From Engineering to Empathy: Angel Chukwu on Her Journey to UX Research and Advocating for Diversity in Tech

Brandon Crosby
So, as we get started, can you tell me a bit about your background and how you first got into UX research?

Angel Chukwu
That’s a great story. It’s a relatively long-winded one, so I’ll try to keep it short.

Brandon Crosby
That’s fine.

Angel Chukwu
So, I actually started my research journey as a mechanical engineering student. That field operates from a quantitative and machine-focused research lens in comparison to the qualitative and human-focused lens of UX research. At the start of my freshman year, I had just graduated from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. I was a part of NSBE — the National Society of Black Engineers, and I was heavily influenced by my Nigerian parents  who were in the medical field. At the time, considering my influences and interests in service, I thought I wanted to become a doctor. So my first undergraduate major was biomedical engineering, because it seemed like the best pathway to explore my curiosities. I even specifically chose to attend East Carolina University, where I was part of their honors program and an early assurance program with guaranteed admission into their medical school. 

During my freshman year in engineering, I took a standard 3D modeling course in computer-aided design. My professor, Dr. William Howard, had an enthusiasm for 3D modeling and 3D printing that was infectious, and it sparked my curiosity. He had an opening for a researcher in his lab, so I took it—and that’s essentially where my research career started. That’s also when I shifted my major to mechanical engineering. My parents weren’t thrilled because they thought I was on the path to medicine, but I found that I loved the world of design.

Throughout my undergraduate studies, I did internships to explore what I enjoyed about mechanical engineering and research. One internship, through a National Science Foundation program, involved 3D printing and design work for coffee cups at Starbucks, which is interesting because I now work there as a researcher. I also did an internship at the Los Alamos National Lab, focusing on 3D printing with metal to manufacture plutonium. My last internship was at Lawrence Livermore National Lab, where I studied nanoscale 3D printing techniques.

When I graduated from mechanical engineering, I still felt like I was missing depth in my research practice. So, I pursued graduate school at UW-Madison and worked in a biomechanics lab with a focus on concussion research. There we built tools to study compressive and tensile damage to neurons. That experience involved a lot of tedious, hands-on research, but I still felt disconnected because the work was not directly influencing behavior change and the timeline to create a product was painfully slow for me. 

When COVID hit, everything shifted to remote work, and I realized how much I needed to connect with people through my research. That’s when I started conducting informational interviews to learn about various industries. Eventually, I discovered UX research and was amazed that there was a job where I could focus on understanding what users needed to inform complex designs. With advice from professionals in the field, I began self-teaching and eventually transitioned into UX research, with guidance from my research coach, Eniola Abioye.

Brandon Crosby
That sounds awesome. I’ve seen Eniola’s work on LinkedIn—happy to tag her in this.

Angel Chukwu
Absolutely.

Brandon Crosby
You talked about how you were motivated to do UX research and what drew you to the field. I’m curious—how has your identity as a Black researcher shaped your entry into UX research and your career?

Angel Chukwu
That’s a great question. One major trigger to my world view was the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, which happened at the tail end of my graduate school journey. In academia, particularly in mechanical engineering, I was often the only Black woman in my lab, building, and/or department. It felt isolating, and while I could acknowledge that in undergrad, it became more intense in grad school. In 2020, I felt that my work wasn’t aligned with my values of supporting communities and solving real-world problems. In my transition to UX, I wanted my work to impact people more directly, and I realized I needed to build a community that shared those values.

When I moved to Los Angeles that same year, I connected with friends in the fields of urban planning, law, policy, and sociology. There was a strong curiosity about user experiences in the built environment, like the effect of parking laws in L.A. on local communities. Learning from these friends felt like a bridge to the kind of UX research I wanted to lean into. Now, I’m deliberate about bringing diverse perspectives into my work that might not be obvious to my collaborators—like the origins of Gen Z language being influenced by Black and queer colloquialism. My identity as a Black UX researcher is about ensuring my teams are aware of these influences, so our products are respectful and informed.

Brandon Crosby
Absolutely. And I’d love to chat sometime about traffic laws in L.A. because I don’t understand them! I also appreciate how you emphasize ensuring diverse voices are heard in your research. How have you been able to make sure those voices are represented within your organization?

Angel Chukwu
Thank you for asking. When I started, I thought UX research would be as simple as advocating for the user and conducting interviews, but I’ve since realized that the work goes much deeper. It’s about understanding company priorities and strategically leveraging user insights. My role has evolved to include educating stakeholders and building relationships so they understand user needs as a natural part of their processes.

I work closely with people across the organization, inserting insights and behavioral understanding wherever possible. Recently, a PM told me she was excited to apply principles she’d learned from our UX team, like Jacob’s Law. So, it’s been about intentional education and building empathy within the organization.

Brandon Crosby
It’s so important to apply that strategic lens to both the research and the social context behind it. With your career, have you encountered challenges due to being a Black woman?

Angel Chukwu
Definitely. In mechanical engineering, which is male-dominated, I often faced hostility for being an ambitious Black woman. It felt like I had something to prove, and that carried into grad school. In academia, the social environment has a certain lack of accountability; because tenure gives professors a lot of power, if they’re not focused on or educated about equity within their teams, it can translate into a very isolating environment for marginalized researchers. 

Transitioning to UX, where empathy is central, has been a refreshing change. Now, I work on a women-led UX research team, and the environment is more supportive. Even though I’m often the only Black woman, there’s a greater focus on empathy and valuing individual contributions, which has made a huge difference in my experience.

Brandon Crosby
It’s inspiring to hear how you’ve navigated these spaces. What strategies have helped you thrive in environments where you may be the only Black woman?

Angel Chukwu
One big thing was mentorship. Dr. Howard was an incredible mentor to me at the start of my research journey, and he really helped me establish a solid expectation for healthy relationships at work. Starting my UX career with a coach, like Eniola, who represented a career level I wanted to reach, was huge. I also make sure to stay connected to other Black researchers, even if they aren’t at my workplace. I lean on friends in adjacent research fields, like my friend Roderick Hall in housing policy, for motivation and support.These connections help me remember that I’m part of a larger community. 

Brandon Crosby
Where do you think the UX research field excels in supporting Black practitioners, and where does it fall short?

Angel Chukwu
In NSBE, we often talked about “building the pipeline” to bring future generations into the field of engineering, and that’s where UX falls short. There’s a serious lack of entry-level positions meant to teach UX skills. Many people end up self-teaching, like I did, often through volunteer work and reading articles. There needs to be a greater investment in fellowships, internships, and other programs for aspiring researchers, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds.

Brandon Crosby
Yes, most people I’ve interviewed found out about UX research later in their careers, which shows a gap in exposure and early opportunities.

Angel Chukwu
Exactly. UX impacts so many aspects of our daily tech interactions, yet most people don’t know it exists until they stumble upon it. There needs to be outreach across various fields, not just design, because UX skills are transferable from so many disciplines. Experience design is universal!

Brandon Crosby
What changes would you like to see companies make to better attract and retain Black UX researchers?

Angel Chukwu
I think it goes beyond exposure. It’s also about creating spaces where Black researchers feel safe and valued. I’ve felt unsafe in certain workspaces despite promises of support. My current team at Starbucks is different because they genuinely value my contributions. Companies need to evaluate their UX and collaborative teams, create junior positions, and actively recruit in diverse spaces. It’s challenging, it’s long term work, but necessary to build a truly inclusive field.

Brandon Crosby
Well said. What advice do you have for young Black professionals interested in UX research, and do you have recommendations for education or experience?

Angel Chukwu
The best advice I received was to keep the goal firm, but be flexible in the journey. If you have a clear vision, don’t give up on it. Connect with people in the field any way you can—through LinkedIn, informational interviews, Facebook groups, Youtube. And even if you’re new, start calling yourself a UX researcher. That title matters, and it builds confidence.

For resources, I took Google’s UX Design course on Coursera, which offers financial aid. If possible, see if you can volunteer for causes that need UX work. There are great articles from groups like the Nielsen Norman Group, Dscout, Dovetail, and User Interviews. And for one-on-one coaching, Eniola Abioye was invaluable for me.

Brandon Crosby
That’s fantastic advice. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Angel Chukwu
Just a thank you. I appreciate this initiative, and I’ve read through your interviews. What you’re doing is so important, highlighting Black UX voices. We don’t have a lot of spaces for this, so it’s incredibly valuable.

Brandon Crosby
Thank you—I’m glad it’s been meaningful. It’s rewarding to see it fulfilling a need, especially since UX research stories were so hard to find when I started. Knowing it’s useful is all I wanted.

Angel Chukwu
Absolutely. UX research is nuanced and fascinating, so having this space to discuss our unique challenges and triumphs as Black researchers is a gem.