About Me

I'm a Japanese-American native New Yorker, which basically means I have zero survival instincts in the wild. While I have no survival skills, I'm a UX/UI designer with over 10 years of research experience and hold a Ph.D. in Biological Psychology. My scientific background allows me to synthesize complex information, make thoughtful data-informed design decisions, and empathize with users.

When not immersed in design, you will find me experimenting with new recipes, drawing, gaming, binge-watching anime, playing my ukulele, or pursuing a creative personal project.

My design beliefs

Design is never "finished"

User needs change and the design has to adapt. This is why I would rather ship something small and watch what happens than hold a project until it is "complete".

Keeping up with new tools: AI-tools

To work efficiently, I implement AI tools into my workflow such as prototyping. Creating a fully functional prototype allows for real interactions that will surface problems that static designs often get looked past.

All feedback is helpful…the good, the bad, and the ugly

Every person on a team sees something I can't. Critique isn't something I tolerate. It is the fastest way to find the flaw I'm too close to notice.

Make data-informed decisions, not data-driven

After an A/B test, the obvious move is to ship the winner. But evaluating it against qualitative data can suggest that the winner drives off more users than the loser would have. Thus, it is important to analyze things holistically.

Good design respects the data model and knows when to challenge it

I learn the data model early and ask engineering before I design a UX that is impossible. That keeps my design feasible and it lets me start a conversation when a constraint is hurting the people we are building for.

Skills

UX/UI Design • UX Research • User Testing • Data Analysis • Wireframing • Prototyping • User Interviews • User Surveys • Problem Solving • AI prompting • Presentation

Tools

My UX Journey

Raised by a family of designers, most people assumed I would follow their footsteps. While I loved to draw, I found myself drawn to the sciences instead. I loved the idea of discovering the unknown and using my findings to help improve people’s lives.

I’ve been interested in the inner workings of the brain since my grandmother’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. To fulfill my scientific interests, I attended the University of California, Davis, to obtain my graduate degree, where I examined the neural circuits underlying memory processes while using my artistic skills for scientific visualization.

Although I enjoyed basic research, I came to the realization that I wanted to directly impact people’s lives in a shorter period. Upon discovering the UX/UI field, I realized that this was an ideal fit as it allowed me to merge my passion for research and visual design. And surprisingly the scientific process and the design process was very similar.

While it may seem like an unconventional path, my research background has well-equipped me with the skills to craft effective solutions that help users accomplish their goals.

Raised by a family of designers, most people assumed I would follow their footsteps. While I loved to draw, I found myself drawn to the sciences instead. I loved the idea of discovering the unknown and using my findings to help improve people’s lives.

I’ve been interested in the inner workings of the brain since my grandmother’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. To fulfill my scientific interests, I attended the University of California, Davis, to obtain my graduate degree, where I examined the neural circuits underlying memory processes while using my artistic skills for scientific visualization.

Although I enjoyed basic research, I came to the realization that I wanted to directly impact people’s lives in a shorter period. Upon discovering the UX/UI field, I realized that this was an ideal fit as it allowed me to merge my passion for research and visual design. And surprisingly the scientific process and the design process was very similar.

While it may seem like an unconventional path, my research background has well-equipped me with the skills to craft effective solutions that help users accomplish their goals.

Raised by a family of designers, most people assumed I would follow their footsteps. While I loved to draw, I found myself drawn to the sciences instead. I loved the idea of discovering the unknown and using my findings to help improve people’s lives.

I’ve been interested in the inner workings of the brain since my grandmother’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. To fulfill my scientific interests, I attended the University of California, Davis, to obtain my graduate degree, where I examined the neural circuits underlying memory processes while using my artistic skills for scientific visualization.

Although I enjoyed basic research, I came to the realization that I wanted to directly impact people’s lives in a shorter period. Upon discovering the UX/UI field, I realized that this was an ideal fit as it allowed me to merge my passion for research and visual design. And surprisingly the scientific process and the design process was very similar.

While it may seem like an unconventional path, my research background has well-equipped me with the skills to craft effective solutions that help users accomplish their goals.

Let's get to know each other.

Connect here.

Copyright © 2026 Yusuke Teratani-Ota. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright © 2026 Yusuke Teratani-Ota. All Rights Reserved.

Let's get to know each other.

Connect here.

Copyright © 2025 Yusuke Teratani-Ota. All Rights Reserved.