that defines..
Accessibility-First Design Systems: Why They Matter and How We Can Do Better
Building Inclusive Experiences from the Ground Up – Why accessibility-first design systems matter and how we can proactively embed inclusivity into every design decision…
Embodied AI: Mindful Technology and Mindless Humans?
I encountered the term Embodied AI just last week when I stumbled upon an article about Amazon’s embodied AI tool, Alexa Arena….
What's next?
I’m currently exploring Accessibility-first Design Systems in the context of AI experiences, bridging accessibility, usability, and emerging technologies. Let’s connect and solve the next complex challenge together—whether it’s crafting inclusive systems, designing for the future of AI, or uncovering new possibilities through design and research.