Soren HambyThey/Them

About Me

I'm bent on changing the world through diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. Design has the unique ability to affect systematic change, and technology can change lives. I'm an accessibility nerd and I can only see with one eye, so I have a lot of first hand experiences with assistive tools. I had temporary vision loss in one eye and permanent vision loss in the other. I'm one of the few designers that has one foot on each side of the threshold and can test with context. I consider this my superpower when it comes to accessibility. I not only am/have been the target user for assistive tools for vision, but I have gained so much understanding of what it means to have a disability that affects your autonomy. I am driven by inclusive design. I help businesses leverage their most valued resources - people and passion - to create innovation and social change. My top 5 hits: - Inclusive design - integrated through lived, academic, and professional experience - Accessibility expert - #a11y - Design community manager and strategist - connecting communities with UX, data, and UXR for four years - Design advocate - Team leadership from conceptualization to production - Human rights advocate and DEI professional - human rights are not political, Black Lives Matter, and inclusive design and technology shifts culture and society Inclusive design and accessibility are integral parts of transforming society. I thrive in my passion and drive for designing creative solutions and industry-changing thought leadership. With my lived experience as a lens, i focus on combining business ideas with respect for people and their experiences. I work with radical transparency. Service design is optimized and friendly, while data pairs with my advocacy for innovative, holistic standards. As a subject matter expert, I regularly connect my formal academic studies with social efforts. I also am a tech community public speaker and contributor to multiple articles, podcasts, and more. Ultimately, my specialization is transforming skeptics into champions for designing in community context, inclusion, and accessibility, from entry-level to C-suite. I utilize various tools and structures to facilitate this: - Mindfulness - Emotional Intelligence - Creative Exercise - Self-directed Learning - Redbull - Design-tool agnostic - Psychological safety for teams and users - The Power of a Positive ‘No’ - Data with emphasis on respect for users If you were drawn to my process or projects, consulting, public speaking, leadership, or specialized technical skills, please feel free to reach out. If you are an underrepresented person in tech or design, feel free to reach out for a chat or mentorship. Outside of professional connections and experiences, my personal life revolves around: - Networking with innovative products, tech groups, and incredible people - Speaking at public forums and podcasts regarding the advancement of the tech industry - Disability Advocacy & Rights - Queer Visibility Projects - Social Equity & Advancement - Digital & Physical Art - Outer Space - Enamel Pins If you would like to discuss current topics, please don’t hesitate to chat on Twitter @sorenfyi. Let’s build for everyone!

My Skills

• Accessibility
• Design Thinking
• Interaction Design
• Service Design
• User Experience

My Career

• Senior Manager of UX and Digital DesignBenjamin Moore & Co.July 2021
  Current
• User Experience ConsultantJack (Jack StrategyApril 2021
  Current
• Maintainer | VolunteerThe A11Y ProjectAugust 2020
  Current
• Design FellowOn DeckMarch 2021 - May 2021
• Lead Product Designer | GrowthMission LaneJanuary 2021 - April 2021

My Education

• Cornell UniversityCertificate, ILR Leadership, Diversity and InclusionGraduated 2020
• Maryland Institute College of ArtMaster of Professional Studies, User Experience DesignGraduated 2020
• Deque UniversityAccessibility Program Management, AccessibilityGraduated 2019
• The University of Alabama in HuntsvilleB.F.A., Graphic Design
• Cornell UniversityCertificate, HR, Diversity and InclusionGraduated 2022
• Nielsen Norman GroupUX Certificate, UX ManagementGraduated 2021

My Details