I help products teach themselves.
I'm Juan Carlos Collins—a Learning Experience Architect and Frontend Engineer who bridges the gap between technical systems and human understanding.
Most Learning Designers don't code. Most engineers don't teach. I do both, and that intersection is where I thrive.
The Approach
I look at software through the lens of a teacher. I observe how people encounter new systems, identify exactly where the "cognitive fog" sets in, and translate those insights into interfaces that act as a gentle guide.
My methodology combines:
- Systematic Research: Using structured observation to find where trust is built or broken.
- Technical Fluency: 6+ years building with React, TypeScript, and D3.js—speaking the language of the machine.
- Pedagogical Heart: 15+ years in education, including 5 years as a professor, specializing in scaffolding complex information so it feels "light."
Recent Work
I recently completed a systematic UX research audit for a healthcare SaaS platform. By observing users in their natural environment, I identified critical trust gaps in patient onboarding. I turned those insights into a reusable methodology template—now open-sourced—to help other teams turn friction into fluency.
Origin Story
My path hasn't been a straight line; it's been a practice of visual cartography. Whether I was building fintech dashboards, visualizing municipal data, or leading medical and bilingual education, I've always been a "dot-connector."
What excites me most is designing experiences where understanding comes naturally—where cognitive load is reduced and those small moments of "I get it" happen consistently.
"I care deeply about cognitive load, mental models, and those small moments where confidence is either nurtured or dropped. To me, reducing friction isn't just an optimization—it's an act of care."
What I'm Seeking
I'm exploring roles in Learning Design, DevEx Research, and UX Strategy—especially at companies building developer tools, complex workflows, or AI-powered products.
If you're building a product that feels like a "hedge maze," let's work together to turn on the lights.
Toolbox
Architecting Understanding: User research, systematic observation, onboarding optimization, technical documentation, developer experience (DevEx)
The Building Blocks: React, Next.js, Vue.js, TypeScript, JavaScript, GraphQL, Tailwind CSS
Visual Narrative: D3.js, Three.js, Chart.js, interactive dashboards
CliftonStrengths: Learner • Strategic • Maximizer • Positivity • Intellection