Kanika Somaiya

I’m not just a designer or researcher. I’m a meaning maker, someone who translates what people feel into what systems do.

I’m a Service Designer and UX Researcher with a background in architecture, skilled in human-centered design, systems thinking, and mixed-methods research. I’ve contributed to 10+ projects across finance, e-commerce, social media, and civic tech, collaborating with cross-functional teams to translate user insights into strategies that shape products and services.

Resume

Selected Work

Professional Work

Streamlining quotation workflows in interior solutions projects.

UX Research | Evaluative Research | B2C

Understanding the enterprise software buying journey in India.

UX Research | Generative Research | B2B

Academic Work

Systems Thinking | Service Design | UX Research | Usability Testing

Creating profitable opportunities for a cafe’s growth, through its customers.

Redesigning the unemployment benefits experience through a human-centered lens.

Service Design | UX Research

All my work

A few skills where I really stand out

Service Design
UX Research
Design Strategy
Systems Thinking
Value Measurement using metrics

Know more about me

My Approach

My approach is centered around putting users first, backed by practical experience in human-centered design research. I aim to really understand how people think and feel, and then use that understanding to make things that work well and make sense for them. So, instead of just making something and hoping people like it, I listen to them, learn from them, then create something that fits them perfectly.
Instead of just focusing on one part of a problem or situation, I consider how everything is connected and works together. It's about understanding the relationships between different parts and seeing how changes in one area can affect the whole system.
The Ship of Theseus can be seen as an analogy for Systems Thinking. They both share a common thread in their consideration of the interconnectedness and transformation of elements within a larger system.
I like focusing on small details to make things easy to use. I use a feedback loop to look at every part of the service. Then, I make it better based on what users tell me. I also document all the important information to help keep things consistent and make updates easier in the future.