Northwestern University '19
Master of Science Product Design & Development Management
Focus: intersection of design, engineering, and business
University of Notre Dame '14
Bachelor of Fine Arts Industrial Design & Pre-Health Sciences
Focus: liberal arts education at the intersection of design and science
Recognitions
2023 Red Dot Award Winner for Outstanding Design
2021-22 IDSA IDEA Award Jury Member
2020 IDSA IDEA Award Featured Finalist
2018 & 19 & 20 ND Alumni Speaker Series
2017 Good Design Award - Traeger Timberline Core Team Member
2014 IDSA Student Merit Award - University of Notre Dame Representative
2014 Greif Award - University of Notre Dame Student Thesis
2013 Summer Fellowship Grant - College of Arts and Letters
TRAEGER
Director of Digital Product Design & UX
Salt Lake City, UT | March 2022 — Present
Director of Experience Design & Strategy
Salt Lake City, UT | March 2021 — March 2022
Sr. Product Experience Designer
Salt Lake City, UT | January 2020 — March 2021
Current position - Emily is the Director of Digital Product Design & Experience at Traeger — the original wood-fired grill and trailblazer in wifi-enabled outdoor cooking technology. At Traeger, she works hard to bring people together to create a more flavorful world through the design of seamless, intuitive, mouth-watering cooking experiences. Uniting both physical and digital platforms, she loves the challenge of designing an ecosystem of products that empower culinary creativity and bring young and old, carnivore and herbivore, together around great food.
She currently leads a team of multidisciplinary designers across Traeger's connected product ecosystem and operates as lead design architect across digital product platforms including on-product grill control, mobile apps, and website. She previously co-led a cross-functional initiative focused on roadmap expansion and product innovation.
Hoffmann Design.Co LLC
Creative designer
Worldwide | January 2020 – present
Collaborates with individuals and organizations to understand client need, develop appropriate action plan, and realize new opportunity together through the development of product, user experience, strategy, and/or brand identity.
Stryker
Sr. Research Analyst Strategic Development
Chicago, IL | June 2018 — January 2020
Stryker Emerging Professionals (SEP) Committee Member
Functioned as an internal business development consultant, led strategic product portfolio development and organizational change management informed by quant, qual and human centered data analysis. Uncovered unmet needs, visualized future opportunities, and accelerated R&D / M&A decision-making via skillset rooted in empathic design research, 2D and 3D conceptualization, and integrity in human centered design frameworks.
Day-to-day duties included: leading and executing global research projects including customer interviews, surgical observations, workshop facilitation, market research, quant evaluation and modeling, 2D visual conceptualization, verbal and visual story-telling of strategic direction.
Tekna, Inc.
Industrial designer
Kalamasoo, MI | October 2014 — June 2018
Unofficial official captain of morale
Collaborated with a diverse range of clients, including Fortune 500 and start-up companies in consumer product, home appliance, and medtech industries. Responsible for industrial and visual design outputs with extensive experience in UI/UX, strategy and research.
Notable clients and client projects: Traeger Timberline Grill, Stryker Product Look & Feel, and TheraB SnugLit phototherapy medical device.
Mayo Clinic Center for Innovation
Design Fellow
Rochester, MN | Summer 2013
Developed research plan, conducted patient interviews, and synthesized observations into actionable insights to develop pediatric education app that creatively harnessed downtime in patients’ care journey.
University of Notre Dame - Office of University Relations
Special Events Intern
South Bend, IN | January 2012 – 2013
Represented the University of Notre Dame student body and assisted with special event protocol while attending University functions for benefactors, council members, trustees, and university administration.
Whirlpool
Industrial Design
Industry Sponsored Class Project
Benton Harbor, MI | Spring 2013
Researched, developed and designed new product concepts for portable AC units in collaboration with peers. The sponsorship culminated in a presentation of individual design concepts t leadership at Whirlpool Appliances in Benton Harbor, MI.
Top Shelf Design, LLC
Graphic Design Intern
Arlington, VA | Summer 2012
Created web, print and branding material for clients in food, government, and financial industries.
Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos
Medical Intern
Toledo, Spain | Summer 2011
During a summer abroad in Toledo, Spain, assisted in the rehabilitation sector of the national hospital for paraplegics. Worked with patients to strengthen both tactile and english-speaking skills.