Hi There
I’m Zarina Majidova, a UX/UI & Product Designer.
I’ve designed for fintech, healthtech, SaaS, AI tools, and internal systems reaching over 20 million users worldwide. My work spans short-term sprints and long-term partnerships with teams across the US, UK, Europe, MENA, and Southeast Asia. I care about accessibility, clarity, and designing with real people in mind.
Outside of design, I’m also a writer. I explore sci-fi, social commentary, and human behavior through short fiction and essays.
Connect on LinkedIn
Download Resume
My
Design
Philosophy
To me, design is about how something looks and how it feels. And that feeling can be designed too.
I enjoy blending aesthetics with problem solving to create things people need. Design also lives beyond “pretty”. In many cases, the best work fades into the background.
People value clarity, ease, and trust. Visual flair matters less than getting things done. If a task feels effortless and works without friction, that is success
Education
University of California, Davis
Master of Fine Arts (MFA), Interaction Design
Academy of Public Administration, Azerbaijan
Bachelor of Arts (BA), International Relations
My Design Process
My process shifts with the project. Some start with clear specs, others with a rough idea. I use design thinking as a base and adapt as needed.
I begin with the user. I talk to them when possible, then define the problem, explore ideas, sketch, prototype, and test early to get feedback.
Collaboration runs through the whole process. I involve engineers, product managers, and others early to save time and build stronger products.
Licenses & Certifications
I’m continuously learning and expanding my skill set across design, research, and ethics. These certifications reflect my commitment to responsible research practices, collaborative design thinking, and human-centered UX.
Social and Behavioral Research
CITI Program, Expires March 2027
The CITI Social and Behavioral Research Certificate provides training on ethical standards and best practices for conducting research involving human participants.
See Credential
Design Thinking Co-Creator
IBM, August 2022
The IBM Enterprise Design Thinking Co-Creator certificate validates foundational skills in collaborative, user-centered design using IBM’s design thinking framework.
See Credential
Google UX Design Professional
Google, October 2021
The Google UX Design Professional Certificate demonstrates foundational knowledge in user experience design, covering research, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing.
See Credential
Teaching & Speaking
Sharing design with clarity and care
I created a short Coursera course introducing Material 3 principles through a hands-on UI project. Over 700 learners have enrolled.
At UC Davis, I’ve been a graduate teaching assistant and guest speaker for multiple design, fashion, and HCI courses offering critique, mentorship, and support to undergrad designers. In 2025, I was nominated for the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award (OGTA).
Learn with Me on Coursera
Presented on design portfolios to an audience of 300+ at UC Davis, 2024.
Words Over Pixels
My Design Voice, in Print
I contribute regularly to UX Planet, the largest design publications on Medium with over 350K readers. My articles cover practical workflows, reflections from real-world projects, and lessons I’ve learned as a product designer. Writing helps me reflect, connect with other designers, and contribute to the evolving conversation around UX.
See My Design Blog
Let’s Chat. Collaborate. Create.
Open to design conversations, collaborations, and ideas.
Say Hi
Hi There
I’m Zarina Majidova, a UX/UI & Product Designer.
I’ve designed for fintech, healthtech, SaaS, AI tools, and internal systems reaching over 20 million users worldwide.
Outside of design, I’m also a writer. I explore sci-fi, social commentary, and human behavior through short fiction and essays.
Connect on LinkedIn
Download Resume
My
Design
Philosophy
To me, design is about how something looks and how it feels. And that feeling can be designed too.
I enjoy blending aesthetics with problem solving to create things people need. Design also lives beyond “pretty”. In many cases, the best work fades into the background.
People value clarity, ease, and trust. Visual flair matters less than getting things done. If a task feels effortless and works without friction, that is success
Education
University of California, Davis
Master of Fine Arts (MFA), Interaction Design
Academy of Public Administration, Azerbaijan
Bachelor of Arts (BA), International Relations
My Design Process
My process shifts with the project. Some start with clear specs, others with a rough idea. I use design thinking as a base and adapt as needed.
I begin with the user. I talk to them when possible, then define the problem, explore ideas, sketch, prototype, and test early to get feedback.
Collaboration runs through the whole process. I involve engineers, product managers, and others early to save time and build stronger products.
Licenses & Certifications
I’m continuously learning and expanding my skill set across design, research, and ethics. These certifications reflect my commitment to responsible research practices, collaborative design thinking, and human-centered UX.
Social and Behavioral Research
CITI Program, Expires March 2027
The CITI Social and Behavioral Research Certificate provides training on ethical standards and best practices for conducting research involving human participants.
See Credential
Design Thinking Co-Creator
IBM, August 2022
The IBM Enterprise Design Thinking Co-Creator certificate validates foundational skills in collaborative, user-centered design using IBM’s design thinking framework.
See Credential
Google UX Design Professional
Google, October 2021
The Google UX Design Professional Certificate demonstrates foundational knowledge in user experience design, covering research, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing.
See Credential
Teaching & Speaking
Sharing design with clarity and care
I created a short Coursera course introducing Material 3 principles through a hands-on UI project. Over 700 learners have enrolled.
At UC Davis, I’ve been a graduate teaching assistant and guest speaker for multiple design, fashion, and HCI courses offering critique, mentorship, and support to undergrad designers. In 2025, I was nominated for the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award (OGTA).
Learn with Me on Coursera
Presented on design portfolios to an audience of 300+ at UC Davis, 2024.
Words Over Pixels
My Design Voice, in Print
I contribute regularly to UX Planet, the largest design publications on Medium with over 350K readers. My articles cover practical workflows, reflections from real-world projects, and lessons I’ve learned as a product designer. Writing helps me reflect, connect with other designers, and contribute to the evolving conversation around UX.
See My Design Blog
Let’s Chat. Collaborate. Create.
Open to design conversations, collaborations, and ideas.
Say Hi
Hi There
I’m Zarina Majidova, a UX/UI & Product Designer.
I’ve designed for fintech, healthtech, SaaS, AI tools, and internal systems reaching over 20 million users worldwide.
Outside of design, I’m also a writer. I explore sci-fi, social commentary, and human behavior through short fiction and essays.
Connect on LinkedIn
Download Resume
My
Design
Philosophy
To me, design is about how something looks and how it feels. And that feeling can be designed too.
I enjoy blending aesthetics with problem solving to create things people need. Design also lives beyond “pretty”. In many cases, the best work fades into the background.
People value clarity, ease, and trust. Visual flair matters less than getting things done. If a task feels effortless and works without friction, that is success
Education
University of California, Davis
Master of Fine Arts (MFA), Interaction Design
Academy of Public Administration, Azerbaijan
Bachelor of Arts (BA), International Relations
My Design Process
My process shifts with the project. Some start with clear specs, others with a rough idea. I use design thinking as a base and adapt as needed.
I begin with the user. I talk to them when possible, then define the problem, explore ideas, sketch, prototype, and test early to get feedback.
Collaboration runs through the whole process. I involve engineers, product managers, and others early to save time and build stronger products.
Licenses & Certifications
I’m continuously learning and expanding my skill set across design, research, and ethics. These certifications reflect my commitment to responsible research practices, collaborative design thinking, and human-centered UX.
Social and Behavioral Research
CITI Program, Expires March 2027
The CITI Social and Behavioral Research Certificate provides training on ethical standards and best practices for conducting research involving human participants.
See Credential
Design Thinking Co-Creator
IBM, August 2022
The IBM Enterprise Design Thinking Co-Creator certificate validates foundational skills in collaborative, user-centered design using IBM’s design thinking framework.
See Credential
Google UX Design Professional
Google, October 2021
The Google UX Design Professional Certificate demonstrates foundational knowledge in user experience design, covering research, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing.
See Credential
Teaching & Speaking
Sharing design with clarity and care
I created a short Coursera course introducing Material 3 principles through a hands-on UI project. Over 700 learners have enrolled.
At UC Davis, I’ve been a graduate teaching assistant and guest speaker for multiple design, fashion, and HCI courses offering critique, mentorship, and support to undergrad designers. In 2025, I was nominated for the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award (OGTA).
Learn with Me on Coursera
Presented on design portfolios to an audience of 300+ at UC Davis, 2024.
Words Over Pixels
My Design Voice, in Print
I contribute regularly to UX Planet, the largest design publications on Medium with over 350K readers. My articles cover practical workflows, reflections from real-world projects, and lessons I’ve learned as a product designer. Writing helps me reflect, connect with other designers, and contribute to the evolving conversation around UX.
See My Design Blog
Let’s Chat. Collaborate. Create.
Open to design conversations, collaborations, and ideas.
Say Hi