ABOUT
I am Sarah Andrew, a product minded researcher and AI UX designer based in Boston, MA.
I recently completed my PhD in Computing and Information Sciences at Rochester Institute of Technology, advised by Dr. Garreth Tigwell. My dissertation, "Alternative Color Mode Design: Supporting Mobile App Creators with Evidence Based Guidelines," investigated how people interact with dark mode, dim mode, and high contrast mode on mobile devices, and produced evidence based guidelines that help designers build more accessible interfaces.
Over the course of my PhD, I authored 9 peer reviewed publications (179+ citations) at top tier ACM venues: CHI, MobileHCI, IMWUT, ASSETS, CSCW, and W4A. My research spans three interconnected areas:
Mobile Accessibility — I interviewed 29 people across 6 countries, audited 120+ mobile apps, surveyed 70 mobile app creators, and ran controlled studies with up to 24 participants to develop and validate design guidelines for alternative color modes. My guidelines produced a 2.6x improvement in dim mode design quality.
DHH Communication — I collaborated on research investigating notification systems that help hearing speakers adjust their behavior during captioned conversations with Deaf and Hard of Hearing participants, using Wizard of Oz prototyping in videoconferencing settings.
Accessible Authentication — I reviewed the landscape of authentication techniques for people with disabilities, identifying gaps and opportunities across vision, hearing, cognitive, and motor impairments.
My MobileHCI 2025 paper received an Honorable Mention Award. I trained and mentored 5+ research assistants and peer reviewed for multiple ACM venues including CHI, MobileHCI, and ASSETS.
I freelance as a UI/UX designer at ChatLabs, where I design AI powered campaign platforms partnering with global luxury brands including Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton, and L'Oréal. I collaborate directly with co-founders, developers, and cross functional teams distributed across China, London, and the USA to scope features, write user stories, and ship responsive experiences.
I am seeking product management and AI UX design roles where I can combine research rigor with hands on design experience to build products that are useful, usable, and accessible. I bring the ability to define requirements from evidence, prioritize features quantitatively, and ship across cross functional teams.
Seeking Product Manager and AI UX Design roles — Open to Relocate
Building accessible, evidence-based products at the intersection of user research and AI-powered design.