About Char

Charlene Joy Dela Cruz (Char) is a first-generation Filipino American raised in San Jose, California and Pangasinan, Philippines. As a user experience designer, she focuses on creating seamless and intuitive interactions between humans using current and emerging technologies. Her design practice in the tech space is heavily inspired by her artistic pursuits offline, often experimenting with traditional drawing and painting mediums.

Image of a woman with green hair wearing a colorful dress sitting on a tall chair in front of a dark greenish-gray background.
Image of a woman with green hair wearing a colorful dress sitting on a tall chair in front of a dark greenish-gray background.
Image of a woman with green hair wearing a colorful dress sitting on a tall chair in front of a dark greenish-gray background.

Work Experience

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

User Experience Designer

April 2022 to Present

User Experience Design Intern

June 2020 to March 2022

ArtCenter College of Design

Adjunct Faculty

January 2022 to May 2023

User Experience Designer

January 2021 to August 2022

Resume Upon Request

Drawing of three turtles.
Drawing of three turtles.
Drawing of three turtles.

Awards

JPL Team Award

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

August 2024

For the development of interactive tool and technologies of large language models (LLMs) to extract models from requirements documents.

JPL Team Award

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

July 2024

For outstanding achievement in design and execution of tool migration for
Mars Sample Return and Sample Return Lander.

For outstanding achievement in design and execution of tool migration for Mars Sample Return and Sample Return Lander.

JPL Team Award

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

October 2023

In recognition of the contributions made for developing and delivering the
Mars Sample Return Engineering Change Request and Document Jira projects.

In recognition of the contributions made for developing and delivering the Mars Sample Return Engineering Change Request and Document Jira projects.

2nd Place, Sponsored Challenge

University of California San Diego

October 2019

Participated in University of California San Diego's 5th Annual Hackathon with over 800 participants.

Image of a graduation stage and a woman posing with her graduation diploma.

Education

B.S. in Interaction Design,
Minor in Social Innovation

B.S. in Interaction Design,
Minor in Social Innovation

ArtCenter College of Design

Certifications

Human Subjects Research Electives

CITI Program

Issued Aug 2024

Expires Aug 2029

Credential ID 64382439

Required RCR Training for Students and Postdocs

CITI Program

Issued Aug 2024

Credential ID 64272130

Social and Behavioral Research

Social and Behavioral Research

Social and Behavioral Research

CITI Program

Issued Aug 2024

Expires Aug 2029

Credential ID 64272131

© Updated 2025

© Updated 2025

© Updated 2025