Design Consultant

2019 – present

Uptech Studio: Design Lead for many of their client’s projects:

  • KQED (San Francisco’s public media): Design lead for their mobile app, introduced design systems into the design process, created prototypes for user testing, and collaborated on many web projects including their award-winning 2022 Voter Guide and Bay Area Hip-Hop Anniversary feature.

  • Fan inc: Design lead for their mobile app and internal customer management tool. Created prototypes for client reviews, and conducted user interviews.

  • Float: Designed the UI for their native android and iOS mobile app which gave couples the ability to share their credit scores with each other to encourage financial responsibility.

Nature Made: Designed the UI for their Nurish and Equelle supplement subscription services.

Happy Returns: Created MVP designs for their white label customer service tools as well as their B2C self-service tools.

eSalon

VP of Product & UX

2015 – 2019

Hands-on product designer and leader.

Optimized the conversion of the main acquisition funnel through ongoing A/B tests of design and collaboration with the data analytics, engineering, and marketing teams.

Oversaw a rebrand of the site and introduced a "subscribe & save" feature for hair products clients.

Launched online salon booking, and created tools for colorists to formulate client's hair color.

Owned roadmap planning in support of the founders’ vision advocating for the user, and partnered closely with engineering leads on its successful delivery.

Led the first phase of localizing the site for the Spanish speaking audience in the U.S..

Hired and supported a team of product managers, designers, and copywriters including design reviews, 1:1s, and performance reviews.

Promoted from Senior Director of UX to VP of Product Management in 2017.

Nordstrom

UX Design Director

2013 – 2015

Design lead for the launch of Nordstrom Rack / Hautelook combined website and mobile apps.

Led reviews with Nordstrom family and other C-level stakeholders 

Collaborated with product managers on feature set definition.

Conducted user tests, wrote scripts, and created prototypes. 

Hired and supported a small team of designers including design review and performance reviews.

Independent Contractor

2012 – 2013

Emmys: Designed the IA and wireframes for the award show site contracting through Dsire Agency.

Dreamworks Animation: Designer for Ptch, a mobile app for combining photos, videos, music and text into a shareable story with friends – think Instagram or TikTok before it's time. It was acquired by Yahoo in 2013.

Disney ABC Television Group

Design Director

2011 – 2012

Oversaw the design and user experience of the official 2012 Oscar.com web site.

Collaborated with the contracted design agency, on feature definition, design direction, and IA.

Led design presentations for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and Oscar show producers. 

Managed input and requests from a varied group of internal and external stakeholders.

Supported a large team of production artists, ux designers, and motion artists. 

Reorganized production artist workflow for greater efficiency by teaming them with specific producers and editors.

Yahoo! 

Director of User Experience Design

2007 – 2011

Led design for the global relaunch of Yahoo!'s top-ranked entertainment verticals.

Created reusable design patterns and systems that were used across all media products including database pages (like a  movie, tv show, or personality), video galleries and photo galleries.

Collaborated with cross-functional teams on the long-term strategic planning and requirement definition for each site.

Partnered with User Researchers to define the goals, test structure, and prototypes for all usability testing.

Managed the design team of visual and interaction designers including project resourcing, career development, and performance reviews.

Promoted from Senior Manager to Director of User Experience Design.

Edmunds.com

Art Director

2005 – 2007

Oversaw all creative for the company’s four web sites as well as art for sales & marketing.

Determined the design approach & strategy for all projects from planning to launch including the 2007 redesign of Edmunds.com.

Managed usability testing including the development of all prototypes and workflows.

Promoted from Senior Designer to Art Director.

Kaiser Permanente

Senior Web Designer

2003 – 2005

Created the initial look for web marketing materials for the “Thrive” campaign still running today.

Designed web based patient and business intake experience and developed design style guides that simplified the process of building new features for this portion of the site.

Art directed photoshoots for print, web, and marketing materials.

Designed and built prototypes for user testing of new products in HTML.

Digital Insight

Web Designer

2000 – 2002

Designed web sites, games (using Macromedia Flash), and other features for the company’s bank and credit union clients.

Led concept meetings and design reviews with clients.

Designed artwork and layouts for internal marketing department.

Education

University of Michigan

M.F.A. in Theater Design

Earle V. Moore School of Music Award,
Zelma Weisfeld Design Scholarship,
Theater Associates Design Scholarship

University of Maryland

B.A. in Theater Design, cum laude

Tipton Stringer Conrad Theater Scholarship

Design Awards

2023 Region 2 Edward R. Murrow Award for Innovation in Design for the KQED 2022 Voter Guide

2014 Nordstrom Rack was Apple App Store Editor's Pick as part of the "Best Apps of the Month" collection

16th Annual Webby Award Official Honoree for Yahoo! Movies

2016 Global Cosmetics Community's #beauty20 Awards shortlist for Best eCommerce Website - eSalon

18th Annual Webby Awards Official Honoree for Best Associations Website for Emmys.com

16th Annual Webby Award Official Honoree for Yahoo! TV