CRAIG STRAUSS
UX Researcher, Stripe
TRAVELER. AMBIVERT. RESEARCHER.
ALWAYS HUNGRY FOR MORE
The minute you stop learning is the minute you give up on the future.
I'm currently a UX Researcher at Stripe, leading the Stripe Apps team towards foundational insights every day.
I've taken an unconventional route to becoming a user researcher. I always want to learn more about research and human computer interaction and the ways to hack it. As a committed life long learner I'm always experimenting. My work helps build the next generation of finance, and hey, that's pretty cool.
MY BACKGROUND
I hated my job. I wanted a reset from the boring banks and consulting suits and found my way to Venmo.
As a founder of the user researcher program at Venmo I helped anchor multiple teams across the business to consider the user 24/7. I collaborated with designers on feature discoverability and usability, concept work, and answering their big questions to help make the best version of Venmo possible.
Now I'm working on Stripe Apps helping the team get momentum and explore audience needs for our marketplace. Maybe we'll rival the Apple App Store...let's see.
MY JOURNEY
Work Experience
USER RESEARCHER, STRIPE
January 2021 - Present
Currently leading the Stripe Apps team to solve their generative and evaluative research needs. Successfully explored and helped launched Stripe Marketplace (marketplace.stripe.com) in June 2022.
USER RESEARCHER, VENMO
October 2016 - January 2021
You name it and chances are I've probably been the sole person at Venmo to do it. As the founder of the research program I built every piece from scratch. In my time I ha experienced it all. Whether that's been coordinating users, run and manage testing, and create findings' reports across multiple teams. I'm an advocate of always learning more, I'm adding a quantitative skill set to match my qualitative side. Throw in some self-taught Javascript, and boom, you have me! It's an interesting journey but that means new challenges and opportunities along the way!
ASSC. UXR / RESEARCH OPS LEAD, VENMO
Working with our database, I quickly learned SQL to pull the right user set and run analytics for research sessions. Using the right set of cohorts, I helped recruit, manage, and track all user testing conducted by Venmo in North America
January 2016 - October 2016
FINANCE OPERATIONS, VENMO
January 2015 - December 2015
Using my project management skills, I was brought on board to sort and bring order to Venmo's internal budgets. Helping to establish controls and insight into where our money was spent. Good thing I had that sorted when user research came calling. Sure I had to wear a lot of hats, but I quickly took to it becoming an invaluable part of the team.
PROJECT MANAGER, DEUTSCHE BANK
November 2014 - January 2015
My first foray into the consultant world proved it wasn't for me. Sure there was working for the big banks, but the business suits got too stuffy and stiffled my creativity. I used this opportunity to pick up the skills necessary to become a part of something I cared about and made the switch to Venmo.
DATA ANALYTICS
Working with the Venmo data team, I've been brushing up on the latest tools such as Amplitude and Looker to have data lead the story of user research. It's then my job to go an fill in the chapters with UX.
IOS DEVELOPMENT
Though it's been a while, I spent many long nights learning Apple's Swift language in an effort to build a new skill set and learn how to help my colleagues in the challenges of redesigning Venmo.
USER RESEARCH DESIGN
As a part of the design team at Venmo, I work across the organization on initiatives and products that touch every facet of the company. That does not mean I'm done learning. I'm constantly reading up on design interaction and UI best practice to ensure I can speak the same language as my team.
EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE
What I’ve Learned
USER EXPERIENCE RESEARCH + DESIGN, GENERAL ASSEMBLY
A crash course in how to to update skills in the real world. I focused on design interaction and how to create a better user experience. Wire frames, prototype explorations, iterative testing, all combined into one invaluable course.
Sept 2016 - October 2016
BACHELOR OF ARTS, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, BOSTON UNIVERSITY
International relations was my first true love. We keep in touch on a daily basis thanks to Twitter.
2007 - 2011
MY PROJECTS
RESEARCH CASE STUDY: TESLA TELEPORTATION
In February 2020, I took some time to explore a fun, out-of-the-box concept of teleportation for Tesla. How might researchers tackle such a big question or innovation? Check inside to see my initial approach for a new transportation method that would revolutionize and change our world.
