About Sam

Hello! I'm a passionate researcher and hobbyist designer dedicated to creating user-friendly products that cater to diverse audiences. I have four years of experience in UX research and hold a Master’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction and Design from UCI. When I’m offline from slack, I’ll be writing, drawing, or creating indie games.

Interested in working together? Feel free to connect with me either on LinkedIn or through my email samstephc@gmail.com.

Short Story: How an Anti-business Girl Goes Corporate.

“Never get near a business man or he will want you to buy something. Say no and he will turn bigger and greener and try to eat you unless you buy.” ~Wise words from 1st grader Sam Stephens

Growing up in the 2000s, I had this strong deep-rooted fear of corporations. From a very (VERY) young age I was convinced that all businesses were corrupt. I’m not sure if this was influenced by cartoon animators who framed corporations as evil in my favorite shows (e.g., Doofenshmirtz Evil Incorporated), or perhaps it was from seeing my dad, a programmer, working late nights so often that his eyes were bloodshot almost everyday. Either way, my ultimate rule in life was clear: I would never grow up to work a 9-to-5 desk job.

Fast forward to September 2019 and I’m accepting my first job as a support representative in a financial tech firm. As a fresh college grad, I was grateful for the opportunity, but part of me felt like I was letting my younger self down. I had always dreamed of being a storyteller, an artist, or a teacher, but instead I was answering calls from customers and hearing about their challenges managing their accounts.

However, interacting with over a hundred frustrated customers each day motivated me to create meaningful change for them. I networked within the company and discovered my niche in the UX research department. Over the next four years, I honed my teaching and storytelling skills to help key stakeholders not only empathize with customers but also feel inspired to take action on issues. Witnessing customers share positive feedback on improvements driven by research insights has been an incredibly rewarding experience.

Now I no longer feel like I've let my younger self down. If she were to ask what I do for a living, I’d tell her that as a researcher, I help turn the scary businessmen into the good guys. I think she’d be proud of that.