Currently Up-To

Principle Product Designer — Self-Employed

December 2016 - present  |  Los Angeles & Remote

Mostly working with tech companies and startups to help validate and define user experience strategy, interface design and branding plus marketing needs. Facilitated team management and project lead for collaboration, research, strategy, and full-stack product design execution.

    HIGHLIGHTS:

    • Byton - Embedded in concept video project team to develop UI for vehicle technology & connected devices, See Case Study >
    • Roofas - Led discovery research to validate business opportunity for dog owner social platform and facilitated a number of design thinking activities
    • Bixel Exchange - Spearheaded communication study using human-centered research methods and design thinking workshops to drive collaboration, See Case Study >
    • The MLS - Led thought leadership and product team enablement for incorporating a UX research & design practice into daily workflow
    • Aaron Brumer & Associates - Worked directly with owner of architect firm to establish branding, website, portfolio, and collateral,
    • FOX Broadcasting - Collaboration with digital production design team for support of TV Show launches and cross-channel seasonal media buys, See Example >
    • VO|CO - Driving creative leadership for 360° collateral needs including, sales, packaging, website, social media, and special projects, See Case Study >

    Freelance Designer — Toptal

    April 2018 - present  |  Remote

    Joined Toptal's exclusive freelance network for exposure to client work and ability to work remotely. In addition to design expertise, I am currently working with the Editorial team on contributing articles to their blog and network of industry professionals. 
     

    PRIOR Experience

      Senior Product Designer — Pivotal Labs

      July 2015 - November 2016  |  Santa Monica, CA

      Pivotal Labs is a software engineering consultancy deeply rooted in Silicon Valley and known for their focus on user centered design and extreme programming methodologies in an agile development environment, as well as their unique approach to consulting by teaching processes to client teams for company transformation. 

      The product designer role at Pivotal reaches unicorn status with full-stack design duties from assistance with sales and scoping, leading user research and analysis, design strategy and concept development, wireframe design and prototyping, usability testing, visual design, and front-end pairing. A principal designer on product client teams which were put together around balancing the expertise of engineering, product management, and design for lean practices of agile software development.

      HIGHLIGHTS: 

      • Drove research and product strategy of CoreLogic’s top mortgage loan tool which yielded 25% growth in sales following implementation, See Case Study >
      • Led design research and product development for ABC News broadcast company in the build of a greenfield application replacing manual journalistic workflows
      • Discovered and identified problem space and developed product strategy for workflows of employees for IT division of Boeing aerospace company

      Lead UX/UI Designer — Various

      September 2013 - September 2015 (Contract & Consultant)   |  Los Angeles, CA

      Primarily embedded in creative teams to lead and guide user experience and interface design for technology companies both startup and established. Spearheaded and managed independent project teams from concept to launch. Collaboration with founders, peers, executives, and others.

      HIGHLIGHTS: 

      • Edmunds - Embedded in UXD and special project teams for product and business development of Edmunds.com online and mobile platforms, See Case Study >
      • Winnieware LLC - Pitched and led project for developing the branding, website and marketing collateral for ReplyToSome software for Outlook users, See Website >
      • Hotshot Inc. - Collaborate directly with founders during early stages of product development to establish a Beta user experience and branding for online education platform, HotshotLegal.com, See Case Study >
      • nūr Development | Consulting - Worked directly with founder in startup phases of business to establish branding, website and collateral, See Case Study >
      • FOX Broadcasting - Collaboration with digital production design team for support of TV Show launches and cross-channel seasonal media buys, See Example >
      • Transamerica - Embedded in digital/innovation group as design lead on projects pertaining to 1000+ financial service web platforms
      • General Assembly - Pitched, developed and taught “Page Layout Design Principles for the Web Designer”, See Case Study >
      • AssetAvenue - First employee during company inception, guided thought leadership through business development of real estate crowdfunding platform AssetAvenue.com

      Director of Design — Something Massive

      February 2012 - September 2013  |  Los Angeles, CA

      Something Massive is a boutique agency dedicated to the digital and social space, providing engagement strategy, content and design that inspire loyal consumers to advocate the brands they love. Joined the company during a growth period, rounding the team out with creative leadership and a background in working with consumer packaged goods’. 

      Duties included managing the design team with three staff reports, three interns and freelance pool, through daily process, resourcing and hiring. Leading client creative relationships from pitch, to design strategy, design reviews, and web development. Worked alongside executives and key stakeholders. Executed designs when needed and aided team by providing feedback, mentorship or guiding layout decisions. 

      HIGHLIGHTS: 

      • Assisted in developing relationship with Plum Organics team to secure agency of record contract that continues to date
      • Implemented a process for UX Design as part of client approval with user experience strategy and layout design direction of web portals
      • Grew design team to include two full-time designers, several design interns and managing freelance talent base of various creative expertise
      • Developed concept and design strategy for the cross-channel digital marketing of several movie releases from top entertainment studios

      CLIENTS: Plum Organics, Universal Studios, Regal Cinemas, Yahoo!, Sony Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Häagen-Dazs, Yankee Candle, Warner Brothers, Paramount Pictures, Americana Manhassatt, Guthy Renker, United Talent Agency, American Express, Hennessy, The Energy Project, among others

      Senior Art Director — POSSIBLE

      November 2011 - February 2012 (Contract)  |  Culver City, CA

      POSSIBLE is a global digital agency that offers clients award-winning digital strategy, performance marketing, and creative design.

      Led concept and design for Mitsubishi Cars, North America account on the Winter digital marketing campaign including website development and social strategy. Associated with the broadcast commercial ‘Ride the Storm’ created by client partner agency 180LA. 

      HIGHLIGHTS:

      • Assisted in managing relationship with partnering sponsor, Weather Underground
      • Creative strategy for conceptual website guiding users through the weather experience
      • See Case Study >

      Design Manager — Lunchbox

      August 2008 - August 2011  |  Culver City, CA

      Lunchbox (now known as Mirum Shopper) helped define the shopper marketing agency space by developing a partnership with Walmart.com which led to evergreen e-commerce products for engaging users with top selling brands. Supervised creative team and assisted with managing resources, templates and training during rapid-growth, while company multiplied from 10 to 120 employees over a year and half. 

      Team management of three direct reports and freelance pool, project lead through concept ideation and execution for new business presentations and 360° campaign projects. Led design process from concept sketching and UX to visual and interaction design while aligning with brand guidelines and market needs. Collaborated cross-functionally with copy writers, video producers, web developers, social strategists, and executives.

      HIGHLIGHTS: 

      • Reached billions of consumers through integrated brand content campaigns on Walmart.com with in-store components
      • Helped implement process and training while creative team grew from just two people to over 20 designers, art directors, creative directors, copywriters, illustrators, and animators
      • Collaborated in pitching and driving creative strategy for evergreen platforms and highly trafficked brand-shops on Walmart.com

      CLIENTS: Walmart.com, Unilever, Walgreens, CVS, Aveeno, Enfamil, Huggies, Barbie, Dove, Axe, Suave, Neutrogena Naturals, Cottonelle, Degree, Caress, Kleenex, Skittles, OP, Walmart Soundcheck with Black Eyed Peas, Beyoncé, Shakira, Gym Class Heros, and others

      Art Director + Web Designer — Various

      February 1999 - August 2008  |  Los Angeles, CA - New York, NY - Pullman, WA

      Further career details include primarily working at magazine publishing and entertainment companies either in longterm contracts or on-staff. 

      • Robb Report magazines & robbreport.com - Special advertising and digital marketing
      • E! Networks - Broadcast TV show branding and production design needs
      • ZAJI magazine - Partner on publication launch including branding, photography & layout
      • Us Weekly magazine & usweeklymag.com - Production layout design and web design
      • Good Housekeeping magazine - Production layout design and photo retouching
      • And Baby magazine & andbabymag.com - Design for pioneering GLBT publication
      • The Daily Evergreen - Team manager of 10 reports & design for award-winning paper

      For additional information and credentials, please connect via LinkedIn.

       

      VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP

      Co-Chair + Volunteer Coordinator — Surfrider Foundation

      May 2010 - August 2012 (volunteer)  |  West Los Angeles / Malibu Chapter

      Surfrider is a non-profit dedicated to the preservation of oceans, waves and beaches. Leadership supported the Los Angeles volunteer base and program partnerships of the World's largest chapter.

      Responsibilities included delegating tasks, maintaining partnerships and event planning, as well as fundraising for chapter expenses. Also led monthly beach cleanup volunteer coordination and onsite guidance for participating members on clean up days. 

      HIGHLIGHTS: 

      • Coordinated and hosted numerous events raising nearly $70K in funds
      • Doubled volunteer base in one year’s time through personable communication and engaging recruitment practices - managed database of 800+ volunteers
      • Represented Rise Above Plastics ‘Plastic the Real Seamonster’ in partnership at the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival in Santo Domingo, DR including a reception with the country's President, Leonel Fernández, honoring Sylvia Earle
      • See Case Study >
       

      et cetera

      Location

      Santa Monica, CA + Remote, Global

      Skillset

      Design Thinking, User-Centered Design, Design Strategy, Product Development, Workshop Facilitator, Agile Coaching, Qualitative Research, Service Design, Persona Development, Usability Research, Feature Validation, User Interface, Visual Design, Branding

      Software

      • Mac OS (circa 1990)
      • Sketch, InVision, Axure, Zeplin (expert)
      • Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat Pro (expert)
      • HTML, CSS, Java (pro - read/edit)
      • Figma.com, Framer JS, RealtimeBoard, (pro / testing)
      • iWork, Office, Google Apps, Pivotal Tracker, Asana, etc. (pro)
      • Squarespace, WordPress, Tumblr, (pro / web master)

      Education

      • Washington State University - B.A., Advertising Major / Graphic Design Minor
      • UCLA Extension - Screenwriting, Film & TV, AfterEffects
      • HB Studio + AADA - Improv, Technique & Scene Study
      • Studio 4 - Directing the Actor & Camera

      Volunteer

      • Surfrider Foundation
      • Social Media Week
      • The Art Institutes
      • Cash for College
      • CoachArt

      Hobbies

      Pets, gardening, cooking, home decor, sewing, painting, writing, travel, horseback riding, yoga, skiing, music, poetry, mountains, jewelry making, the ocean, nature