5 Questions with Tory Rebhun, UX Research Lead @ STARZ
5 Questions is a series where we ask CMCI Studio alumni to share insights about the future of design and how to grow as a creative. To learn more about the Studio masters program check the details at the end of this story or visit our website. Enrollment is now open for fall 2019.
This week we’re featuring Tory Rebhun, UX Research Lead @ STARZ.
After graduating from the Studio program in 2014, Tory moved to LA where she took a role as a UX Strategist for Guthy-Renker (GR). During her two years there she was able to introduce UX into the digital design process.
“Historically a TV infomercial business, the digital transition within the organization was a process. Work consisted of managing usability analytics and user testing. Running tests for new concepts, as well as exploratory design concepts. I also worked on the large-scale cross-brand member website redesign, with a focus on functional use case improvements and IA restructuring.”
After leaving GR, Tory established her own UX Strategy consultancy, where she took the opportunity to work for and explore a spectrum of company types, sizes, and projects to determine where she wanted to focus next.
Eventually, Tory relocated to Denver and took a research-focused role at STARZ.
“My position is a new role within the UX/UI team. As the lead for this new initiative, I’ve been establishing a research and testing process within the organization to facilitate product feature development across Web, Mobile and TV platforms. I’ve always been drawn to Strategy and Research work within the UX process, and with this role I’ve been able to focus solely on that work which is really exciting. Most of my work involves cataloging user feedback, surveys, prototype & design concept testing and usability analytics research.
I’ve really enjoyed the process of creating this new role and operational process within STARZ. It’s been a mixture of organizational change, as well as design implementation work. It’s ongoing but the ability to impact both the organizational operations and the end product has been really fulfilling.”
5 Questions with Tory
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned over the course of your career so far?
[Tory] Internal business processes and operational collaboration are incredibly important and have a huge impact on your ability to create a great product for the user.
In small businesses, this is maintaining focus on your key product and user goals so you utilize the resources you have to create the right/best product. While in larger organizations, this is tailoring your communication and work to appeal to the users’ needs, but also the variety of business stakeholder needs.
When you look at the current landscape of design and technology what are you most excited about and most concerned about?
[Tory] Working in entertainment, I often think about the idea of working on products that promote excessive technology consumption, and the impact these new habits have on our cognitive development.
It’s fun to think about the science of habit and habit-forming products, but there’s also a responsibility to do this with the user’s best interest in mind, which isn’t always what all products are doing.
Ultimately, I want to work on products that people enjoy and get excited about, and being a huge movie nerd working at STARZ has been really fun in that sense.
When you think about the designers of the future, what do you see as the most critical skills they will need in order to be successful?
[Tory] A designer should understand the whole development process, so their ideas not only accommodate the user’s needs, but also the business needs and development feasibility.
Understanding that your job is to find a solution that combines all of these needs will make you the most successful. Realistic implementations that can bring creative solutions to fruition are really important.
How did your experience in the Studio graduate program impact your ability to be successful in your career?
[Tory] Studio is the reason I am now successful in my career.
I honestly didn’t find the process easy at first, but I came to understand that the Studio learning process and open-ended nature of the program was one of the huge lessons that the program has to teach. Seeing Studio as a tool to facilitate my ability to solve problems was when it finally clicked for me.
What are some of the most important tools and processes you use in your job right now?
[Tory] Usertesting — Userzoom
Usability analytics — Mixpanel
Process — JIRA, Asana
You can see more from Tory here and here.
Follow the rest of our “5 questions” series here.
About CMCI Studio
CMCI Studio is a design graduate program at CU Boulder. Driven by a culture of collective creativity and fueled by design thinking, our mission is to transform our students into design professionals capable of leading us into the future and solving problems in a rapidly changing world. Our graduates have gone on to design and lead teams at Google, Apple, Spotify, Uber, Pinterest, Twitter, Dropbox, Airbnb, Wieden+Kennedy, R/GAand many more.
We are currently accepting applications for our 2019–2020 school year. The application deadline is February 15th. Get more details and apply at our website.
