· Ayu Larasati — Senior UX Researcher
Senior UX Researcher

Navigating uncertainty with
clarity and compassion.

I help product teams ask better questions, uncover what really matters, and build the confidence to commit to a direction — with empathy and evidence in equal measure.

See my work Let's connect
Ayu Larasati
Paycom · Verizon · Capital One
Mixed-methods research
UT Austin · M.Sci, Information Sciences
D&D enthusiast 🐉🎲

About me

Hello! I'm Ayu.

I'm an empathetic and adaptable senior UX researcher with extensive experience across enterprise, financial services, and consumer-facing products. I apply a broad range of research methodologies to surface actionable insights that drive user-centered product decisions — and translate complex qualitative data into clear, strategic recommendations for various levels of leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.

I think of research as wayfinding. My work is about making sure insights actually shape decisions, and building a team's capacity to think like researchers. Whether I'm breaking down silos, reframing a stakeholder's question, or mentoring a junior analyst, I focus on creating clarity that moves things forward.

Discovery Research Evaluative Research Research Strategy Stakeholder Alignment Research Insight Sharing Workshop Facilitation
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Recently
UX Researcher · Paycom
Previously Verizon, Capital One, Sentier
🎓
Education
MS Information Science · BS Environmental Science
UT Austin
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Other Languages
Indonesian (native) · Japanese (conversational)
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My motto
"Stay curious, and work with heart."
Ayu traveling

My philosophy

Research is wayfinding.
You need curiosity to explore the right questions, and compassion to understand what really matters.

I focus on creating clarity that moves us forward — with empathy and evidence in equal measure. Whether I'm helping designers reframe their questions, facilitating cross-functional workshops, or breaking down silos so research isn't a black box, my goal is always the same: make insights impossible to ignore.

Curiosity Compassion Clarity Evidence-led Research evangelism Strategic thinking

Case studies

Research that moved things.

Each case study is password protected. Request access when we connect.

01
Discovery + Evaluative · HRIS Tech

When a Research Request is Really Four Research Studies

Turning an unfocused ask into a strategic, sequenced research program

The situation

Stakeholders came with prototypes and excitement but no clear research direction. The initial ask was broad enough to paralyze — and specific enough to mislead. I needed to reshape the problem before we could study it.

Methods
Survey · n=50 Discovery Interviews Usability Study ×2 Scoping workshops
Outcomes
Influenced ATS product roadmap and feature requirements
Findings in Dovetail for org-wide reference
Designer built new capability in structuring research requests
Password protected
Read the study
02
Evaluative · HRIS Tech

16 Designs, 2 Weeks, No Perfect Tool — Here's What I Built Instead

Designing a bespoke methodology when the textbook answer wasn't on the table

The situation

Eight designers each created two versions of a platform redesign. I had two weeks, 16 designs to evaluate, no robust survey platform, and a mandate to find a clear winner aligned to locked brand attributes.

Methods
Hybrid survey · n=200 Word & sentiment association Direct comparison Design review workshop
Outcomes
Desktop + mobile winners identified, design team aligned
Winning elements mapped to brand attributes
12 designers gained direct access to real user voices
Password protected
Read the study

Experience

Where I've been

2025–
2026
UX Researcher
Paycom — Grapevine, TX
Led mobile and desktop research efforts across a full platform redesign. Identified critical interaction breakdowns in homepage customization workflows and drove org-wide buy-in for research as a strategic function.
2024–
2025
UX Researcher, Cross-Portfolio Rapid Researcher
Verizon via Oliver Group — Irving, TX
Delivered 2–4 rapid research studies monthly with 5–7 business day turnarounds. Presented findings directly to design and product leadership and other cross-functional stakeholders across multiple lines of business.
2022–
2024
Associate UX Researcher, Financial Services – Dealer Auto
Capital One — Plano, TX
Led multi-phase research initiative for a complex financial product serving diverse user groups. Redirected the research program from premature usability testing to contextual inquiry, surfacing foundational insights that set the product's research direction.
2020–
2022
UX Researcher
Sentier Strategic Resources — Austin, TX
Led and supported UX research, design, and service design projects across diverse client engagements. Delivered actionable research outputs aligned to unique project objectives and stakeholder needs.

Skills & tools

What I bring

Research methods
Moderated interviews Unmoderated testing Usability testing Contextual inquiry Generative research Evaluative research Concept testing Heuristic evaluation Card sorting Tree testing A/B testing Survey design
Analysis & synthesis
Thematic analysis Affinity mapping Journey mapping Persona development Insight socialization
Research operations
End-to-end research ops Study design Research scoping Research strategy Participant recruitment Research planning
Tools
Figma FigJam Dovetail UserTesting Optimal Workshop Qualtrics Heap Miro
Leadership & collaboration
Executive communication Cross-functional collaboration Workshop facilitation Research evangelism Mentorship
Education
MS, Information Science
University of Texas at Austin · Focus: UX Research & Design
BS, Environmental Science
University of Texas at Austin
Languages
English (native) Indonesian (native) Japanese (conversational)

Get in touch

Let's work together.

I'm always open to conversations about research, collaboration, or new opportunities. Don't hesitate to reach out.

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