ROSIE SYCKS

she/her/hers

Hello
I’m Emma “Rosie” Sycks, a San Francisco-based UX designer and researcher working at the intersection of emerging technologies, business, and design. I leverage my passion for storytelling with my technical knowledge of human-centered design and research to advocate for my users. At IBM, I split my time between UX research and interaction design for the Power Design Team.

Outside of work, I love picnicking with friends in San Francisco’s many parks, shopping second-hand, visiting the library, and hiking in Northern California. I would love to start a small business and write a book one day.



Background & Education
I bring with me a robust range of experiences—from user research for enterprise IT products to design for both physical and digital consumer-facing products. My work experiences span the Information Technology, E-commerce, film & media, non-profit and education, and consumer goods industries.

I am a graduate of The Georgia Institute of Technology where I earned a Bachelors of Science in Literature, Media, and Communication with a focus on Digital Media + Interaction Design as a Stamps Presidents Scholar. Through my interdisciplinary degree program, I studied everything from product design and critical theory to sustainable cities and international affairs.





Key traitsStoryteller
I love crafting and sharing stories to communicate ideas, deliver concepts, and engage teammates and partners.


Ideator
Ideation is one of my biggest strengths and favorite parts of the design process! I love thinking about the big picture, brainstorming, and strategizing.


Organized
From collaborating with global teams to supporting multiple products and initiatives at once, organization is a key pillar in how I work

Optimistic
I provide optimism & encouragement to my teammates so we can deliver delightful experiences together.


Strategic
I continually practice the skill of aligning teams around the larger business goals and visions, while also considering user requirements and needs.


Proactive
Rather than passively waiting to be told what to do, I demonstrate a bias for action by taking initiative to find new opportunities for improvements, make change, and close gaps.

Experience

Download resume pdf
IBM  San Francisco, CA  
UX Designer II (2024 - Present)

Product design for Power Virtual Server on the Power Design Team
Generative AI team lead for IBM’s AI Design Guild

UX Researcher & Designer I (2022 - 2024)
Employed human-centered design and research methods to inform the strategy and transform the user experience of Power servers’ core business platform.

UX Design Intern (2021)
User experience design and research for PowerVS on the Power Design Team (previously known at the Cognitive Systems team)




Bits of Good  Atlanta, GA
Design Bootcamp Instructor (2021 - 2022 acedemic year)


Led a 12-week design bootcamp covering the fundamentals of UX research and design for the non-profit, Bits of Good, a Georgia Tech VIP and Hack4Impact chapter.




Procter & Gamble  Cincinnati, OH (remote)
Innovation Design Intern (Jan - April 2021)

Upstream innovation and design for sustainability and responsible beauty at P&G’s Beauty Care Innovation Studio



Electrik Skin Productions  Atlanta, GA
Design Intern (Jan - April 2020)

Electrik Skin Productions / Design InternAtlanta, GA  Spring 2020
Branding and web design for corporate and film clients



Spanx  Atlanta, GA
UX Design Intern (May - Aug 2019)

Design and research for spanx.com






Awards

IBM Culture Catalyst Award  2023
Recognized for championing a client experience-led, outcome-driven approach to transforming IBM offerings.



IBM Client and Partner Succes Award  2023
Recognizes those who've gone above and beyond to achieve client success, drive an increase in client satisfaction, and build trust between clients and IBM.



Stamps Presidents Scholar  2017-2022
Awarded the Stamps Presidents Scholarship—Georgia Tech’s full-ride, merit-based scholarship.



Gold Scholarship  2015
SCAD Summer Seminars SCAD in Atlanta, GA




Education
Georgia Institute of Technology  Atlanta, GA
Bachelors of Science in Literature, Media, and Communication 
Concentrations in Digital Media and Interaction Design



Observatório Político  Lisboa, PT
Spring Research School Program
Research program in collaboration with the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs focusing on Iberian politics and history



Savannah College of Art and Design   Atlanta, GA
Summer seminars - Coursework in Animation and Digital Design



Writing & speaking

San Francisco Design Week x IBM
Speaker/presenter: Design Considerations for Generative AI



Advancing Minorities' Interest in Engineering
Design Challenge Coach
2024



IBM i Large User Group
Co-facilitator & design coach

2024





IBM Design Blog
The Best Worst Design: The Power of Absurd Ideas in the design process
2023



San Francisco Design Week
Event organizer & presenter: IBM Enterprise Design Thinking & the Power of Absurd Ideas

2023



Georgia Institute of Technology
Ivan Allen Alumni Stories: How Rosie Sycks (LMC) Became a Designer at IBM

2022



Georgia Tech Design Club
Event panelist/speaker
2022



Bits of Good
Event panelist/speaker

2021





Kind words“You have become a key contributor to our team culture by bringing new ideas and insights. Your courage to ask clarifying questions has helped our entire team grow. You are open to feedback and embrace every interaction with positivity. Your communication style is clear, and your demeanor is upbeat and contagious.”

Design Lead at IBM



“I could say endless positive things about working with you. You are such a pleasure to work with, you’re driven, creative, and an excellent communicator.”

UX Research Lead at IBM



“Thank you for all you’ve done to keep our Learning Transformation project moving forward this year. I’m not sure we would have made it to an actual MVP plan if it wasn’t for your thoughtful and diligent work and guidance.”

Program Manager at IBM



“Thank you again for all the help, time, and resources you’ve given me this past recruitment cycle. You’re really one of the best storytellers and I learned a whole lot from you about interviewing! You’ve been super generous in sharing your expertise and experience, and I can’t thank you enough. With your feedback, I was able to get through many rounds of interviews for different applications, and recently accepted one of the internship offers!”

Design Intern at Adobe



“You’ll be proud to know that your influence, advice, and partnership enabled me to upskill myself and gain confidence and ask for the leadership position.”

Design Director, Innovation & Sustainability at P&G





THANK YOU FOR VIEWING  

Let’s stay in touch! Reach out via email if you’d like to discuss working together.
© EMMA ROSE SYCKS 2024

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