About
My experience spans the travel and financial industries, design systems, B2B, consumer-facing, and complex software—all grounded in user-centered design principles. I value adaptability in tools and collaboration methods across diverse teams, and I also mentor and teach the Google UX Certification program.
12+
Years of design industry experience
4+
Years of teaching and mentoring
7+
Years in travel tech
5+
Years in creative agencies and start-ups
Laura Watral Graham
Bringing a human-centered, system-driven approach to solving complex design challenges.
My Process
01
Research
Collaborate with researchers to use qualitative and quantitative research methods to:
Identify key user demographics
Understand user pain points
Clearly define the problem that users are facing
Outline how the app can meet those needs
02
Ideate and design
Create a UX design strategy and various prototypes to be tested and deployed, including:
Document UX strategy and flows
Ideate design options
Design wireframes of key screens of the app for review and approval
Develop functional end-to-end prototypes of app for client feedback and user testing
Create a UX design strategy and various prototypes to be tested and deployed,
including:
● Document UX strategy and user flows
● Ideate design options
● Design wireframes of key screens of the app for review and approval
● Develop functional end-to-end prototypes of app for client feedback and user testing
Create a UX design strategy and various prototypes to be tested and deployed,
including:
● Document UX strategy and user flows
● Ideate design options
● Design wireframes of key screens of the app for review and approval
● Develop functional end-to-end prototypes of app for client
feedback and user testing
Create a UX design strategy and various prototypes to be tested and deployed,
including:
● Document UX strategy and user flows
● Ideate design options
● Design wireframes of key screens of the app for review and approval
● Develop functional end-to-end prototypes of app for client
feedback and user testing
03
Test and iterate
Conduct research with potential users to gather feedback about app prototypes and iterate on designs based on research insights.
Conduct research with potential users to gather feedback about prototypes of the app and iterate
on designs based on research insights.
Revise and iterate functional end-to-end prototypes of the app based on insights.
Collaborate with stakeholders to finalize technical requirements based on insights
Collaborate with developers to finalize technical implementation
Work Experience
2024-Current
Nothern Trust | Lead UX Designer | Design Systems
Co-led design system initiatives for enterprise financial platforms—including design token strategies, Figma components, and AG Grid design—driving consistency, scalability, and accessibility across regulated digital ecosystems.
2024-Current
Nothern Trust | Lead UX Designer | Design Systems
Co-led design system initiatives for enterprise financial platforms—including design token strategies, Figma components, and AG Grid design—driving consistency, scalability, and accessibility across regulated digital ecosystems.
2024-Current
Nothern Trust | Lead UX Designer | Design Systems
Co-led design system initiatives for enterprise financial platforms—including design token strategies, Figma components, and AG Grid design—driving consistency, scalability, and accessibility across regulated digital ecosystems.
2024-Current
Nothern Trust | Lead UX Designer | Design Systems
UX design services for businesses and non-profits. Conducting UX audits that improved user satisfaction and engagement. Developing UX strategies that increase user retention and conversion rates. Implementing AI-driven design thinking processes and design systems that reduced project timelines and improved outcomes. Mentoring a team of junior designers, providing them with real-world experience.
2024
Sr. UX Product Design Consultant
UX design services for businesses and non-profits. Conducting UX audits that improved user satisfaction and engagement. Developing UX strategies that increase user retention and conversion rates. Implementing AI-driven design thinking processes and design systems that reduced project timelines and improve outcomes. Mentoring a team of junior designers, providing them with real-world experience.
2024
Sr. UX Product Design Consultant
UX design services for businesses and non-profits. Conducting UX audits that improved user satisfaction and engagement. Developing UX strategies that increase user retention and conversion rates. Implementing AI-driven design thinking processes and design systems that reduced project timelines and improve outcomes. Mentoring a team of junior designers, providing them with real-world experience.
2024
Sr. UX Product Design Consultant
UX design services for businesses and non-profits. Conducting UX audits that improved user satisfaction and engagement. Developing UX strategies that increase user retention and conversion rates. Implementing AI-driven design thinking processes and design systems that reduced project timelines and improve outcomes. Mentoring a team of junior designers, providing them with real-world experience.
2024
Sr. UX Product Design Consultant
UX design services for businesses and non-profits. Conducting UX audits that improved user satisfaction and engagement. Developing UX strategies that increase user retention and conversion rates. Implementing AI-driven design thinking processes and design systems that reduced project timelines and improved outcomes. Mentoring a team of junior designers, providing them with real-world experience.
2018 — 2024
CWT | Sr. UX Designer
As a Senior UX Designer at a leading global corporate travel management company, I was responsible for the user experience, from product ideas to UI layout for web and mobile platforms of consumer-facing booking products and internal applications. My responsibilities ranged from generating product ideas to refining UI layouts. Collaborating with cross-functional teams, I proactively identified UX/UI gaps and proposed effective solutions. Additionally, I mentored junior designers and interns and took the lead in developing a tokenized design system. My contributions extended to enhancing design operations processes for greater efficiency.
2018 — 2024
CWT | Sr. UX Designer
As a Senior UX Designer at a leading global corporate travel management company, I was responsible for the user experience, from product ideas to UI layout for web and mobile platforms of consumer-facing booking products and internal applications. My responsibilities ranged from generating product ideas to refining UI layouts. Collaborating with cross-functional teams, I proactively identified UX/UI gaps and proposed effective solutions. Additionally, I mentored junior designers and interns and took the lead in developing a tokenized design system. My contributions extended to enhancing design operations processes for greater efficiency.
2018 — 2024
CWT | Sr. UX Designer
As a Senior UX Designer at a leading global corporate travel management company, I was responsible for the user experience, from product ideas to UI layout for web and mobile platforms of consumer-facing booking products and internal applications. My responsibilities ranged from generating product ideas to refining UI layouts. Collaborating with cross-functional teams, I proactively identified UX/UI gaps and proposed effective solutions. Additionally, I mentored junior designers and interns and took the lead in developing a tokenized design system. My contributions extended to enhancing design operations processes for greater efficiency.
2018 — 2024
CWT | Sr. UX Designer
As a Senior UX Designer at a leading global corporate travel management company, I was responsible for the user experience, from product ideas to UI layout for web and mobile platforms of consumer-facing booking products and internal applications. My responsibilities ranged from generating product ideas to refining UI layouts. Collaborating with cross-functional teams, I proactively identified UX/UI gaps and proposed effective solutions. Additionally, I mentored junior designers and interns and took the lead in developing a tokenized design system. My contributions extended to enhancing design operations processes for greater efficiency.
2021-Present
Volunteer - Yweb Academy Mentor in UX Design and Instructor for Google UX Certificate
I am a Google UX certification teacher and UX mentor. I lead instruction and course project planning for students enrolled in the Google UX certification. I am also a UX mentor for Yweb's freelance work, where students get paid to work on community non-profit website projects. I helped plan the overall project, collaborated with computer science professors, and created job descriptions based on the Google UX framework. I am a member of the women-in-tech council, which meets a few times a year with other industry professionals.
2021-Present
Volunteer - Yweb Academy Mentor in UX Design and Instructor for Google UX Certificate
I am a Google UX certification teacher and UX mentor. I lead instruction and course project planning for students enrolled in the Google UX certification. I am also a UX mentor for Yweb's freelance work, where students get paid to work on community non-profit website projects. I helped plan the overall project, collaborated with computer science professors, and created job descriptions based on the Google UX framework. I am a member of the women-in-tech council, which meets a few times a year with other industry professionals.
2021-Present
Volunteer - Yweb Academy Mentor in UX Design and Instructor for Google UX Certificate
I am a Google UX certification teacher and UX mentor. I lead instruction and course project planning for students enrolled in the Google UX certification. I am also a UX mentor for Yweb's freelance work, where students get paid to work on community non-profit website projects. I helped plan the overall project, collaborated with computer science professors, and created job descriptions based on the Google UX framework. I am a member of the women-in-tech council, which meets a few times a year with other industry professionals.
2021-Present
Volunteer - Yweb Academy Mentor in UX Design and Instructor for Google UX Certificate
I am a Google UX certification teacher and UX mentor. I lead instruction and course project planning for students enrolled in the Google UX certification. I am also a UX mentor for Yweb's freelance work, where students get paid to work on community non-profit website projects. I helped plan the overall project, collaborated with computer science professors, and created job descriptions based on the Google UX framework. I am a member of the women-in-tech council, which meets a few times a year with other industry professionals.
2018
UI Designer - Freelance
Created high-fidelity designs and interactive prototypes using Sketch and Invision. Helped maintain UI design guidelines and standards during the development of a web application. Contributed to daily stand-ups with the development team in an Agile workflow.
2018
UI Designer - Freelance
Created high-fidelity designs and interactive prototypes using Sketch and Invision. Helped maintain UI design guidelines and standards during the development of a web application. Contributed to daily stand-ups with the development team in an Agile workflow.
2018
UI Designer - Freelance
Created high-fidelity designs and interactive prototypes using Sketch and Invision. Helped maintain UI design guidelines and standards during the development of a web application. Contributed to daily stand-ups with the development team in an Agile workflow.
2018
UI Designer - Freelance
Created high-fidelity designs and interactive prototypes using Sketch and Invision. Helped maintain UI design guidelines and standards during the development of a web application. Contributed to daily stand-ups with the development team in an Agile workflow.
2017 — 2018
Digital + UX Design - Freelance
Created digital design deliverables for various clients. This included website design, HTML 5 banner ads, HTML email design/development as well as various graphic design, branding and print projects. Worked with start-up companies on various UI/UX and visual designs.
2017 — 2018
Digital + UX Design - Freelance
Created digital design deliverables for various clients. This included website design, HTML 5 banner ads, HTML email design/development as well as various graphic design, branding and print projects. Worked with start-up companies on various UI/UX and visual designs.
2017 — 2018
Digital + UX Design - Freelance
Created digital design deliverables for various clients. This included website design, HTML 5 banner ads, HTML email design/development as well as various graphic design, branding and print projects. Worked with start-up companies on various UI/UX and visual designs.
2017 — 2018
Digital + UX Design - Freelance
Created digital design deliverables for various clients. This included website design, HTML 5 banner ads, HTML email design/development as well as various graphic design, branding and print projects. Worked with start-up companies on various UI/UX and visual designs.
2012 — 2015
UX Design - Freelance
Worked as part of the UX team in an Agile environment. Worked closely with an architect to visually design UX concepts for multiple projects including web and mobile applications. Created infographics and style guides. Assisted the marketing design team in creating design assets.
2012 — 2015
UX Design - Freelance
Worked as part of the UX team in an Agile environment. Worked closely with an architect to visually design UX concepts for multiple projects including web and mobile applications. Created infographics and style guides. Assisted the marketing design team in creating design assets.
2012 — 2015
UX Design - Freelance
Worked as part of the UX team in an Agile environment. Worked closely with an architect to visually design UX concepts for multiple projects including web and mobile applications. Created infographics and style guides. Assisted the marketing design team in creating design assets.
2012 — 2015
UX Design - Freelance
Worked as part of the UX team in an Agile environment. Worked closely with an architect to visually design UX concepts for multiple projects including web and mobile applications. Created infographics and style guides. Assisted the marketing design team in creating design assets.
2010 — 2013
Interactive Design/Flash
Worked as part of the UX team in an Agile environment. Worked closely with an architect to visually design UX concepts for multiple projects including web and mobile applications. Created infographics and style guides. Assisted the marketing design team in creating design assets.
2010 — 2013
Interactive Design/Flash
Worked as part of the UX team in an Agile environment. Worked closely with an architect to visually design UX concepts for multiple projects including web and mobile applications. Created infographics and style guides. Assisted the marketing design team in creating design assets.
2010 — 2013
Interactive Design/Flash
Worked as part of the UX team in an Agile environment. Worked closely with an architect to visually design UX concepts for multiple projects including web and mobile applications. Created infographics and style guides. Assisted the marketing design team in creating design assets.
2010 — 2013
Interactive Design/Flash
Worked as part of the UX team in an Agile environment. Worked closely with an architect to visually design UX concepts for multiple projects including web and mobile applications. Created infographics and style guides. Assisted the marketing design team in creating design assets.
2010 — 2013
Sr. Multimedia Developer/ Designer
Worked in a fast-paced, traditional advertising setting as part of an interactive group. Responsible for producing a high-volume of graphics and rich-media animations. Helped with new business presentations and graphics.
2010 — 2013
Sr. Multimedia Developer/ Designer
Worked in a fast-paced, traditional advertising setting as part of an interactive group. Responsible for producing a high-volume of graphics and rich-media animations. Helped with new business presentations and graphics.
2010 — 2013
Sr. Multimedia Developer/ Designer
Worked in a fast-paced, traditional advertising setting as part of an interactive group. Responsible for producing a high-volume of graphics and rich-media animations. Helped with new business presentations and graphics.
2010 — 2013
Sr. Multimedia Developer/ Designer
Worked in a fast-paced, traditional advertising setting as part of an interactive group. Responsible for producing a high-volume of graphics and rich-media animations. Helped with new business presentations and graphics.
2004-2007
Adjunct Professor | Digital Media
Taught Flash Web Animation/Development and Digital Design.
2004-2007
Adjunct Professor | Digital Media
Taught Flash Web Animation/Development and Digital Design.
2004-2007
Adjunct Professor | Digital Media
Taught Flash Web Animation/Development and Digital Design.
2004-2007
Adjunct Professor | Digital Media
Taught Flash Web Animation/Development and Digital Design.