University of Cincinnati

Class of 2007      University of Cincinnati: College of DAAP

Manager of UX at EXPRESS

I lead a diverse and distributed UX design team that focuses on creating best-in-class experiences for our users on native mobile apps and web. I partner with Product and Development partners to devise effective UX processes and grow our competencies. I am also responsible for creating and managing project plans while facilitating constructive collaboration between UX and business stakeholders while striving to foster an environment that is supportive of the team's needs.

Gap Inc.

Senior Manager of UX

I was responsible for developing and managing a team of UX/ UI designers. I help establish scalable UX processes as well as provide strategic leadership for our e-commerce team while working closely with business stakeholders to understand business needs and identify new opportunities to create best-in-class experiences that align with future business growth.

Big Lots Stores

Manager of UX

I led and supported the UX and UI teams at Express, helping to develop competencies and educate on best practices. We used qualitative and quantitative methods to understand user needs, motivations and behaviors to make viable recommendations for the business to provide positive customer experiences and opportunities for growth. I also work closely with the team to create wireframes, user flows and interactive prototypes to reshape the interactions between the business and customer, often presenting the hi-fidelity design deliverables to key stakeholders and executives to create buy-in.

EXPRESS

Leading the user experience design and strategy for the Digital and Integrated Marketing Teams, I helped forge collaboration across a cross-functional group on a variety of  higher education projects and was responsible for leading creative marketing efforts across multiple channels to engage with target audiences in meaningful and measurable ways.

Ologie

Director of UX

Skills: User-centered Design · Product Strategy · Visual Design · Communication

Associate Director of UX

Charged with helping lead client engagements and managing other members of the design team, I defined and drove the design process moving from insights to ideas to deliver inventive, flexible and thoughtful, solutions from concept to launch. I lead designers and other members of a cross-functional team  that tackles all aspects of the design process while working on a variety of projects that integrate digital designs into products, services and environments. I creatively solve complex problems from a variety of perspectives, contexts and research inputs, utilizing industry design standards and best practices to define and implement design criteria, and apply user centered design methodologies to ensure ideas are based on customer needs while also applying my informed views on taste and visual communication.

Green Stone is a strategy and design consultancy that delivers Modern Loyalty to our clients through the crafting of experiences that deliver meaningful value.

Green Stone

Product Design Lead

Responsible for creative leadership and management within a team of direct reports and ownership of multiple projects. I oversaw the 10 month Shawfloors.com redesign project as well as the redesign of the entire brand platform during that period. I worked closely with Strategy, UX Researchers, Architects, BA's and Technology partners to ensure creative concepts and execution met the established objectives. Worked within a streamlined agile work flow to hit aggressive deadlines.

Resource/Ammirati, An IBM Company

Art Director: Omni Experience

I supervised and managed the creative aspects of a project from start to finish. Worked closely with clients to ensure our creative vision and execution exceeded their expectations. Served as a bridge between artists and clients and directed the work of designers, animators, editors and compositors while overseeing the completion of projects. I was responsible for managing multiple vendor relationships throughout projects. I also managed timelines and workflow efficiently to ensure deadlines were met and clients have a positive experience.

Spacejunk Media

Freelance Art Director

I participated in the design and concept of the Chrome Book "For Everyone" digital campaign. I oversaw other designers and was responsible for the design and direction of the www.galleryforeveyone.com website and social platform as well as the design, concept and animation of the Times Square billboard take-over, NYTimes.com homepage takeover and other various media ads.

Google

Freelance Creative

I worked closely with clients, designers and developers to deliver beautiful and functional interactive designs for e-commerce and digital marketing campaigns. I also played an active role with the Business Development Team in procuring new clients, such as Chanel, by contributing to strategy, concepts and designs of proposed projects.

Tender Creative

As the Visual Design Lead on Nike Football, I lead a small and nimble team of myself, a junior designer, a dedicated UX designer and a Front-end developer to craft innovative campaigns, execute engaging e-commerce experiences, and strategize effective modes of consumer outreach, whether it be social, mobile or event-based. I was also responsible for pro-actively pitching ideas to our client stake-holder on a regular basis and win buy-in.

R/GA

Senior Visual Designer

As an Interactive Design Lead I was responsible for wire framing and designing interfaces for mobile and desktop applications. I also over-saw and participated in the design and production of all micro-interactions, transitions, animations, video-editing and prototyping for interactive applications. I also collaborated very closely with the Engineering teams to help craft a variety of award-winning interfaces, apps and websites in technically innovative ways.

Domani Studios

Interaction Design Lead

When a friend and mentor of mine decided to start his own digital boutique, I decided I wanted to be on the ground floor of the operation and signed up as the second hire. Once we got rolling, there was no shortage of rich-interactive work flowing in from the large digital agencies in town such as R/GA, Digitas, or Razorfish as well as some of our own clients like Adobe. Helping to manage this firehose of work, I wore many hats and was responsible for designing, concepting and animating web sites, motion pieces, and rich media applications as well as interviewing new hires and setting in place the intern program. In time, my role also became more dedicated to business development and using every tool at my disposal to win the next pitch. At Luxurious Animals, my experience encouraged me to be scrappy, wear multiple hats, and pull from my background in interactive design and motion to create unique branded story-telling experiences.

Luxurious Animals

Interactive Designer / Animator

As a designer on the Ford account I was involved in the design, concept and production of e-commerce websites, digital campaigns and content pieces from beginning to end. Starting with the client brief, to the concepts and wireframes, to designs and executions, I contributed on and shepherded the work all the way through to production. Being my introduction into the big digital agency world, I also learned to work more efficiently in a fast paced environment and to generate creative solutions within a team setting.

Razorfish

Interactive Designer

I assisted in the design, conceptualization, animation and production of motion pieces, banner ads and style guides under tight deadlines. At Exopolis, I was mentored by a team of exceptional designers and animators. During this experience I learned to work within the production process and to balance multiple projects at once.

Exopolis

Design Intern

I participated in a multitude of online marketing campaigns for upcoming movies within the Interactive Marketing Department. Responsibilities included creating teaser sites for upcoming films, movie trailer pages and web banners. I would also participate in brainstorming sessions about upcoming campaigns and new marketing strategies.

Jb Ayers