Denise Hardman

Denise Hardman serves as an Adjunct Instructor at Carnegie Mellon University's Human-Computer Interaction Institute (HCII), teaching MHCI Capstone, Service Design, and BHCI Capstone courses while working full-time as a Distinguished Product Designer at DICK'S Sporting Goods, where she oversees enterprise design operations through technology.

Her academic path features unconventional transitions between disciplines, beginning with geological sciences before shifting to digital design fields. This interdisciplinary background informs her practical approach to user-centered design.

• BA in Geology, College of Wooster
• MS in Web Design & Development, Duquesne University

Her research and professional focus centers on Human-Computer Interaction with specialized expertise in Retail User Experience and Service Design. She emphasizes research discovery methodologies and community-driven design practices, particularly within enterprise retail technology ecosystems where she implements design operations frameworks.

Denise actively cultivates professional communities through Steel City UX Ladies, which she founded in 2020 to create collaborative learning spaces for UX practitioners. Her mentorship extends to CMU capstone students where she bridges academic theory with industry practice in retail technology contexts.