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 & Content Designer currently working at Squarespace. I leverage 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, and more.
In my personal time, I like traveling, working on creative 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 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
Goldlace
Founder | 2024-Current
Design & mixed-media creative studio currently focused on collage art.
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 weekly 1-hour mentoring sessions with new UX designers and researchers looking to enter the field.
[Currently on hold until the Autumn 2024]
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)