Hannah Short

As a Chicago-based User Interface and User Experience Designer at GATX, I bring a unique blend of creativity, systems thinking and human-centered design to the world of IT Applications. With a background in Industrial and Systems Engineering and a focus in Human Factors and Ergonomics, I specialize in creating intuitive, efficient, and user-friendly solutions that drive smarter decision-making in the global railcar leasing industry.

My passion lies in enhancing user interfaces and user experiences through great design. Whether it's optimizing workflows, improving interaction efficiency, or designing with empathy, I’m driven by the belief that great design starts with understanding people!

As one of my favorite Human Factors designers, Don Norman, said “Good design is actually a lot harder to notice than poor design, in part because good designs fit our needs so well that the design is invisible.”  

Let’s connect if you’re passionate about UX, data-driven innovation, or designing systems that truly serve their users.

Outside of work, I enjoy running my craft club, relaxing with a good book and my cat, or hosting friends for coffee at my home cafe, Cafe Olive.  I believe in incorporating creativity in the every day to spark joy in the little things.

I have created hundreds of handmade matchbooks, made with love from secondhand books, scraps, and magazines.  My matchbooks are featured at the Green Goose Shop in Andersonville, Chicago, Illinois (as well as offered to all of my house guests!).

I created a collection of postcards for for the Richardson's Shangri-La Resort in Orr, Minnesota.  It captures the nostalgia of the family run report, the

GATX  | User Interface & User Experience Designer

• Lead end-to-end UI/UX design for enterprise IT applications as the sole designer at GATX, establishing standards and best practices across teams.

• Partner closely with product owners, developers, and business stakeholders to translate complex workflows into intuitive, user-centered solutions.

• Drive the company’s design process - from research and wireframing to prototyping and usability testing - ensuring cohesive, scalable experiences across the organization.

GATX  | Data Analyst

• Delivered Agile methodology projects as a UX Designer, Business Analyst, Data Engineer, and Project Manager.

• Introduced  branding standards and design processes across four departments for large scale applications.

• Led the Self-Service model for Report Creators to ensure best practices and standards across all Power BI reports.