Dr. Mayank Loonker, PhD, AFHEA

Co-Founder

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India18 yrs 3 mos experience
Highly Stable

Key Highlights

  • 18 years of experience in user research.
  • Expert in transforming data into actionable insights.
  • Proven track record in user-centric product design.
Stackforce AI infers this person is a User Experience Researcher with expertise in Cultural and Retail Design.

Contact

Skills

Core Skills

User ResearchUser Experience DesignInteraction DesignDesign EducationDesign Consultancy

Other Skills

Concept DevelopmentConstructive FeedbackConsumer BehaviorContextual InquiryData CollectionDesign DevelopmentDesign ExecutionDesign LeadershipDesign StrategyDesign ThinkingEmerging TrendsEnglishExperience DesignField StudiesIn-situ Observations

About

I am a Senior User Researcher with 18 years of experience, including over 7 years focused on driving impactful research that informs decisions regarding business, product, design, and development and leads to tangible outcomes. I excel at leading research projects throughout product life cycles, transforming data into actionable insights, and collaborating across teams to influence user experience and product strategy. My proven track record of success in conducting user research spans various domains, where I have consistently delivered high-quality results that shape user-centric products and services.

Experience

User connect consultancy

Sr. User Researcher

Mar 2023Present · 3 yrs · Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

  • Coordinate with stakeholders to identify business or design needs, and formulate precise research questions and plans.
  • Lead, design and execute research studies for products across different life cycle stages while ensuring diversity and inclusion.
  • Conduct research including usability studies, product walkthroughs, interviews, and ethnographic observations to gather insights on user behaviour, needs and challenges, or for product evaluations
  • Synthesize complex data into easily understandable insights to influence business, design and engineering
  • Develop user personas and journey maps of users
  • Collaborate with product managers, design heads and designers to create user experience goals, product strategy, design decisions and define signals for different metrics.
  • Presented research findings to C-level executives, influencing strategic product decisions
  • Design and conduct design thinking and ideation workshops for various corporate clients
  • Mentor junior researchers and provided guidance on applying user research methodologies
ModeratingPersona CreationUser PersonasDesign ThinkingUX ResearchStrategic Insights+30

School of engineering and digital arts, university of kent

2 roles

Research Assistant (Exhibition & Mixed Reality Design)

Promoted

Apr 2021Oct 2022 · 1 yr 6 mos · Canterbury, United Kingdom

  • Designed and executed formative and iterative research methods across product stages
  • Conducted Interviews and observations to identify critical user needs, pain points and challenges
  • Conducted product walkthrough and usability testing to gather user feedback
  • Collaborated with designers and engineers to translate research findings into design directions and actionable product improvements.
  • Coordinated recruitment and managed execution
Interactive MediaModeratingUX ResearchPresentation SkillsPeople ManagementInteraction Design+15

Graduate Teaching Assistant

Jan 2018Jan 2021 · 3 yrs · Canterbury, United Kingdom

  • Designed and led interactive workshops and tutorials for digital design modules, developing skills in explaining complex concepts to diverse audiences.
  • Conducted formative evaluations of student work, honing abilities in providing constructive feedback.
Presentation SkillsConstructive FeedbackDesign EducationTeamworkEnglishPresentations+1

National institute of design

2 roles

Department lead (Interim), Exhibition Design

Dec 2014Jul 2015 · 7 mos · Ahmedabad Area, India

  • My role was to drive academic and administrate department affairs. In my capacity as a Department lead, I made a significant contribution to the development of the curriculum by streamlining the courses and re-articulating objectives for major projects. I also sought and formed international collaboration for the department in the area of Scenography Design
Presentation SkillsProblem SolvingThought LeadershipConstructive FeedbackDesign EducationTeamwork+2

Design Consultant & Lecturer (Exhibition & New Media Design)

Feb 2013Jan 2018 · 4 yrs 11 mos · Ahmedabad Area, India

  • Teaching:
  • Mentored, facilitated, and tutored PG and UG students in Digital Experience Design, Spatial Experience Design, Co-Design and Ethnography over 12 years.
  • My primary focus was on project-based learning, human-centred design process, design tools like storyboarding, personas, user journeys, etc and peer-to-peer critique of work
  • My major contribution was a self-initiated upgrade of the Exhibition design program's curriculum based on feedback from industry and alumni. I introduced various new modules (defined course content as well as learning objectives). Over the next two years, it increased the program's appeal among foundation students and ensured that top foundation students enrolled.
  • Design Consultancy:
  • Led multiple projects concurrently for the design of immersive media spaces, virtual reality, and interactive experiences such as:
  • o ‘Ek Bharat: Sardar Patel’ Exhibition| August 2015 – October 2016 | Ministry of Culture, Government of India
  • o Ajit Vivek Museum | February 2013 – January 2018 | Ramkrishna Mission, Khetri, Rajasthan
  • Conducted co-design workshops to develop design ideas, lead prototyping and conducted usability testing of interactive designs at various stages.
  • I collaborated with stakeholders and different teams to define project goals, and coordinate development, prototype testing and execution.
  • I was able to influence 25-30 team members, including project managers, curators, designers, developers, content writers, and others, by presenting engaging user journeys and advocating for a visitor-centric approach.
  • The exhibitions were well welcomed by the media and target audiences.
Interactive MediaModeratingPersona CreationUser PersonasDesign ThinkingPresentation Skills+26

Lord cultural resources

Design Consultant

May 2012Dec 2012 · 7 mos · Mumbai Area, India

  • Conducted primary and secondary research to identify design requirements for the Bihar Museum (India’s largest modern museum project)
  • Developed preliminary design of museum galleries based on curatorial requirements
  • Liaised with the globally disturbed team to facilitate design decisions and developments
  • Key Projects:
  •  Bihar Museum, Patna, India (Schematic Design)
  •  Liao Ning Museum, China (Design Development)
  •  Pallava Pavilion, Mumbai, India (Design to Execution)
Presentation SkillsProblem SolvingStakeholder EngagementConstructive FeedbackTeamworkDesign Leadership+8

National institute of design

Teaching Associate, New Media Design

Aug 2010May 2012 · 1 yr 9 mos · Ahmedabad Area, India

  • Teaching @ NID:
  • Conducted interactive seminars, workshops, and tutorials, in the domain of interface and interaction design, and UX design.
  • Contributed to curriculum review and design, demonstrating the ability to structure learning experiences.
  • Design Research @ NID:
  • Developed rapport and recruited residents, local business owners, and government officials in 'Taj Ganj' precinct of Agra
  • Co-conducted in-depth interviews and focus groups
  • Assisted with data management and qualitative analysis
Interactive MediaModeratingPresentation SkillsField StudiesPeople ManagementQualitative Research+12

Real monkey design studio

Co-Founder and Design Director

Mar 2008Apr 2010 · 2 yrs 1 mo · Ahmedabad Area, India

  • Led and delivered 50+ diverse design projects, showcasing versatility and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
  • Directed the design team and managed client relationships, developing strong creative leadership and stakeholder management skills.
Interactive MediaPresentation SkillsProject PlansPeople ManagementInteraction DesignProblem Solving+13

Glue design pvt. ltd.

Spatial Experience Designer

Feb 2006Jul 2007 · 1 yr 5 mos · New Delhi Area, India

  • Designed award-winning retail and exhibition spaces focusing on users’ experience, showcasing the ability to create engaging and immersive branded environments.
  • Coordinated with clients and internal teams to ensure timely project delivery, highlighting project management and collaboration skills.
  • The Apollo tyres store, one of my main projects for the studio, won a Retail Design award
Presentation SkillsPeople ManagementProblem SolvingStakeholder EngagementConstructive FeedbackTeamwork+7

Education

University of Kent

Doctor of Philosophy - PhD — Digital Arts - User Experience

Jan 2018Mar 2023

National Institute of Design

Graduate Diploma in Design

Jan 2001Jan 2005

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