Laurah E. Mwirichia
Designer | Writer | Public Speaker | Art Dabbler | Mentor | Plant Parent | World Citizen | Personal Finance Nerd
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I’m a Product Designer currently working at Squarespace. I leverage a mix of 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.
I have over 8 years of experience on projects including financial risk, regulatory compliance (GDPR, Banking), accessibility, design systems, growth, help center, AI, and more.
In my personal time, I like traveling, reading, working on creative projects, listening to personal finance podcasts, and taking care of my family of indoor plants.
I’m currently not open to freelance or contracting roles. However, feel free to reach out to me for mentoring or speaking opportunities.
Resume & Portfolio
Squarespace
Senior Product Designer | Current
Staff Content Designer | 2022-2024
Led content and product design for several teams including help experience, growth, design systems, and accessibility teams.
Square [Block]
Senior Content Designer | 2021-2022
Content Designer | 2020-2021
Content Designer for Square contracts & Dispute Chatbot. Led the creation of a new team focused on Seller Health.
Social Work
Support Services Coordinator | 2012-2016
Managed group homes for individuals with intellectual disabilities and mental health concerns in Central Iowa.
Aircall
Content Lead | 2019-2020
Content Marketing Specialist | 2018-2020
Led content creation & marketing for B2B partners, while working as the first UX writer at Aircall.
Freelance Writing
Freelance Writer (Fintech)| 2017-2022
Wrote for Morty, Debitize (now Trim), CommonBond, and Planted on personal finance topics.
Research
Research Assistant | 2009-2012
Research assistant in biology, genetics, and anthropology labs at the University of Iowa.
Personal Projects
AI Explorations
Dabbler | 2024-Current
Making little dreams come true through the power of AI. Mainly on Claude and OpenAI.
Creative Works
Founder | 2024-Current
Mixed-media creative ventures. Don’t know where it’s going, but having fun along the way.
Public Speaking
Keynote & Conference Speaker | 2020-Current
Speaking at events around the world on topics about UX and Content Design.
UX Mentoring
UX Design Mentor | 2020-Current
Holding 1-hour mentoring sessions twice a month with new UX designers looking to enter the field.
UX Blog (Medium)
Writer | 2017-Current
Started a popular blog on UX and content design with over 1000 followers on the platform. Contributed articles to large UX magazines such as UX Collective, and Prototypr.
Education
University College Dublin | 2024
MSc - Human-Computer Interaction
University of Iowa | 2012
B.A - Biological Anthropology & Pre-Medicine
Continuing Education
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 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
Conferences & Meetups
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Speaking
March 2024 |Utterly Content Panel Discussion
”Growing a content career across cultures”
Attending
Lesbians Who Tech (NYC)
Lead With Tempo (UK)
Tellerand, Dusseldorf (Germany)
Tellerand, Berlin (Germany)
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Speaking
Dec 2023 | Squarespace Internal ERG Event (Moderator)
World AIDS Day WorkshopOct 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.”
Attending
Config (virtual/SF)
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Speaking
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.”
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Speaking
Feb 2021 | San Francisco UX Writer’s Meetup
"Bring a project management mindset to your writing.”
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Speaking
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.”
Societies & Memberships
2024 - Current | MART Gallery & Studios Dublin (Artist)
2022 - Current | Queer at Squarespace (Communication Lead)
2022 - Current | Black at Squarespace (Member)
2022 - Current | Graphic Studio Dublin (Member)
2022 - Current | Squarespace Product Design (Mentor/Mentee)
2021 - Current | UX Coffee Hours (Mentor)
2020 - 2022 | UX Writers Guild (Member)
2021-2022 | Square Risk Mentorship Program (Mentor)
2020 - 2022 | Black Squares Association (Member)
2020 - 2022 | UX writing library (Top UX writers to follow)
2018 - 2019 | Aircall Women in Tech (Co-Founder)