Stefanie Hutka

I'm an Oakland-based design researcher and strategist, with over 10 years of mixed-methods research experience. I deliver actionable, data-driven insights to drive strategic direction and product development for emerging B2B and B2C products. I align cross-disciplinary teams by centering on user goals, motivations, and unmet needs. 

Specializing in launching new augmented reality (AR) products, I've previously led 0-to-1 UXR on both the Adobe Substance 3D Suite and the Adobe Aero AR authoring app. Prior to Adobe, I established the UXR function at AR start-up, DAQRI, leading the company’s first case studies on in-field use of enterprise AR hardware and software. I'm currently based at Meta Reality Labs.

I hold a PhD in human perception and cognition from the University of Toronto - a background I apply to inform neuroscience-based principles for multi-modal XR design. I've also published 14 peer-reviewed articles, and filed 5 patents on AR and brain-computer interfaces. When not doing spatial computing things, you can find me music-making or running big miles on trails.