Associate Director, Experience Design (UX/CX)

VMLY&R | August 2021-Present

Client: Ford

Lead human centered design workshops with clients and build comprehensive experience documentation for cross-functional product and field teams. Define a new way of working for teams utilizing StrUX (strategy + UX) pairs. Develop an industry leading transparent service & repair experience and payment tools. Drive strategic and conceptual vision across multiple platforms. Grew team business by nearly 30% during my tenure. Co-founded the umbrella ERG IncredABLE for neurodiversity, disability and accessibility as a result of founding VMLY&R’s disability ERG.

Associate Director, User Experience / Experience Architecture

FCB Chicago | April 2019 – August 2021

Clients: Cox Communications, HP, Glad, Discover

Lead UX on a cross-functional team for an enterprise telecom client. Collaborate with creative leads on innovating digital experiences. Define process and created a proprietary audit methodology. Mentor junior team members and manage day-to-day team. Lead bi-monthly skill-building activities to foster growth and team engagement. Expand the UX engagement on clients by bringing UX thinking to multi-platform digital experiences.

Lead user experience architect (UX/Interactive Art Director)

Ogilvy USA | October 2016 – March 2019

Clients: Modelo, CDW, Grainger, SC Johnson (Glade, Pledge, Mrs. Meyers, Caldrea, Duck, Mr Muscle, Lysoform, Scrubbing Bubbles), Kimberly-Clarke (Huggies, Pull-Ups, GoodNites), Chicago Sun-Times

Produced UX documentation such as personas, empathy maps, user journeys, wireframes, wireflows and interactive prototypes. Developed a UX process and implemented accessibility standards for global CPG and B2B brands. Lead client workshops and create campaign-wide experience architecture across all media channels and owned properties. Created a user-first strategy for global CPG brands’ e-commerce initiatives. Produced award-winning experiences with honors at the One Show, Cannes Lions and Clios.

UI/UX Designer (Web Designer)

Orbit Media Studios, Inc. | November 2011 – August 2016
Conceptualized, wireframed and designed responsive websites to meet business objectives for clients in a variety of industries. Designed interfaces utilizing responsive frameworks and a variety of open-source and proprietary content management systems such as WordPress, Drupal and NetSuite.

Creative Manager

Illini Media Company
Coordinated and mentored student staff while ensuring quality designs were delivered for daily and weekly publications in print and online for advertising clients. Led an interdisciplinary team as the creative director and project manager through the redesign of 5 media websites..

Owner

Purple Crayon Web Studio | June 2009 – November 2011
Led small and independent businesses through the design and development of small-scale WordPress & Drupal websites.

Part-time/Freelance Web Designer & Developer

December 2007- May 2009
Designed and built websites and HTML/Flash banner ads for a variety of small business clients as a freelancer for small design agencies.

Practice areas

Human-centered design
Universal Design
Accessibility
User Research
Information Architecture
Conversational UI
AR/XR/MR

Methodologies

Wireframing & Prototyping
User Interviews
Client Workshops
Heuristic Evaluation
Accessibility Evaluation
Empathy Mapping
User Journey Mapping
Task Analysis
User Testing
Card Sorting
Design Sprints

Software & Tools

Sketch
InVision
Adobe XD
Photoshop
Illustrator
Axure
HTML/CSS
Framer
WordPress
Drupal
SiteCore
Andriod/Material Design
iOS/ Apple Human Centered Design Guidelines
Fluent design system (Microsoft)

Languages

English – Native
French – Fluent
German – Conversational

Speaking & Thought Leadership

FCB Inclusive Interfaces, 2020
Word Camp Chicago 2017, UX is the Heart of the Matter
WordCamp Chicago 2016, Information Architecture for Normal People
Food Allergy Blogger Conference 2014
Food Allergy Blogger Conference 2013

Volunteer Work

Chicago Tap Theatre, Secretary, Board of Directors, September 2017-Present
Chicago Tap Theatre, Member, Board of Directors, December 2016-August 2017

Education

Certificate in Advanced Design
May 2010 | College of DuPage   

Diplôme Français des Affaires, 1ière degrée (avec Mention Très Bien)
Chambre de Commerce et de l’Industrie de Paris

Bachelor of Arts in French Commercial Studies & International Marketing
May 2007 | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign