howdy - i'm summer.
i’m a designer with a background in neuroscience and design strategy. i study how people move through complex systems - especially the ones they don’t get to opt out of - and redesign those environments to feel clearer, calmer, and more humane.
i began in neuroscience, drawn to understanding how behavior and emotion are shaped by environment. in research labs, i became less interested in isolated findings and more interested in what those insights could change.
that curiosity pulled me toward design.
today, my work sits at the intersection of behavioral research, visual architecture, and systems thinking. i design through research, translating insight into structures that reduce friction, increase trust, and preserve dignity.
i’m especially drawn to work shaped by health, sustainability, and public trust - places where clarity is not just helpful, but ethical.
i’m motivated by purpose-driven teams and by work that extends beyond the interface into real life.
education
northwestern university, MS in information design & strategy (UX/UI Pathway)
• 4.0 GPA | visual communications chair, student leadership council
• coursework: user-centered design, research, experience design, interface design, visual communication, data science
georgia state university, BS in Neuroscience (pre-med, tech emphasis)
• 3.85 GPA | research assistant, CEBUS/LRC neuroscience institute
• presented behavioral and neural imaging research at academic conferences
from studying the brain to designing experiences, my work has always been about understanding why people think, act, and feel the way they do - and using that knowledge to make technology more human.
approach & strengths
i bring analytical precision and creative empathy to complex systems. i’m most energized at the layer where research becomes structure, and structure becomes lived experience.
experience & systems design:
service design · information architecture · behavioral design · visual systems · experience strategy · accessibility (WCAG)
research & insight:
qualitative & quantitative research · usability testing · journey mapping · synthesis · A/B testing · behavioral analysis
design craft:
interaction design · prototyping · component systems · layout & typography · design systems
tools:
figma · framer · airtable · notion · canva · miro · mural · loveable · marvel · jira · zendesk · slack · microsoft suite · google suite · SaaS tools




let's connect.
I’m always open to thoughtful conversations, creative collaborations, or simply talking about design that matters.
If you’d like to chat about a project, mentorship, or just the best walking spots in Chicago - reach out!
📩 Email: summer.o.chaves@gmail.com
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/summer-chaves

