About

Professional Summary

I am a UX strategist, designer, and researcher with over 20 years of experience in creative direction and best-in-class digital product design. I am a self-motivated leader ho is passionate about experience design, thought leadership, and discovery research and I put a strong focus on the end user.

I am enthusiastic about building engaging user experiences that make technology feel effortless. I enjoy applying various UX methodologies to solve problems and inite strategic business goals and objectives. I strive for my end product to combine a user-centric experience with outstanding design.

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Skills

Creative Direction UX Direction UX Discovery & Strategy UX Design
Qualitative UX Research User flows Persona Development

Heuristic Evaluation Competitive Analysis Benchmark Analysis

User Interviews Card Sorting Tree Testing Information Architecture Journey Mapping Wireframing Prototyping UX Validation & Testing A/B Testing Branding Illustration Creative Presentations

Graphic Design/Layout Project Management

Social Media Marketing Problem Solving Team Management

Team Resourcing Team Hiring Blog Writing

Work Experience

Des Plaines IL - November 2006 - 2020

Americaneagle.com - Creative Director

Shaped creative strategy and oversaw visual direction for all digital solutions and campaigns
Managed the creative team, which consisted of 12 designers
Owned responsibility for implementation of brand integrity, values, messaging, and marketing
Compiled user research and validated UX strategies
Created information architecture, wireframes and finished prototypes
Wrote customer-facing blog posts about various UD design topics
Identified new disciplines and expertise for the creative team and mentored new employees
Participated in the hiring process by writing job descriptions and conducting interviews
Attended seminars and continuing education training

Chicago IL - August 2006-November 2006

Orbitz - Senior UX Designer

Engaged with numerous project teams on enhancements, new additions, and initiative design and performed experience testing and validation.

Chicago IL - March 2006-August 2006

Razorfish - Senior UX Designer

Performed interactive UX design for the Kraft Foods creative team and created digital banners, interactive websites, and social media campaigns.

Des Plaines IL - 2003-2006

Americaneagle.com - Senior Designer

Designed over 100 websites for clients across varying industries and managed direction of multiple coinciding projects and deadlines.

Chicago IL - 2001 - 2003

Keno Kozie Associates - Web Graphic Designer

Completed numerous website graphic designs and performed HTML Programming.

Education

Class of 2000

Northern Illinois University

Bachelor of Fine Arts focused on Illustration

1998-2000

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Early College Program

My Interests

When I am not working, I enjoy driving my Sublime HEMI Daytona. I have owned the car for almost 14 years now. I have to admit, it's a bit of fun. I am also a huge sports fan and a season ticket holder for Notre Dame Football. I have a nine year old son Brady, whom I love to spend time with playing baseball, building Lego Star Wars or playing video games with.