I am a cognitive psychologist with a strong background in behavioral studies. After years of studying how the brain interprets visual stimuli and human interaction with objects, I am excited to channel my expertise into the world of UX research. Below, you'll find a selection of my projects and how they demonstrate the real-world applicability of my research.
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Key Industry and Academic Research and Insights
How Secondary Task Shapes Driver Attention and Workload: A UX Study of In-Car Distractions
How Secondary Task Shapes Driver Attention and Workload: A UX Study of In-Car Distractions
Problem: How self-paced and system-paced non-driving related tasks (NDRTs) affect drivers’ workload and visual attention strategies, and inform safer UX design for in-vehicle infotainment systems.
My role: Supervisor of Master's thesis project in collaboration between Goethe University and BMW Research
Method
Within-subjects design with 5 simulated drives per participant (1 baseline + 4 secondary task conditions)
Conditions varied by:
Task pacing: Self-paced vs. System-paced
Task difficulty: Easy vs. Difficult
Secondary task: Visual-manual Surrogate Reference Task (SuRT)
Measurements:
NASA TLX used post-drive to measure perceived workload
Eye tracking captured gaze metrics across predefined Areas of Interest (AOIs)
Results
Workload:
System-paced tasks generated significantly higher perceived workload than self-paced tasks.
Difficult tasks also led to ga reater workload than easy ones.
Increased workload was associated with:
Shorter glance durations toward the road
More transitions between road and task AOIs
Reduced scanning of irrelevant AOIs (mirrors, rearview)
Self-paced tasks allowed longer glances, promoting better road monitoring.
Driving:
Higher workload and more frequent gaze switching were associated with lower lane-keeping performance (higher SDLP).
Applicability:
Pacing Matters: System-initiated tasks, especially under time pressure, significantly impair attention. Design for user pacing whenever possible.
Task Simplicity: Simplify visual-manual tasks or break them into smaller, digestible steps to reduce cognitive load.
Timing Is Critical: Avoid presenting secondary tasks during high-demand driving phases (e.g., curves or merging).
Driver-Aware UI: Gaze and workload metrics can inform adaptive UI that delays interactions when attention is compromised.
Improving Credit Card Communication: Grace Period Visualization Testing
Improving Credit Card Communication: Grace Period Visualization Testing
Goal: To evaluate three different visualizations that explain how to use the “Zero” credit card without paying interest. The goal was to determine which design was most effective in communicating the grace period terms and where users experienced confusion.
My role: UX Researcher (MTS Bank), from research design to report
Method
Comparative usability test:
Each participant reviewed two versions of the grace period visualization
They were asked to explain the card’s terms and select the clearest version
The order of exposure was randomized to reduce bias
Metrics:
First impressions
Explanation accuracy
Version preference
Reported confusion points
Results
Version 1
The timeline format was familiar and easy to follow. The heavy layout with labeled dates helped understanding
Users were confused by scattered information and small icons
Version 2
Clean design and icons were visually appealing
Some icons were distracting or unclear (e.g., arrow direction)
Low text contrast made information harder to read
Recommendations:
Use Version 1’s timeline format as a base layout
Clarify financial terms: e.g., "minimum payment", "commission"
Add real examples with labels: purchase date, repayment date
Improve contrast and font size for accessibility
Reduce visual clutter and confusing iconography
Insights:
Familiar formats increase confidence. Participants consistently preferred linear timelines for understanding payment flow
Visual hierarchy must support task goals. While aesthetic elements (icons, layout) influenced first impressions, they often distracted from critical content.
Users rely on example-driven learning. Every participant requested or benefited from real usage examples. This indicates that abstract rules (like daily commissions or grace periods) are better understood when grounded in concrete scenarios.
Terminology gaps can break understanding. Terms like “commission” or “minimum payment” were misinterpreted or confused with each other, revealing a need to align financial language with user vocabulary or provide in-context definitions.
Comparative UX Evaluation of Fashion E-commerce Platforms: Zara, Trendsbrands, Lamoda (2019, Russian segment)
Comparative UX Evaluation of Fashion E-commerce Platforms: Zara, Trendsbrands, Lamoda (2019, Russian segment)
Goal: Evaluate the user experience of three fashion e-commerce websites to determine which platform best supports a customer scenario
My role: UX Researcher (Test Assignment)
Method
Heuristic evaluation based on scenario-specific UX criteria
Task-based analysis: Assessed platforms by ease of navigation, filtering, product preview, and checkout
Comparative scoring: 0 (doesn’t meet), 1 (partially meets), 2 (fully meets) per criterion
Visual documentation of key features (e.g., fast checkout, preview)
Opportunities for Improvement:
Integrate outfit-based recommendations (e.g., like ASOS)
Allow size profiles across all platforms
Simplify registration for Zara or offer guest checkout
Results
Lamoda
+: Best navigation; quick view; fast purchase (7 fields, no registration)
-: Overloaded navigation; poor outfit recommendations
Zara
+: Fast cart preview; good size recommendation by height/weight
-: Requires registration (12 fields); no quick view or fast checkout
Trendsbrands
+: Fast purchase (9 fields); good filtering logic
-: Less intuitive structure; lacks persistent cart or size-saving options
Next Steps (If Conducted as Full UX Research Study):
Task-based usability test: Users complete buying tasks while timing and success rate are measured
Post-test interviews: Understand satisfaction and pain points
Quantitative scoring: Task completion time, error rate, cognitive load
Objects in Pieces: How your memory stores objects
Objects in Pieces: How your memory stores objects
Original article: Different features are stored independently in visual working memory but mediated by object-based representations
Problem: Do we store in memory individual features (like color and orientation) separately or as part of objects?
Method
Participants were asked to remember the color and orientation of objects. In different experiments, these features were either part of the same object or belonged to separate objects.
Results
The study found that color and orientation can be stored independently when part of the same object. However, storing features separately (in different objects) made memory less accurate.
Applicability: When designing interfaces, grouping related visual features (like color and shape) within the same element can enhance users' ability to retain and recall information, improving overall usability. Additionally, reducing the variability of one feature (e.g., color) does not impact memory for another feature (e.g., shape), allowing for flexibility in design without compromising user experience.
Depth illusion: How do we perceive multiple objects at various depths
Depth illusion: How do we perceive multiple objects at various depths
Original article: Size-distance rescaling in the ensemble representation of range: Study with binocular and monocular cues
Problem: How does our visual system estimate the size and distance of multiple objects?
Method
Participants viewed sets of circles with varying sizes and distances, and were asked to match the perceived range of sizes using different depth cues. The study manipulated the correlation between object size and distance to test how this affects size perception.
Results
The study found that participants overestimated size differences when larger objects appeared farther away and smaller objects appeared closer. In contrast, size differences were underestimated when the opposite correlation occurred (large objects close, small objects far).
Applicability: depth cues and object size should be carefully aligned. Importantly, this size-distance recomputation does not require attention and thus happens automatically. Presenting larger elements farther away can enhance perceived size differences, which can be useful for designing immersive interfaces or virtual environments where spatial perception is crucial.
Mixed in memory: How do we forget which object did what
Mixed in memory: How do we forget which object did what
Original article: Real-world objects are not stored in bound representations in visual working memory
Problem: How does visual working memory store real-world objects? Are their features (like an object’s state and identity) stored holistically or independently?
Method
Participants viewed objects in different states (e.g., two mugs, one full, one empty) and later had to recall which object was in which state. We also tested how well people remembered these features when objects' locations were swapped.
Results
The study found that participants often made "swap errors," confusing which object had which feature, especially when the objects were in different states. This suggests that real-world objects' features (like identity and state) are stored independently rather than as a single, unified memory.
Applicability: This research shows that features of real-world objects, like identity and state, are stored independently in working memory, leading to potential "swap errors" when these features are similar. Understanding this can improve design and usability across various fields by ensuring clearer differentiation between objects and their attributes, reducing confusion and enhancing user interaction and system efficiency.
Similar, Therefore Confused: How similar objects cause location confusion
Similar, Therefore Confused: How similar objects cause location confusion
Original article: Effects of item distinctiveness on the retrieval of objects and object-location bindings from visual working memory
Problem: How does the distinctiveness (how similar or different objects are) of real-world objects affect our ability to remember both the objects themselves and their locations in visual working memory?
Method
Participants were shown sets of real-world objects that were either highly distinctive (from different categories) or low in distinctiveness (from the same category). They were then asked to recall both the objects and their locations.
Results
The study found that while object distinctiveness did not affect the ability to recognize the objects themselves, low-distinctive objects caused more errors when remembering where they were located, leading to more "location errors" where participants mixed up the locations of objects.
Applicability: visually similar items on a screen or product interface should be distinct enough to avoid confusion. For instance, ensuring clear differences between similar items or buttons in both their visual features and locations can improve user memory and reduce errors in interaction. Additionally, this applies to fields like warehouse management or logistics, where clear visual and spatial differentiation of items can prevent mix-ups in object handling and placement.
Seeing with your ears: How sounds alter visual perception
Seeing with your ears: How sounds alter visual perception
Original article: What you hear is what you see: Sounds alter the contents of visual perception
Problem: The study investigated how natural sounds influence the way we perceive ambiguous visual objects. Specifically, it asked whether hearing a sound, like a seal barking, could change how we see a related ambiguous visual object (e.g., an ambiguous seal-hammer shape blend).
Method
Participants were shown images of ambiguous objects (blends of two different items) while listening to sounds either related or unrelated to one of the objects. They were then asked to identify what they saw.
Results
The study found that hearing a related sound shifted participants’ perception of the ambiguous objects, making them more likely to perceive the object as being similar to the sound they heard (e.g., perceiving a hammer-seal blend as more seal-like when hearing a seal bark).
Applicability: sounds can alter visual perception by enhancing how we interpret ambiguous images. In practical terms, it can influence fields like advertising, augmented reality, and virtual environments, where combining sound and visual cues can enhance user experience and guide interpretation. For instance, designers can use sound to direct how users perceive or focus on visual elements, especially when the visuals are unclear or abstract.
Peripheral Vision under Clutter: Using Group Stats to Improve Visual Clarity
Peripheral Vision under Clutter: Using Group Stats to Improve Visual Clarity
Original article: Unlocking crowding by ensemble statistics
Problem: The study explored crowding - a phenomenon where nearby objects make it difficult to recognize a target on the periphery. Specifically, how to get rid of it and see targets clearly again, using the statistical properties of the group which surrounds the target.
Method
Participants were asked to discriminate the offset of a target vernier (a pair of vertical lines with a slight offset) surrounded by multiple squares with varying orientations. The orientations of the surrounding squares were manipulated to create different statistical distributions.
Results
The study found that crowding is primarily determined by the mean orientation of the surrounding objects, not by their individual orientations. When the mean orientation of the surrounding squares matched the target's orientation, crowding was reduced. However, when the mean orientation was different from the target, crowding increased, making it harder to distinguish the target.
Applicability: This research highlights the importance of designing for peripheral vision. For example, in contexts like road signs and advertisements, crowding occurs when nearby elements are too similar. To improve visibility, ads should be clearly separated from road signs and use distinct designs. This ensures critical information in the periphery is easily recognized, preventing confusion in fast-paced environments like driving.
Can't Forget This: How Familiar Objects Beat Amnesia
Can't Forget This: How Familiar Objects Beat Amnesia
Original article: Meaningful objects avoid attribute amnesia due to incidental long-term memories
Problem: The study investigates how meaningful objects (like real-world items) resist attribute amnesia (the failure to remember specific features of recently seen objects).
Method
Participants were shown various objects and later asked to recall specific features, such as their state (e.g., whether an apple pie was whole or cut). We tested whether meaningful objects are truly immune to attribute amnesia by using surprise trials where participants had to identify details about the objects they had just seen.
Results
We found that meaningful objects can still be affected by attribute amnesia under certain conditions, especially when memory tests are more detailed (such as asking participants to distinguish between similar items in different states). However, long-term memory and familiarity help people retain more information about these objects.
Applicability: This research is useful for advertising, user interface design, and product packaging. It highlights that real-world, meaningful objects are more likely to be remembered, especially when users are unexpectedly required to recall specific details. In design contexts, this suggests that using familiar, meaningful visuals in interfaces or ads can help users retain important information, even if they are not consciously trying to memorize it.
Center of Attention: Why we rely on central vision in crowded scenes
Center of Attention: Why we rely on central vision in crowded scenes
Original article: The functional role of spatial anisotropies in ensemble perception
Problem: How visual system compute information about multiple objects under different levels of uncertainty?
Method
Participants viewed sets of objects (like Gabor patches) with various orientations and were asked to estimate the average orientation. We manipulated the uncertainty in visual information to see how it affected participants' ability to estimate mean accurately.
Results
We found that participants consistently gave more weight to objects near the center of their visual field (fovea) when making judgments. This "central bias" became more pronounced when the overall visual information was more uncertain, indicating that the brain relies on the most reliable (central) data when faced with noisy or complex visual inputs.
Applicability: This study shows that people rely more on what's in the center of their vision (fovea) when faced with complex or uncertain visual information. In practical terms, this means that designers—whether working on advertisements, road signs, or digital interfaces—should place key information or visuals centrally to ensure quicker and more accurate processing by users. Importantly, this doesn't mean that essential information must always be placed at the literal center of the screen; rather, it should be positioned where users are most likely to focus (foveate) on average.
Trusting the Past: How high memory load skews perception toward recent experiences
Trusting the Past: How high memory load skews perception toward recent experiences
Original article: Serial dependence: A matter of memory load
Problem: how serial dependence (where previous visual stimuli influence current perception) is affected by the amount of memory load. Specifically, it explores whether higher memory demands change how much recent visual history biases current visual decisions.
Method
Participants were asked to remember visual orientations while completing additional memory tasks with varying difficulty (low and high load). We measured how much participants' current visual judgments were influenced by stimuli they had recently seen, under both low and high memory load conditions.
Results
We found that when participants were under high memory load, serial dependence—the tendency to be influenced by previous stimuli—became stronger. Conversely, when the previous memory task was difficult, the influence of past stimuli was reduced, showing that memory load directly modulates how much we rely on our recent visual experiences.
Applicability: This research has implications for areas where visual decision-making is critical, such as driving, surveillance, and medical scanning. High mental workloads can increase the influence of previous visual inputs, potentially causing errors in judgment. For instance, in high-stress environments like air traffic control or driving, it’s important to reduce memory load to minimize errors caused by over-reliance on prior visual information.
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