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RAINS BROWNING
HARLEM, NYC   SENIOR UX DESIGNER


My name is Rains, I am a UX designer located in Harlem, NYC!  Currently, and for the past 3 years, I have been designing interfaces to be used on the worlds first commercial space Station. 
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My Journey 


Southwestern University POLITICAL SCIENCE AND HISTORYMy journey to the Software industry began at Southwestern University, while studying my bachelor's degree. During my Junior year, I was asked to conduct qualitative research on a paper and later book on meditation and mindfullness practices. At this same time, I received approval and funding to conduct an independent research project on online communities, platforms and political behavior.  

This was my first introduction to the world of Software and qualitative research. I concluded my time at Southwestern completing two capstones, one of which focused on how users engage with political content on Youtube.


The University Of ChicagoSOCIAL SCIENCE
In risk of being too candid, like some who graduate collage, I still did not really know what I wanted to do. My advisor highly encouraged me to attend graduate school, which I did. My program at UChicaco was perfect; one year where I had an open ended selection of course work. I built my skills in qualitative research, while delving into some pretty heavy political theory.

In preparing me for the job market, I took classes like Qualitative Research Methods, Digital Ethnography, and Digital Media Aesthetics to build my skills in understanding the design of Software, and research practices to understand users.

Axiom SpaceUI/UX DESIGN AND RESEARCH
I landed the job! I was brought on as a qualitative research, and immediately began building a research framework for both the UI team, and the Industrial Design team. But, I quickly realized I missed a crucial part of school: learning. In attending design reviews and talking through design problems, I became interested in design. 

I voiced this to my team, and I quickly took on two mentors who taught me the various elements of design, the design process, and using design tools. Within a few months, I transitioned to design full time, taking on a UX project, and later the Design Language System. 

Commencement Speech

To really get a better idea as to who I am and what my journey has been, you can view a commencement speech I gave at my alama mater. Skip to 23:58 for my part.

My journey would have been impossible to predict, so, embrace the chaos; it may actually be freedom!


23:58

Personal Design Work


What About Everything Else? 

Like is more than work. Aside from all my work stuff, I have an array of hobbies and passions that drive my life. My partner is the light of my life, and our life together in Harlem is most important to me. I’ve got more hobbies than I know what to do with; those including: basketball, boxing, running, video games, clothing design, poetry and watching movies! 

My days and weekends are split between these various hobbies, which is always a bit of a struggle! 

If you want to like or dislike me instantly, here are three polarizing lists that define who I am.  

Top Ten Movies

Top Ten Foods

Top Ten Basketball Players

  1. LoTR: Fellowship of the Rings
  2. The Godfather
  3. The Stories We Tell
  4. Thelma and Louise
  5. Alien 
  6. Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
  7. 2001: A Space Odyssey
  8. The Dark Knight
  9. Blade Runner 
  10. Moonlight


Movie Explanation

LoTR is the movie, a movie of all movies. Now, it is hard to choose between Fellowship and Return, but you can’t top the opening Shire scenes. The Stories We Tell is a sleeper, a movie that fundamentally changed my life. A real movie critic would throw-up at Revenge of the Sith, my it is a childhood favorite, and a timeless and eternal moral lesson.
  1. Steak
  2. Tortilla Chips
  3. Starburst
  4. Avocado 
  5. Eggs, Bacon, and Toast 
  6. Carnitas 
  7. Pancakes 
  8. Home-Made Mac and Cheese
  9. Coco Puffs
  10. Grapes


Food Explanation

Foods are subjective, and I am both a hungry and picky eater. I mean, it is steak. I was vegan for over 3 years, and there is not one time where I could honestly say “I don’t even miss steak”. Tortilla Chips are a sleeper, so versatile, so good. Coco Puffs are an all-time great cereal and food, don’t want to hear it.
  1. Lebron James
  2. Micheal Jordan
  3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
  4. Bill Russel
  5. Tim Duncan
  6. Magic Johnson
  7. Wilt Chamberlain
  8. Stephen Curry
  9. Shaquille O’Neal
  10. Kobe Bryant


Basketball Players Explanation

If you are a hooper, this list will make you mad. If you are not, it probably looks good! Lebron James is the best basketball player of all time, and that is not a debate. It is not close; no, Micheal Jordan is not even close. The King has the best story, the 2nd hardest won championship, Defense and Offense that has never been seen. Tim Duncan is eternally under-rated, and Larry Bird forever over-rated

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