Hey, I'm Damir.

A UX designer and builder based in Chicago — crafting research-driven experiences that actually connect.

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Damir Pehar
About Me

Hi, I’m Damir Pehar — a UX/UI and Product Designer & Researcher based in Chicago, currently pursuing my Bachelor of Science in User Experience Design at DePaul University.

I design digital experiences that feel intuitive, human, and genuinely useful. My approach blends clean, minimal aesthetics with thoughtful interaction design: always guided by real user needs, cognitive principles, and a bit of warmth that makes complex things feel approachable. Whether I’m redesigning a local Chicago pub’s website, prototyping an app, or building phygital experiences for cultural institutions, I’m driven by the belief that great design doesn’t just look good, it solves problems and connects people.

A little more about me

Outside of work and studies, you’ll often find me watching sports and going to games, weightlifting, exploring my Croatian/Italian heritage through food and family stories, or testing new interfaces on my own projects. I’m passionate about tech, sports, and weightlifting. I bring that curiosity and attention to detail into every project I touch.

My Education

The Design Journey

2025 — Current

Bachelor of Science, User Experience Design

DePaul University, Chicago IL

Deepening research methodology, interaction design, and human-computer interaction within a formal UX program.

2022 — 2024

Associates of Liberal Arts

Oakton Community College, Des Plaines IL

Honor Roll graduate with a 3.72 GPA — built analytical foundations that support a transition into formal design education.

Tools

Figma
Sketch
Illustrator
Photoshop

My Experience

Where I've built.

I

Apr — May 2026

UI Designer

Monk's Pub — Chicago, IL

Led end-to-end UX/UI design, delivering a responsive, accessible site with consistent visual hierarchy across breakpoints. Usability testing with 6 users on high-fidelity Figma prototypes lifted task success for menu and event flows from 4/6 to 5/6.

II

Jan — Mar 2026

UX Designer & Researcher

Art Institute of Chicago — Chicago, IL

Ran 12 interviews and mapped visitor emotional journeys to find where younger audiences disengaged. Synthesized the findings into a phygital concept and high-fidelity Figma prototypes blending in-person and digital experiences.

III

2021 — 2022

UX & UI Product Designer

WeReceipt — Chicago, IL

Designed user flows, wireframes, and interactive prototypes in Figma and Sketch. Applied user research and strategy to improve feature discoverability and reduce cognitive load.