Hello, I'm Joanna Schames, a digital Designer based in Los Angeles, California.


I have been designing digital interfaces and leading creative teams in the technology/entertainment field for over 15 years. My approach combines business strategy, research, and hands-on design skills to develop user-focused, innovative solutions. I like researching products, analyzing behaviors, creating usable interfaces, and improving people’s lives with design. I am most excited about creating design that influences new behaviors.

On my off-work time, I am with my family, traveling, trips to the beach, and experimenting with food recipes.

I’m always interested in new projects and opportunities. If you think there’s something I can help with, please free free to email me.

Email Me

My Focus

User-Centered Design

My primary focus as a designer is to understand the users, their needs, behaviors, and goals. Conduct user research, gather insights, and empathize with the target audience to inform design decisions. Advocate for the user throughout the design process and ensure the product is intuitive, usable, and delightful for them.

Design Thinking

Apply design thinking principles to approach problem-solving creatively. Embrace a human-centered mindset, explore multiple solutions, and iterate through prototyping and testing to arrive at the best design solutions. Use methods like brainstorming, ideation, and iteration to foster innovation and generate ideas.

Interaction Design

Design intuitive and seamless interactions between users and digital products. Focus on creating clear and efficient user flows, mapping out information architecture, defining interaction patterns, and designing effective user interfaces. Consider user feedback, usability testing, and industry best practices to optimize the user experience.

Visual Design

Create visually appealing and engaging interfaces that align with the product's brand and target audience. Consider typography, color theory, iconography, and layout principles to craft a consistent and visually pleasing user interface. Ensure visual hierarchy, readability, and accessibility to enhance user engagement and comprehension.

Prototyping and Testing

Use prototyping tools and techniques to create interactive prototypes for testing and validation. Iterate and refine designs based on user feedback and usability testing results. Incorporate feedback early and often in the design process to mitigate potential issues and improve the final product.

Collaboration and Communication

Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including developers, engineers, marketers, and stakeholders. Clearly communicate design decisions, rationale, and requirements to ensure alignment and understanding. Foster a collaborative and inclusive environment to leverage diverse perspectives and insights.

Business and Market Understanding

Have a solid understanding of the business goals, market dynamics, and competitive landscape. Consider market trends, user preferences, and business constraints while designing the product. Balance user needs with business objectives to create a viable and successful product.

Accessibility and Inclusivity

Consider accessibility guidelines and ensure the digital product is usable by people with disabilities. Design inclusive experiences that cater to a diverse range of users and account for different contexts and needs.

Continuous Learning and Improvement

Stay up to date with the latest design trends, tools, and technologies. Continuously learn and evolve my skills to adapt to changing user needs and technological advancements. Seek feedback, reflect on the design choices, and strive for continuous improvement in my design practice.

My Process


1. Define the Scope and Goals

Clearly define the purpose, objectives, and target audience of the digital product. Identify the problem it solves and the value it provides to users. Consider the business goals, user needs, and project constraints.

2. Research and Analysis

Conduct user research to gain a deep understanding of the target audience. Identify user behaviors, needs, and pain points. Gather insights through methods like interviews, surveys, analytics data, and user testing.

3. Information Architecture

Define the structure and organization of content and functionality within the digital product. Create user flows, site maps, or app maps to visualize the hierarchy and relationships between different screens or pages.

4. Wireframing and Interaction Design

Create low-fidelity wireframes to outline the layout, structure, and content placement of each screen or page. Focus on functionality, user flow, and information hierarchy. Define interactions and user interface elements such as buttons, menus, and forms.

5. Visual Design

Develop the visual style and aesthetics of the digital product. Create high-fidelity mockups or prototypes that incorporate branding elements, typography, color schemes, imagery, and iconography. Ensure visual consistency and alignment with the product's purpose and target audience.

6. Prototyping

Build interactive prototypes to simulate the user experience and test usability. Use prototyping tools or code to create clickable and interactive interfaces that showcase key functionalities. Iterate and refine the design based on user feedback and testing.

7. Usability Testing

Conduct usability testing with real users to evaluate the effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction of the digital product. Gather feedback on navigation, interactions, visual design, and overall user experience. Identify areas that need improvement or refinement.

8. Development and Implementation

Collaborate with developers and engineers to translate the design into a functional digital product. Provide design assets, specifications, and guidelines for developers to follow. Continuously communicate and iterate with the development team to ensure design intent is maintained.

9. Quality Assurance and Testing

Conduct thorough testing of the developed digital product to ensure functionality, performance, and compatibility across different devices and platforms. Address any bugs or issues that arise during testing.

10. Launch and Post-Launch Evaluation

Plan and execute the launch strategy for the digital product. Monitor user feedback and analytics data to evaluate its performance, user adoption, and engagement. Make necessary improvements based on user feedback and market trends.

11. Iteration and Continuous Improvement:

Gather insights from user feedback, analytics, and user behavior data to inform future iterations and enhancements. Continuously refine and optimize the digital product based on user needs, technology advancements, and business goals.

Past Clients