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Kris Marich
Design Research Lead at D-Ford Palo Alto
Professional Background
Kris Marich is a highly accomplished design research leader with an impressive track record in user experience (UX) research, design, and education. Drawing upon a rich education and diverse career trajectory, Kris has made significant strides in the field of design research and is known for his ability to integrate human-centered design principles into practical applications. Currently serving as the Design Research Lead at D-Ford Palo Alto, Kris plays a pivotal role in shaping innovative solutions by harnessing data-driven insights and fostering collaboration among diverse teams.
With extensive experience spanning industries, Kris has held prominent positions at major technology and design firms, where he has honed his expertise in usability research, service design, and UX strategy. Notable previous roles include Research Manager in Professional Services at UserTesting and UX Research Manager at Lyft, where he contributed substantially to the enhancement of user experiences through in-depth research methodologies and pragmatic design thinking. Before that, Kris excelled as Manager of Research and Service Design at Expedia Group / Hotwire, evidence of his capabilities in leading comprehensive research efforts that drive consumer engagement and satisfaction.
Education and Achievements
Kris's educational foundation is robust, beginning with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Communication and Photography from Purdue University, where he developed an eye for detail and effective communication methodologies that are essential in the design field. He further advanced his knowledge by earning a Master of Design degree with a focus on Human-centered Design Planning from the prestigious IIT Institute of Design. This advanced degree equipped him with the skills to advocate for user needs, creating empathetic and user-focused design solutions that resonate with audiences.
Kris's commitment to fostering knowledge extends beyond corporate environments, evidenced by his role as a User Experience Design Instructor at General Assemb.ly. His ability to educate budding designers is a testament to his deep understanding of UX principles and his passion for imparting that knowledge to others. Through this engagement, he has influenced a new generation of UX professionals, nurturing their talents and providing guidance in user-centered design philosophy.
Notable Work Experience
Kris's career is marked by a consistent progression in UX research roles, showcasing his adaptability and expertise across various projects. His early work as a User Experience Design Intern at Yahoo provided him with a solid foundation, allowing him to learn from one of the industry's giants. Subsequently, as a User Experience Modeler at Sapient, he contributed to enhancing user interfaces and experiences, paving the way for his future roles in design.
As an Interaction Designer at AAA, Kris focused on creating compelling user interactions and interfaces, which prepared him for the fast-paced environments he would later encounter. His experience in contracting roles at AAA displayed his versatility and ability to deliver high-quality design solutions in diverse situations. Additionally, Kris served as a User Experience Consultant, further broadening his skill set by working independently to solve user problems in various contexts.
Kris’s participation as a Problem Solver in the T Lab at Tipping Point Community demonstrates his commitment to social impact through design initiatives. His contributions in this role highlight his dedication to leveraging design for positive societal change while aiming for practical resolutions to complex challenges.
Kris's numerous roles and transitions across companies such as Expedia Group, Hotwire, and Lyft signify a dynamic and responsive approach to design research. His profound understanding of user behavior and rigorous research methodologies allows him to uncover deep insights that inform strategic design decisions and improve service delivery.
In his current capacity at D-Ford Palo Alto, Kris continues to influence design research and human-centered practices, shaping the future of innovative solutions at the intersection of technology and design. His leadership in design research initiatives exemplifies a steadfast commitment to delivering exceptional user experiences, ensuring that end-user needs remain at the forefront of any design process.
Conclusion
In summary, Kris Marich is a seasoned design research professional whose comprehensive understanding of human-centered design, effective communication, and practical application of design principles has empowered organizations to create meaningful user experiences. His contributions as both a practitioner and educator in the design field have established him as a key thought leader and innovator. With a solid foundation in communication and design, coupled with extensive experience across some of the most notable companies in tech and design, Kris continues to inspire others in the realm of user experience and design research. As Kris embarks on ongoing projects within his current role, the design community and future projects can certainly look forward to his impactful work and insightful contributions that will undoubtedly shape the industry for years to come.
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Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
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Clay is designed for anyone who values maintaining meaningful relationships. The app is popular among a wide range of industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. It’s even used by half the Fortune 500! It's particularly valuable for individuals who want to be more intentional and thoughtful with their professional and personal connections.
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Clay offers tiered pricing options to suit different needs. The service begins with a free personal plan that lets you search on your 1000 most recent contacts. Clay offers a Pro Plan ($10 when billed annually) with unlimited contacts. Clay for Teams starts at $49/month/seat. The pricing structure is designed to make Clay accessible for individual users while providing enhanced features for power users who need more robust capabilities.
Yes, Clay offers extensive integration capabilities. Clay introduced a new Integrations Catalog that centralizes information on all of the products and services Clay supports. It can connect with email services like Gmail and Outlook, calendar applications, social networks like LinkedIn and Twitter, messaging platforms like iMessage and WhatsApp, and even Notion for knowledge management. Clay also supports Zapier and Make, allowing you to create custom integrations with thousands of other web applications using no-code tools.
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Clay is considered the best personal CRM and team CRM on the market. Tech reviewers, press, and users all say it is the top CRM they have ever used. Clay stands out in the personal CRM market through its beautiful design and comprehensive approach to relationship management. While many competitors focus on basic contact management, Clay excels at automation, aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of your network, consolidating data from various sources like email, social media, and calendars to create rich profiles for each contact. Its AI-powered Nexus feature sets it apart by allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network, something few competitors offer. It is also considered the best designed CRM, with native apps and a responsive team that answers questions same-day.
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Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Clay offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Clay focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Clay also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
Yes. Clay offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
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Clay's AI capabilities are at the forefront of personal CRM innovation. Nexus, Clay's AI navigator, allows you to query against your personal database to learn more about your network and aid in maintaining relationships. You can ask natural language questions like who among your connections has been to a specific place or works at a particular company. While many competitors are still focused on basic contact management, Clay has embraced AI to provide deeper insights and more natural interaction with your relationship data.
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