A little more about me
Hi there! I’m Oriana, a recent graduate from James Madison University with a Bachelor of Arts in Media Arts and Design, focusing on Journalism and a minor in Writing, Rhetoric, and Technical Communications. My creative journey began with intensive dance training, which later evolved into a passion for digital storytelling. Over time, I realized that storytelling—whether through movement or journalism—has always been at the core of how I connect with others.
During my studies, I found a passion for UX design at the intersection of storytelling and technology. Pursuing additional UX coursework, I discovered how my journalism skills—interviewing, synthesizing insights, and engaging audiences—translate seamlessly into creating meaningful user experiences. Both fields involve gathering insights, shaping narratives, and crafting solutions. My multidisciplinary background equips me to design impactful, story-driven solutions that resonate with users and drive meaningful outcomes
Moving forward, I plan to use these skills to strengthen my UX/UI design skills as I continue my search for an entry-level job in product design.
Oriana Lukas
UI/UX DESIGNER
Details
Roanoke, United States
540-598-2711
Links
Skills
Communication
Design Thinking
Interaction Design
Prototyping
Storytelling
User Research
Visual Design
Wireframing
HTML/CSS
Adobe Suite
Tools
Adobe Suite
Canva
Content Management Systems
Figma
Figjam
Sublime
Mural
OptimalSorts
Resume
Employment History
UX Design Intern at Ellucian, Reston
May 2024 — August 2024
Served as the UX designer on a product team to develop a software solution that addressed curriculum gaps in higher education by identifying missing workforce skills in academic programs.
Contributed to 12 weekly design and agile sprints, supporting the development of a live-code software solution.
Presented the final Figma demos to 3 C-suite executives, leading to their decision to implement the solution into additional software under development.
Projects
SpeakEZ: End-to-end mobile application
November 2024-December 2024
Applied a human-centered research approach to enhance communication among K-12 teachers, fostering a more effective learning journey for students.
Discovered that teachers faced significant challenges in communicating with non-English speaking parents.
Within a 100 hour scope, designed a user-friendly mobile solution with translation features, enabling teachers and non-English speaking parents to communicate with confidence.
Loudoun County Fair Responsive Web Design
November 2024-November 2024
Partnered with a client to revamp the information architecture and enhance the visual design of the Loudoun County Fair website.
Conducted five contextual inquiries and performed a card sort to observe how users navigate the site and understand how they believe the site's information should be organized.
Leveraged research insights and the client's input on business goals to redesign key elements for the MVP.
Presented the final design to the client and initiated plans for continued collaboration.
Goodreads: Add a Feature
October 2024-November 2024
Analyzed the popular Goodreads app and conducted five user interviews to identify gaps and uncover opportunities for feature enhancement.
Identified a lack of direct community interaction among users and designed a feature called Book Circles, enabling users to form small groups, share updates throughout their reading journey, and engage in more in-depth discussions.
Utilized Figma to integrate the Book Circles feature into the app's design within a 65-hour scope and with the constraint of maintaining Goodreads' existing branding.
Education
Bachelor of Arts , James Madison University , Harrisonburg
August 2020 — May 2024
Graduated Cum Laude
Certification, Design Lab UX Academy
August 2024 — December 2024
Completed 480 hours of design learning which will contribute to a total of 4 successful design projects.
Testimonials
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Jamie Blanks
“I am delighted to recommend Oriana! She has an astounding ability to translate complex ideas into clear, actionable insights, ensuring that every team member, from developers to stakeholders, is aligned and informed. Her ability to listen actively and incorporate diverse outcomes allows her to excel at her UX solutions.
Oriana’s collaborative spirit fosters a productive and positive work environment. She seamlessly integrates feedback, adapts to new challenges, and consistently delivers user-centered design solutions that elevate products. I’m confident that Oriana will contribute actionable ideas to any team she joins!” -
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Paul Pearson
“I had the pleasure of working with Oriana Lukas at Running Name LLC from September 4, 2023, to May 15, 2024. As a graphic designer, Oriana consistently impressed us with her talent, dedication, and professionalism.
Oriana made an immediate impact by assisting with a client’s conference, where her creative designs and attention to detail played a crucial role in the event's success. She was responsible for creating promotional materials, designing presentations and websites, and ensuring brand cohesion. Her contributions significantly enhanced the conference experience for our attendees.” -
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Lacey Gerard
“I worked with Oriana as her supervisor for her summer at Ellucian as a UX Designer intern. Oriana is a fast designer, ready to jump in, and collaborates seamlessly across disciplines. She collaborated with developers, writers, scrum masters, and UX researchers, and never ever once complained about trying something new. She was brave and voiced her questions or ideas in groups of people much more experienced than her, often resulting in positive design decisions. Being willing to "get uncomfortable" is a skill that so many people lack- but she is willing to try new things in order to accelerate the progress a team.
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Evan Weaver
“As a columnist for the opinion section of The Breeze, Oriana wrote thoughtful, well-researched articles exploring a wide range of topics. Oriana was among the most experienced writers in the opinion section with nearly thirty published articles and served as a roll model for new writers. She consistently met deadlines and was receptive and responsive throughout the editing process. During her time at The Breeze, Oriana also collaborated with the graphics department to produce visuals for articles. Ultimately, Oriana was a reliable and skilled writer whose contributions formed the backbone of the opinion section.”
