EXPERIENCE
UI / UX Designer
Pixo
Oct 2014 – Present | Urbana, IL
UX / UI Designer at a software development consultancy working on mobile apps, hardware-software integrations, and responsive web app projects on Agile product development teams.
Responsible for defining and creating all visual and functional elements on multiple concurrent projects. Responsibilities include: early-stage user research, sketching and wireframing, usability testing, graphic / user interface design and development support throughout implementation.
UI / UX Designer
Brand Design, LLC.
May 2013 – Oct 2014 | Chicago, IL
Designed the user interface for a global fast food chain’s touch screen kitchen equipment required for the transition from analog to digital machine controls. Focused on human factors and user workflow consistency across equipment screen architecture, created graphic style and iconography, defined scalable layouts to fulfill various screen sizes, and produced final interface guidelines for equipment suppliers.
Product Design Consultant
Sonistic, LLC
Feb – May 2013 | Champaign, IL
Member of product team that designed and prototyped housing unit for noise-suppressing microphone array technology. Process included creating mood boards, paper prototyping, analog and digital sketching of product directions and user scenarios, creating 3D CAD renderings of hardware in SolidWorks and 3D printed prototypes for testing and feedback.
Product Design Consultant
Design Lab Home (DLH)
2011 – 2012 | Northbrook, IL
Collaborated with DLH’s Walter Herbst and Scott Herbst, and developed and presented home/ housewares product concepts for Crate+Barrel, CB2, and Bed Bath and Beyond.
Graphic Design Intern
UIUC Office of Technology Management
2010 – 2011 | Champaign, IL
Created marketing and branding materials to promote patent development at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign
Media Associate
Starcom Worldwide
2008 – 2009 | Chicago, IL
Media Buyer for US Cellular Account. Assisted with campaign strategy and planning, responsible for purchasing several million dollars of radio & television advertising in the Midwest market.
Account Services Intern
Ogilvy & Mather
Summer 2008 | Chicago, IL
Assisted with BP (British Petroleum) client as a liaison between client and Ogilvy Creative Department. Collaborated on fire safety & awareness campaign and promotional materials for the Chicago Fire Department. Contributed branding and design ideas for new client business pitches.
SKILLS & SOFTWARE
Visual Design: Sketch App, Adobe Creative Suite, pen and paper
Wireframe & Prototype: InVision, Keynote, Axure RP
Iteration & Confirmation: user research methods, usability testing
Design Handoff to Dev: Zeplin.io
Organization: Agile design sprints, JIRA, Omnigraffle, Trello
Physical Product Design: SolidWorks, KeyShot, Sketchbook Pro, Analog and Digital Sketching
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Workshop Leader - “Design Prototyping: Make. Learn. Share. Repeat.” (2016)
Produced and led a sketching and prototyping workshop teaching communication through analog sketching and rapid prototyping using the Sketch and InVision Apps.
Speaker - “Trends & Issues in UX/UI for Mobile” (2015)
Panelist for Mobile Development Day 2015 conference presented by the Research Park at the University of Illinois
EDUCATION
University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign
BFA Industrial Design 2014
Michigan State University
BA Advertising 2006
SCHOLARSHIPS & AWARDS
Certificate of Excellence in Sustainable Management and Technology, University of Illinois College of Business, 2013
Lydia E. Parker Bates Scholarship, 2012 & 2013
I4I Study Abroad Scholarship, 2012
George & Amanda Hanley Scholarship, 2012
Charles Wert India Scholarship, 2012
James Hansen Scholarship, 2012
INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION EXPERIENCES
India, Dec – Jan 2013
Part of year long UIUC College of Business course focused on product development for subsistence marketplaces. Conducted product and user research in Chennai, India and Delhi, India. Project focused on clean water solutions for rural communities in India.
United Kingdom, May 2006
Study abroad program Mass Media in the UK, immersion and analysis of media practices and cultural differences.