Hi, I’m Nicolás.
I’m a social researcher, aka UX researcher, design researcher, user experience researcher. You get the idea– I 🔥 research.
I’m at my best when I’m working in the borderlands of life-long learning, digital innovation, and knowledge production. And I’m at my very best when hanging out with Mel and Kidori.
In the midst of the pandemic I used my 7+ years of experience to co-found Chakakuna, a social startup you should consider investing in.
Projects
Deep diving into Peru’s rural school system
Field Researcher @Ministry of Education
📍 Cusco, Amazonas, Loreto, San Martin, Peru
I interviewed +300 teachers, students and family members, while visiting 2 schools every week over 6 months to help the Ministry of Education reduce information gaps.
Uncovering internet use in “unconnected” communities
Design Researcher @Intercorp
📍 Chiapas, Mexico
I conducted contextual inquiry and generative research among early internet users in rural areas of Mexico, uncovering behaviors and practices that informed business and product teams at Intercorp in Peru.
Remote user testing amidst the pandemic
Design Researcher @LaVictoriaLab
📍 Lima, Tacna, Arequipa, Peru
I gathered user feedback despite the social restrictions and the disruption of trust posited by the pandemic, identifying pain points that allowed my team at La Victoria Lab to refine early prototypes and launch a low-cost telemedicine service.
Building a transdisciplinary research team from scratch
Founder @Chakakuna IMD
📍Los Olivos, Lima, Peru
I outlined technical and cultural profiles, conducted interviews with candidates, and selected the first 4 core hires for Chakakuna, the independent research studio I co-founded. I helped set agile ways of working that have led my team to exponential growth.
Launching a digital service from zero to one
Product Owner @Sinappsis
📍The Internet
I led several rounds of generative research that shaped the first prototype of Sinappsis, a digital service to connect life-long learners. While operating a live product with real users paying for the service, I designed the strategy to deploy the next version of Sinappsis.
Prototyping a behavioral science experiment for financial services
Research Lead @Chakakuna IMD
📍Lima, Peru
I designed a digital intervention aiming to help micro-entrepreneurs follow their business plans, based on a behavioral science concept called nudges. My team and I worked closely with 2 financial companies in Peru to build and test early prototypes of the experiment.