ABOUT
I'm Carolyn Ly, a multi-disciplinary product designer previously at IBM with 5+ years of industry experience.
Fun Facts ✨ — I'm (slowly) learning 3D rendering in Spline. I like to collect antiques, snorkel, geek out over Frida Kahlo, and do HCI research.
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I began my career as a data scientist at IBM, where I quickly noticed a recurring problem: even the most sophisticated technical solutions could fall flat if they didn’t fit the way people actually worked. That gap between what teams built and what users needed pushed me toward UX.
Today, I work as a designer who brings together data, AI, and human-centred design to create delightful experiences that simplify complex workflows. My work also extends into academic HCI research at the University of Toronto.
I hold a Master of Information at the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Science in Math & Statistics at McMaster University.
GiveSimply, Product Designer (Contract)
GiveSimply, Product Designer (Contract)
April 2025 - Present
I redesigned a mobile experience that embeds charitable giving into everyday purchases through round-up donations. I mapped customer user journeys and prototyped core flows (checkout, donation history, impact dashboard) to refine the MVP concept that secured corporate and sponsorship.
University of Toronto, Researcher
University of Toronto, Researcher
Oct 2022 - Present
I draw from HCI and CSCW scholarship to conduct research related to socio-technical practices that support equitable endeavours of marginalized individuals and communities. I contribute to publications and have recently presented at the Northeast HCI Conference at Carnegie Mellon (May 2024).
IBM, Product Designer
IBM, Product Designer
Jul 2019 - Feb 2025
I consult with enterprise-level companies to conceptualize, design, and deliver digital solutions ranging in scale ($100k - $3M). I work within cross-functional teams within complex environments across various industries—including retail, financial services, public services, and healthcare, etc.
IBM, Junior Data Scientist
IBM, Junior Data Scientist
Sep 2018 - Jul 2019
With basic proficiency in SQL and Python, my responsibilities included cleaning and restructuring data, building data pipelines across various systems and databanks, and feature engineering to deliver data science solutions to clients in financial services and transportation.
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I blend a human-first approach with my expertise in data and artificial intelligence — fostering cross-functional collaborations and translating technical insights into solutions. I have led teams and mentored peers to support their growth.
UX/UI Design
UX Research
Information Architecture
Systems Design
Service Design
Data Science
Prototyping
Interaction Design
Design Thinking Workshops
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I collaborate with scholars at the University of Toronto to advance socially conscious Human-Computer Interaction research.
Awards
Peer-Reviewed Papers
Carolyn Kim Ly, Trevor Cross, Adrian Petterson, Ishani Pandey, and Priyank Chandra. 2025. Accessibility Work in Academia: Balancing Needs, Bridging Gaps, and Breaking Down Barriers. Proceedings of the ACM in Human Computer Interaction. 9, 7, Article CSCW273 (November 2025), 27 pages. https://doi.org/10.1145/3757454