Hello!
One of the things I love about this discipline is being able to research and iterate because you get the opportunity to improve your design by getting feedback from people who are actually using your product. I love that.
I enjoy thinking about the larger scope of a problem and finding solutions that focus not only on results but solutions that also provide a rich user experience that builds loyalty and the desire to return to the experience.
I am able to take disparate business requirements and use concept mapping and diagramming to distill information into a product framework and direction.
I prefer to work proactively, rather than reactively and keep communication open so projects can stay on schedule and teams and team members can work effectively together.
As a design leader, I give clear, constructive feedback and encouragement.
I enjoy sharing insights into current design trends, great design around us, and new technologies. I want to help focus designers on the development of strategic and critical thinking and visual and interaction design skills.
Every day, I strive to help foster a positive and inspiring work environment that supports beautiful design, thoughtful and respectful collaboration and a lively sense of humor.
Professional Experience
SIRIUSXM NEW YORK, NY | REMOTE | SENIOR PRODUCT DESIGNER | 2022-PRESENT
Working closely with my Product, Content, Marketing and Engineering partners on the SiriusXM app and web platforms to continually improve user experience. Specifically focusing on subscriber experiences.
Launched a redesigned app at the end of 2023, and are continuing to make improvements based on qualitative and quantitative research.
Passionate about being a mentor to our design interns and helping them find what they love about product design.
Currently working on conducting workshops to help our SXM design team define and align on our design principles and share them with the rest of the business.
IMPEKABLE SAN JOSE, CA | SENIOR PRODUCT DESIGNER, PROJECT LEAD | 2020-2022
UX strategy, research and design for award-winning product design firm
Leading project teams for multiple software, web and mobile and IoT products
Developing Design Ops to encourage agency growth, collaboration and efficiency
Facilitating client workshops and presenting to clients
Leading company initiatives in user research and designing for accessibility
Managing and mentoring designers on projects to improve their skills, find what
they love, and feel ownership over great work
Published work can be viewed here
HYATT HOTELS CORPORATION CHICAGO, IL | LEAD USER EXPERIENCE DESIGNER | 2017 - 2020
Led team’s visual and interaction redesign of the booking flow on hyatt.com
Pilot program launched with 14 hotels and has outperformed the previous experience by as much as 22%
Defined strategy and priorities with Product Owner; improved processes with Agile workflow
Conducted usability testing, paper prototyping, A/B tests, data science strategies
Design Lead on Design Systems team
STUDIONORTH NORTH CHICAGO | DIGITAL ART DIRECTOR | 2014 - 2017
Led large-scale digital, award-winning projects directing design and development team, including client management and presentations
Implemented research methodologies for the agency that informed long-term strategies
Introduced human-centered design methodologies to agency
Built strong client relationships that led to continued engagement
FLOR, INC. CHICAGO, IL | CREATIVE DIRECTOR | 2013-2014
Created summer season strategy for sustainable flooring company
Improved user experience and product information for catalog, ecommerce and digital communications
Built design relationship with executive leadership
Directed photoshoots worked with copywriters to bring vision to fruition
STOREFRONT & STUDIO, SANTA CRUZ, CA | OWNER 2008 - 2013
Owner of innovative home design shop & studio with a mission to offer well-designed and beautiful things and services that are delivered with care for the environment
E-commerce site and bricks and mortar shop and design studio
Created all marketing collateral and digital campaigns
Featured in Sunset Magazine and Sunset Magazine’s Home by Sunset blog, international design blogs, local media including a “Best Home Design Store” award
Education
NIELSEN NORMAN GROUP | UX CERTIFICATION
Completed courses and exams in Interaction Design, Personas, Usability Testing, Managing User Experience Strategy and The Human Mind and Usability for NN/g UX Certification.
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY, RALEIGH, NC | MASTER OF GRAPHIC DESIGN
THESIS: How can (teacher) assessable self-directed learning be fostered through a website that allows middle school students to design their own websites and be involved in their communities?
UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME, NOTRE DAME, IN | BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS (CUM LAUDE)
Award for lasting contribution to the Design Program
Awards, etc.
THE PRACTICE OF DESIGN for UX Collective, April, 2020
ADOBE CREATIVE JAM | JUDGE Participated as a judge in the Adobe Creative Jam session in Chicago,Oct, 2019. A UX-focused creative exercise for designers.
AIGA & ARTISAN PRESENT IN-HOUSE PERSPECTIVES | PANELIST Shared perspective with younger designers on working in-house versus an agency. Chicago, April 2017.
GOLD AWARD Rich Media category of the 33rd Annual Healthcare Advertising Awards: Cancer Treatment Centers of America Interactive Survivor Tree
SILVER AWARD 46th Creativity International Design Awards: Cancer Treatment Centers of America Interactive Survivor Tree
STOREFRONT & STUDIO featured in Sunset Magazine
SUNSET MAGAZINE Garden design featured in collaboration with Kathleen Shaeffer Design
SUNSET MAGAZINE Home & Garden photographed
GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIP, North Carolina State University
INTERACTIVE MEDIA GRANT through North Carolina Arts Council, middle school digital design instructor
MAXINE Co-Publisher and Art Director, independent women’s literary magazine, Chicago, IL
WHAT I LOVE
I lovvvvvve stand-up comedy. This means, I’m also one of a million amateur stand-ups who show up at open mics around Chicago. I’ve taken classes at Second City and Lincoln Lodge, which I highly recommend. I highly recommend both places as a supportive environment to practice. Also, I’m working with a non-profit to use humor as a way to process and reflect on difficult health issues.
Want to see one of my most recent sets? Ok, but remember, I’m new at this!
I also create and admire beautiful interior and garden design. Or surf in the original surf city.
What am I watching? Good comedy. And a nerdy obsession with this show.
What am I listening to? SiriusXM’s Conan O’Brien channel, KCRW or great comedy podcasts like Smartless or Good One. If it’s not comedy, it’s Steve Portigal’s Dollars to Donuts, Brené Brown’s Unlocking Us, Design Matters , or 99% Invisible.