Teressa Chizeck

About Teressa Chizeck

Teressa Chizeck is a design leader and strategist who helps mission-driven teams turn complex technologies into human-centered solutions. At Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, she leads design efforts across AI, sustainability, and nuclear emergency response—shaping disaster response tools, energy efficiency platforms, and strategic frameworks that align public-sector innovation with real-world impact.Before entering public-sector work, Teressa helped startups scale, guided enterprise innovation, and built design cultures from the ground up. As VP of Design at Streem, she built the UX practice from scratch, introduced cross-functional leadership models, and led the product’s transformation from a peer-to-peer marketplace to an enterprise SaaS solution—directly contributing to the company’s acquisition. She also led technically ambitious work with Google, Samsung, and IKEA, designing AR-powered experiences using early-access hardware. Her work leveraging Apple’s LiDAR-enabled iPad to design remote collaboration tools—using spatial alignment and AR to enable intuitive visual communication—was awarded U.S. Patent B2.Previously at Intel, she helped design a body scanning and digital dressing room experience in partnership with Zappos, which was later acquired by Amazon. Her portfolio spans patented interaction models, immersive media for NBC Olympics and TNT March Madness, and personalized digital experiences built for scale and human impact.As Chief Design Officer at Digs, she defined product vision, helped secure early-stage funding, and fostered a design culture known for excellence, clarity, and care. In every role—from startups to national labs—Teressa brings strategic thinking, creative rigor, and a deep commitment to people and purpose.Teressa’s roots in fine art, philosophy, and public mural work ground her perspective: making is how she contributes to the world. Whether sculpting clay, designing software, or shaping mission-driven teams, her work is defined by clarity, curiosity, and care. She brings humor, insight, and vision to every room she enters, and is known for creating environments where people feel seen, safe, and proud of their work.She doesn’t believe in “users” as abstractions or “design” as decoration. For Teressa, user experience is a way of thinking—a commitment to asking why, to building tools that matter, and to shaping work that feels human. Her goal isn’t just better products. It’s better systems, better teams, and better ways of showing up in the world.

Experience

1. Principal Ux Architect and Product Strategist

   Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

   Oct 2023 — Present · Richland, WA, US

   I lead human-centered design efforts at PNNL, helping teams across the lab align strategy, product development, and mission impact. My work spans complex domains—including artificial intelligence, sustainability, and nuclear emergency response—where I bring clarity to ambiguity, advocate for user needs, and shape tools that serve both scientists and the public.I collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to- Translate technical research into usable, impactful software tools- Guide teams through outcome-oriented, people-first product strategy- Elevate sponsor and stakeholder engagement through improved experience design- Advance a lab-wide shift toward customer focus and cross-functional collaborationProjects include- Design leadership on nuclear emergency response software used in real-world federal scenarios- Development of energy efficiency modeling and decision-support tools- Strategic design consulting for lab initiatives exploring AI integration, ethics, and human-centered innovationI’m also a culture-builder—known for fostering team environments where clarity, humor, and care make space for ambitious, meaningful work.

Education

• University of Oregon

  Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Industrial and Product Design

  2011 — 2013

• The Evergreen State College

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies

  1995 — 1999