Amelea Gritter

Human-Centered Designer | Program Manager | Strategic Leader

Whether I’m leading research initiatives or working alongside product teams, I bring a mix of rigor, empathy, and a genuine love for problem-solving to everything I do. At the heart of it, my goal is simple: to help teams feel supported, curious, and inspired as we uncover insights that truly make a difference.

That same approach carries into my community and nonprofit work—mapping assets, identifying gaps, and designing systems that foster support, efficiency, and meaningful change at both the personal and collective level.

Senior Designer/Facilitator, Design Practices

USAA

2021 — Current

• Design and implement scalable learning programs, including HCD Bootcamps, Facilitator Growth Programs, and Design Thinking workshops, to enhance organizational fluency in Human-Centered Design (HCD).

• Comprehensive program management, including communication strategies, stakeholder alignment, risk mitigation, milestone tracking, timeline development, capacity planning, and performance evaluation to ensure successful outcomes.

• Develop and optimize research tools and frameworks to support cross-functional teams in uncovering actionable insights aligned with member and business needs.

• Oversee the creation of a Community of Practice for Design Shared Services, standardizing workflows, centralizing resources, and addressing operational gaps to scale impact across the enterprise.

• Curate and publish Stories from the Field, a monthly newsletter showcasing HCD success stories, fostering collaboration and visibility across the organization.

Social Impact, Research and Design Strategist

Common Notice

2018- Current

• Lead social impact research, marketing, communications, and management consulting rooted in Inclusive Design and Human-Centered Design (HCD) principles.

• Transform organizational processes, programs, and products to enhance equity, accessibility, and impact, supporting cross-sector  stakeholders through strategic planning and adaptive insights.

• Conduct ethnographic research and needs assessments, applying universal design principles to develop inclusive strategies that foster stronger community connections and sustainable growth.

Lead UX Researcher

Steelcase

2018 - 2020

• Conducted end-to-end UX research, including usability testing, journey mapping, A/B testing, and in-depth interviews to uncover user needs and optimize enterprise product experiences.

• Collaborated closely with product managers, designers, and engineers to integrate user insights into product strategy and development.

• Synthesized complex data from multiple sources into clear, actionable insights, influencing product decisions and enhancing user engagement.

• Led the development and standardization of research reporting processes, improving cross-functional alignment, efficiency, and visibility of UX contributions.

OpenIDEO

Lead Community Design Researcher

2018 - 2019

• Led an 8-month ethnographic research engagement for the Ford Cities of Tomorrow Challenge, uncovering opportunities to improve access and mobility.

• Conducted qualitative and quantitative research, grounded in participatory / community based methods and Human-Centered Design (HCD) principles.

• Presented themes and insights to the design community, driving future phases of research and fostering community engagement to enhance mobility systems.

Managing Director

ArtPrize Grand Rapids

2009 - 2018

• Helped to launch one of the nation’s most visible community-driven arts initiatives, engaging thousands of volunteers, civic leaders, corporate sponsors, and nonprofit partners to foster cultural connection, economic impact, and social equity.

• Led high-impact partnerships across public, private, and nonprofit sectors, ensuring ArtPrize became a lasting civic institution that removed barriers to participation and activated local communities at scale.

• Designed and led the ArtPrize Social Good Initiative, aligning business, civic, and nonprofit partners to drive equity, sustainability, and community engagement in the arts.

• Developed and scaled a volunteer engagement program that activated thousands of community members annually, providing critical event support and mobilizing volunteer hosts to welcome and assist visiting artists.

• Established access focused participation programs, including public transit grants, multilingual outreach, and accessibility initiatives in collaboration with city partners including Disability Advocates of Kent County, The Rapid, and educational institutions.

• Secured funding and strategic partnerships to advance sustainability efforts, launching waste reduction, water conservation, and alternative transportation initiatives that engaged 46,000+ visitors in environmentally responsible practices.

• Led cross-sector collaborations with city officials, corporate sponsors, and community leaders, driving policy changes that increased economic and cultural access to public art programming.