Aaron Jacob Schwartz

I've described myself as an end-to-end UX practitioner. That means looking beyond the surface, challenging assumptions, and examining entire workflows to find solutions that go deeper than incremental improvements. It means understanding that great design happens at the intersection of systems thinking and craft, something I learned as much from working with metal and wood as from 15 years designing enterprise software.
 

Making Things

I'm drawn to work that involves making, whether that's designing complex systems for thousands of users or turning a piece of hardwood on a lathe. For years, I created assemblage jewelry from found objects and vintage materials: doll faces, text fragments, patinated metal transformed into wearable art. More recently, I've been turning wooden pipe tampers from exotic hardwoods, each one shaped by the grain and character of the material itself. You can see some of that work on my archived jewelry blog or my Etsy shop.

This hands-on practice informs how I approach digital design. Working with physical materials teaches you things that pixels can't: how constraints inspire solutions, why details matter, and how to recognize when something feels just right. The iterative process of making (trying something, seeing what works, refining it) is the same whether you're shaping wood or crafting an interface.
 

How I Work

I do my best thinking in conversation. A former colleague once described me as a "dialogic thinker," and that phrase has stuck with me because it's true. I thrive in close-knit, highly collaborative environments where ideas can be tested and refined through discussion. Whether it's figuring out direction with a thought partner or working through design challenges with a team, I make work more creative and, frankly, more fun.

I value qualitative research. Not necessarily capital-R User Research, but conversations and interviews that let me connect directly with the people I'm designing for. Understanding how people actually work, what frustrates them, what they need, is essential to solving the right problems.
 

Experience

I've spent 15 years designing enterprise software for companies like MassMutual, BNY Mellon, Forcepoint, and Honeywell. Most recently, I led UX design at MassMutual, where I designed a sales-reporting portal for over 8,000 financial professionals. I've built design systems, established design standards, and mentored teams of designers across multiple organizations.

I hold an MS in Human-Computer Interaction from Carnegie Mellon University. Before transitioning to design, I taught children with special needs, which gave me an early appreciation for meeting people where they are and explaining complex ideas in ways that actually make sense.
 

Beyond the Screen

Outside of work, I'm mechanically rather than digitally inclined. I tinker with motorcycles, coach kids' mountain biking, and generally prefer dirt to asphalt. I'm drawn to things that require patience, attention, and a willingness to figure out how they work, whether that's reviving an old bike or finding the shapes hidden in a piece of wood or old metal.