Olivia Smith

UX Designer

Olivia is a UX Designer. Since joining SEP in 2022, she has brought invaluable expertise to client projects across multiple industries, including Oil/Gas and Consumer Products. Olivia’s recent work centers on creating accessible user experiences, complemented by experience in designing interactions for an AI-powered feature.

She attended Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, earning a degree in Computer Graphics and Technology with a focus on Interactive Multimedia Design. Olivia is also certified in Perception and Memory in HCI and UX through the Interaction Design Foundation.

Olivia Smith

Posts by Olivia

Abstract image featuring a magnifying glass icon on a square gray button, symbolizing search or discovery in AI, surrounded by scattered translucent and solid tiles in various shapes, set on a textured white surface.
Artificial Intelligence | 8 min read

Leverage AI for Promising UX Results: 2025 is the Year to Begin

I get asked all the time if I am worried about artificial intelligence (AI) replacing my job. There’s a common misconception that AI will wipe out the need for user experience (UX) designers. This way of thinking fails to consider the expertise that UX designers bring. AI is powerful. But, it lacks the critical thinking […]

Chessboard with wooden pieces, one white piece lifted in mid-air by a hand, poised for a move. In focus, a brown king piece topples over, its base barely touching the board. Blurred background reveals a concentrated face with glasses, adding a strategic atmosphere. Competitive metaphor.
Product Design & UX | 5 min read

Competitive Audits: 3 Key Wins to Amplify Your Product

Comparison is the Gateway to Growth Whenever I hear the phrase “competitive audit,” it initially feels uncomfortable. Growing up as a ballerina, I constantly compared my skills and appearance to others, and the saying “comparison is the thief of joy” was ingrained in me. But as I’ve advanced in my career as a UX designer, […]

View of the inside of a three-story library with curved walls filled with books
Practices | 3 min read

Optimizing Discoverability in 5 Simple Steps: Unmatched IA in UX Design

In user experience (UX) design, taxonomy and ontology are two powerful—yet often overlooked—tools. Taxonomies organize information into logical groups, while ontologies define relationships and concepts within a domain. Together, they form the backbone of effective information architecture, making products easier to navigate and more intuitive to use. Before we dive into applying these principles to […]

Practices | 4 min read

Systems Thinking: Chaos or Clarity? Improve Your Product Design

Exploring the Power of Systems Thinking in Product Design Ever notice how every new project feels like navigating uncharted territory? In many ways, it is. Product design means working within a web of relationships where every decision creates ripple effects, both visible and hidden. To make sense of that complexity, we rely on a powerful […]

Product Design & UX | 3 min read

Storyboarding for Client Meeting Success

Storyboarding as a UX Designer One of the most intimidating parts of being an Associate UX Designer is leading client meetings about ideas and interactions. How do you communicate concepts clearly, acknowledge client needs, use your expertise to guide decisions, and keep the conversation focused? There is no universal formula because every client is different, […]