UX Designer | Writer | Public Speaker | Mentor | Plant Parent | Art Dabbler | World Citizen | Personal Finance Nerd
Laurah E. Mwirichia
Who I am
I’m a public speaker and UX designer currently working at Squarespace. My work involves leveraging human-centered experience design and content strategy to create and implement clear and concise design solutions that deliver for both the user and the business. As a designer, I’ve worked on projects ranging from financial risk and compliance, to accessibility, design platform, and growth.
In my personal time, I like traveling, working on art projects, listening to personal finance podcasts, taking care of plants, and learning new languages on Duolingo. I’m also undertaking my MSc in Human-Computer Interaction at University College Dublin.
I’m currently based in Europe.
What I believe
The copy is often the most human part of any product interaction. And when it comes to creating digital products, writing is designing.
Content & Design
Squarespace | 2022 - Current
Staff UX & Content Designer | Growth & Activation
Senior UX & Content Designer | Design Systems & Accessibility
Square (Block) | 2020 - 2022
Senior Content Designer | Seller Health (Risk)
Product Writer | Risk & Compliance
Aircall | 2018 - 2020
Content Lead
Content Marketing Specialist
Freelance Writer | 2017 - Current
Morty
CommonBond
Debitize (now Trim)
Planted
Prototypr (a Medium publication)
UX Collective (a Medium publication)
Research & Social Work
Mosaic | Support Services Coordinator | 2014 - 2016
Community Support Advocates | Client Advocate | 2013 - 2014
Candeo | Employment Consultant | 2012 - 2013
University of Iowa | Research Assistant (Genetics, Archaeology) | 2009 - 2012
University of Iowa | Resident Assistant | 2010 - 2011
University
University College Dublin | 2023-2024 (anticipated graduation)
MSc - Human-Computer Interaction
University of Iowa | 2012
B.A - Biological Anthropology & Pre-Medicine
Continuing Ed
UX Design Institute | User Interface Design
Certification | 2023
Graphic Studio Dublin | Book Binding
Workshop | 2023
Deque Systems | Accessibility Fundamentals
Certification | 2022
Designership | Figma Masterclass
Certification | 2022
McKinsey & Company | Executive Management Accelerator
Certification | 2022
Graphic Studio Dublin | Etching
Workshop | 2021
Zwick Academy of Fine Arts (ZAFA) | Oil Painting & Classical Figure Drawing
Workshop | 2021
Fishschool Honolulu | Color Theory
Workshop | 2021
IDEOU | Human-Centered Service Design
Certification | 2021
IDEOU | Unlocking Creativity
Certification | 2021
Udemy | Agile Project Management
Certification | 2018
Udemy | Writing for the Web
Certification | 2017
Languages
English (Native)
Swahili (Native)
French (B1)
Spanish (A2)
German (A2)
Specializations
Product (UX) Design
Content Engineering
Content Strategy /Content Design
Informational Architecture
Accessibility & Inclusive Design
Design Systems
Wireframing & Prototyping
Copywriting & Editing
Workshop Design
User Research & A/B Testing
Journey Mapping & Service Design
Content Localization (i18n)
Human-Centered Design Thinking
Content Audits & Heuristics
Project Management
Chatbot Creation
Tech
Figma/Figjam
HTML & CSS
Github
Intercom
ADA (chatbot)
Contentful
Sketch
Google AdWords
Adobe Suite
MarketMuse
Speaking
March 2024 | Utterly Content Panel Discussion
”Growing a content career across cultures”
Dec 2023 | Squarespace Internal ERG Event (Moderator)
World AIDS Day Workshop
Oct 2023 | ContentEd
"Bringing your whole self: carving a unique path as a content professional.”
June 2023 | Squarespace Internal ERG Event (Moderator)
”LGBTQIA+ Leadership and Strength”
March 2023 | Utterly Content
"Content Debt: How putting content on the back burner impacts user experience.”
April 2022 | University of Hawaii (Department of Second Language Studies)
"From Anthropology to UX Design: How Language Can Shape Your Career in Industry.”
Mar 2022 | Perspectives (Content Design Careers Festival)
"Level up by creating your own ladder to success.”
Mar 2022 | Black Girls Do Science (BGDS)
"What is User Experience?”
Jan 2022 | Hawaii UX Meetup (UXHI)
"Teaming up with Designers to impact the User Experience.”
Jan 2022 | Keynote Speaker: Canva Content Design Day (internal event)
"Content Debt: How putting content on the back burner impacts user experience.”
Feb 2021 | San Francisco UX Writer’s Meetup
"Bring a project management mindset to your writing.”
June & Oct 2020 | UX Writer Conference
"Bring a project management mindset to your writing.”
June 2020 | Content Strategy Insights Podcast
“The UX Writing enthusiast.”
July 2020 | Adelante UX Career Group
“Movin' on up: How to break into and advance in UX writing.”
August 2020 | Square Design Summit (internal event)
"Teaming up with Designers to impact the User Experience.”
Sept 2020 | UX Writing Hub
“Nail the UX writer/designer collaboration.”
Memberships & Mentoring
2023 - Current | Memberships & Communication Lead (Queerspace)
2022 - Current | Graphic Studio Dublin
2022 - Current | Mentor — Squarespace Product Design
2022 - Current | Black at Squarespace (BASS)
2021 - Current | UX Coffee Hours Mentor
2020 - 2022 | UX Writers Guild
2021-2022 | Mentor —Square Risk Mentorship Program
2020 - 2022 | Black Squares Association (BSA)
2020 - 2022 | “Top UX writers to follow” (UX writing library)
2018 - 2019 | Aircall Women in Tech (Co-Founder)