Experience
CHARGEPOINT
Principal Designer / Sr. UX Manager, April 2019 – Feb 2023
Sr. Interaction Designer, Sep 2014 – April 2019
Led design from concept to launch of a new enterprise web app used for managing electric vehicle fleets. 8,000+ vehicles are being managed in the app. The app helped to create a new business for ChargePoint. Managed a team of 3 people to deliver additional features.
Led redesign of the ChargePoint mobile app for electric vehicle drivers. App ratings improved from 2.5 to 4.5 stars. Apple featured the app as an app of the day.
Led design on the end-to-end journey for setting up charging stations. Took a service design approach to design web apps for installers, station owners, and customer support. The design led to a 20% reduction in calls to support.
Worked closely with product management and engineering to set design strategy, define the products, and ship them.
Led product discovery through user research with customers and translated insights into design requirements. Conducted usability testing to evaluate the design.
Created user flows, wireframes, journey maps, mockups, prototypes, and final specs
Helped establish a common design system across products
Presented design to stakeholders, senior leadership, and CEO
Helped grow the design team from 3 to 7 people. Mentored 2 people. Managed one person directly. Set up levels for growth, and hiring process. Led design critiques, provided oversight of projects, and set priorities for the roadmap.
MICROSOFT / NOKIA
Senior User Interface Designer, Aug 2012 – Sep 2014
Led design of a Windows phone app for users to connect to and manage their devices
Led design on Windows 8 tablet apps for photo editing, note taking
WHIRLPOOL
Senior User Experience Designer, Sep 2008 – Aug 2012
Designed an iPhone app that is a companion to a washer/dryer
Led design on touch screen UIs for appliances
Planned and conducted user research and usability testing
Education
INDIANA UNIVERSITY, BLOOMINGTON
MS in Human Computer Interaction Design, Aug 2006 – Oct 2008
Finalist in the ACM-CHI 2007 student design competition
IIIT HYDERABAD, INDIA
B.Tech (with Honors) in Computer Science, Aug 2002 – July 2006
Contact
Email: c.balakrishna@gmail.com
Phone: 812-606-3223