Who am I?

My name is Derek Lawson and I am a Senior UX / interaction designer. As a seasoned user experience designer with over 10 years of experience, I am passionate about crafting seamless and intuitive user experiences that drive product success. Leveraging expertise in user research, information architecture, and interaction design, I have a proven track record of leading cross-functional teams to deliver impactful solutions for my clients.

I found my passion for design during my time at Boulder High School in a class called Design Tech. There, I delved into crafting logos and animating flying airplanes. This experience became the catalyst for my decision to pursue this passion further in college. I completed the Digital Design program at the University of Colorado Denver and set my sights on a career in User Experience and Interaction Design. Even now, I continue to find joy in creating illustrations, crafting brief video edits, and producing animations. I'm always eager to lend my expertise in these areas to support other creative teams, drawing upon the foundation I built during my education.

Our two cats.

I've honed my skills in UX methodologies and design over many years. My expertise spans a range of specific areas including research, empathy mapping, journey mapping, affinity mapping, competitive analysis, heuristic evaluation, sketching, whiteboarding, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing. I specialize in designing native iOS and Android apps, as well as websites and even kiosk experiences. I enjoy crafting animations for UI transitions and custom functionality to showcase interactions.

When I'm not at work, you'll often find me skiing, biking, camping, or simply immersing myself in the great outdoors. It's in these moments that I recharge and draw inspiration. When I'm not outdoors, you'll likely find me immersed in a new video game, engaging in hands-on projects, or delving into a fresh learning endeavor. Denver, CO is where my girlfriend and I call home, along with our two cats and dog.

More about me

  • Yes. I believe research is the most important part of UX design. You need to know who you’re designing for and why if you want the product / feature to be successful. I can do all sorts of research including: Usability testing, card sorting exercises, competitive analysis, heuristic evaluations journey mapping, & more.

  • Yes. I have a background in UI design, specializing in illustration and motion graphics. Therefore, when necessary, I can readily apply my UI skills. Being a creative director in several of my projects proves my ability to oversee and help out in visual design. It is also a main focus for my interactive media 2 class.

  • I hold the Ikon pass and ski destination is Winter Park Resort mostly. I love the bump skiing and Mary Jane has the best to offer in north America!

  • I'd have to choose Chimney Gulch as my favorite mountain bike trail. It's a quintessential front range trail, offering 1800 feet of elevation gain over 4 miles. The ascent can be grueling, but the reward is always worth the effort.

  • I love all our pets but I have to say the orange cat Bentley is the best behaved!