Core Skills
User Research • Information Architecture • Interaction Design • UX Writing • Prototyping • Survey Design • Service Design • Visual Design
Anna Kahrs • Lead UX Designer
Designing clarityacross complex systems
FOCUS
Whenworkflowssprawl,navigationtangles,andplatformsquietlycompetewiththemselves,somethingfeelsoff.That’swhereIstartpayingattention.
I’maUXdesignerandsystems-focusedthinkerwholistensclosely,studiespatterns,andhelpsteamsuntanglecomplexity.Myworkisaboutturningfrictionintoclarityandhelpingdigitalspacesfeelsimpler,steadier,andeasiertonavigate.
Where insight
Methods
Design Thinking • Usability Testing • Card Sorting • Journey Mapping • Personas • Content Modeling • AI Prototyping • Systems Thinking
turns into action
TECHNOLOGY
Powered by
A curated set of research, design, prototyping, and collaboration tools that support evidence-driven decisions and scalable digital systems.
SELECTED TOOLS
a cross-functional tool stack
CERTIFICATION
Certified in UX research through
Nielsen Norman Group
I completed 30+ hours of advanced UX training, including a focused research specialty track.
The training emphasized connecting research rigor to real product decisions, reinforcing how analytics, qualitative insight, and operational structure work together to support scalable UX.
RECOGNITION & AWARDS
Recognized for excellence by
national and institutional award committees
Work I contributed to has received national recognition for excellence in digital experience and design. My work has included leading information architecture, conducting user interviews, shaping user tested navigation, and serving as Lead UX Designer on the redesign of a large scale public health archive, improving accessibility, search performance, and usability across millions of documents.
EXPERIENCE
Shaped through years of
research, design, and practice
December 2023 - Present
Lead UX Designer
University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)
San Francisco, CA (Remote)
Top-ranked public health sciences university specializing in biomedical research, education, and clinical care.
- Lead design system–level work for the enterprise Drupal platform, defining reusable patterns and standards across multiple sites.
- Guide information architecture strategy through content audits, user needs analysis, and collaborative working sessions with clients.
- Plan and run usability tests, card sorting studies, and user interviews that reveal patterns and inform design choices.
- Design low and mid-fidelity wireframes and iterate based on qualitative and quantitative feedback.
October 2018 - December 2023
Service Designer
University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)
San Francisco, CA (Remote)
- Supported digital and instructional teams by conducting user research to uncover needs of students and faculty.
- Created wireframes, interface concepts, and visual design assets for web and instructional materials.
- Help clarify user needs and pain points through interviews and observations, informing service improvements.
- Provided user-centered evidence that shaped team conversations and strategic priorities.
August 2017 - March 2018
Information Architect UX Intern
IU Studios – University Communications and Marketing
Bloomington, IN
Media production studio supporting Indiana University’s teaching, research, and communications through video and digital storytelling.
- Worked on information architecture for large university sites, shaping navigation and content structure.
- Supported workshops, stakeholder sessions, and user research that informed project direction.
- Built and refined site content using Cascade CMS, turning UX and IA decisions into production-ready pages.
IN PRACTICE
Observations and ideas
from UX practice
Gathered along the way while designing products, running research, and building systems that try to make digital work a little more thoughtful.
ABOUT
This is the part where I talk about myself
I have always been drawn to the things most people never notice: the logic under the surface, the patterns that quietly guide you, the hidden decisions that make something feel “right” without announcing themselves. In another life, that meant memorizing art movement timelines and happily losing afternoons in dusty archives. Now it means designing digital experiences that do not make you think twice.
I care about the details a lot. The sort of lot you only notice when something feels unusually smooth. I like taking complex systems and giving them a shape people can actually move through and companies can scale. I like when a journey feels intuitive because every layer is in conversation with the next.
UX opinions I will defend, politely:
- Clear is better than clever
- “Learn more” is lazy
- Content is design
- Users hate scrolling = myth
- It is not about how many clicks
Things I enjoy:
- Digging in my garden
- Well written documentation
- Categorizing things
- Knitting, crocheting, and sewing
- Hunting down thrift store gold
VOICES ABOUT MY WORK
“Thank you for getting the PAWS wireframes and requirements so clear. It removed so much confusion and helped the team be more strategically focused.”
“I appreciate your well thought out interface designs and attention to detail. It shows that you have a lot of empathy for the people who use our products and you create a positive environment for teammates.”
“Thank you for your work on supplychain.ucsf.edu and finance.ucsf.edu. These are some of the most used and essential sites at UCSF, and you played a key part in making that happen.”
“I want to recognize all the work you have been putting into information architecture. It is a difficult skill and I am so happy to have you on our team.”
“Thank you for all your efforts on the Researcher Journey project. Your insight, experience, diligence, and hard work were invaluable to our success.”
“Thank you for getting the PAWS wireframes and requirements so clear. It removed so much confusion and helped the team be more strategically focused.”
“I appreciate your well thought out interface designs and attention to detail. It shows that you have a lot of empathy for the people who use our products and you create a positive environment for teammates.”
“Thank you for your work on supplychain.ucsf.edu and finance.ucsf.edu. These are some of the most used and essential sites at UCSF, and you played a key part in making that happen.”
“I want to recognize all the work you have been putting into information architecture. It is a difficult skill and I am so happy to have you on our team.”
“Thank you for all your efforts on the Researcher Journey project. Your insight, experience, diligence, and hard work were invaluable to our success.”