Cheryl Platz

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Cheryl Platz is an internationally renowned interaction designer whose work on emerging technologies has reached millions of customers across multiple industries. She is best known for her work on cutting-edge products including Amazon's Alexa voice platform, the Echo Look, Cortana, Microsoft's Azure platform, and multiple video games including multiple groundbreaking titles for the Nintendo DS. Her professional passions include natural user interfaces, design for scale and complexity, system design, and storytelling for product design.

Recently, Cheryl joined the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as a Principal UX Designer: in her first year at the Foundation, her work is focused on researching potential improvements to the Foundation’s employee experience. In her spare time, as owner of design education firm Ideaplatz, LLC, Ms. Platz travels the world sharing her experience designing for new technology (and applying improvisation to design) with other designers. Past employers include Microsoft, Amazon, Electronic Arts, Griptonite Games, MAYA Design, and Disney Parks.

Ms. Platz holds a degree in Computer Science and Human-Computer Interaction from Carnegie Mellon University. In addition to her design work, Cheryl has been a professional improvisor and performer for well over a decade. She’s most frequently seen in Seattle as an ensemble member and teacher at Unexpected Productions, or featured in the hit improvised parody of Star Trek, “Where No Man Has Gone Before.” Her other hobbies include travel, running, writing, and video gaming.