EXPERIENCE
I am a design and strategy consultant specializing in User Experience. Human-Centered Design principles are at the core of my interest in understanding how humans (and non-humans) consume, respond and digest information. I have a demonstrated history of working in the field of Product Design, User Experience, Research, Design, Strategy, and Marketing. My focus is on creative solutions that promote visibility, growth, and recognition.
I have worked as a Designer and Art Director in Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia over the past two decades. Beginning my career in publication and brand design. I have evolved over the past decade, to focus on marketing, promotions, and events. This transition has made me increasingly aware of the need for strategic planning, project management, and business skills.
I am eager to learn new and emerging technology with a particular interest in AI integration and generative image platforms. I have expert skills in Design Thinking, User Experience Design, User Research, Brand Strategy, Systems Integration, and Workshop Facilitation.
I bring this synthesis of experience to my current work as a UX, Strategy, and Design consultant. Creating a holistic framework that better serves the client and the end user. Better design with even better results.
In my spare time, I lead the Interaction Design Foundation NOVA chapter.
EDUCATION
I have more than twenty years experience in Graphic Design and Art Direction, with an additional background in Art History and Studio Art. I received my undergraduate degree in Painting and Printmaking and Art History from Virginia Commonwealth University located in Richmond, VA—where I studied directly with Professor Phil Meggs, author of "The History of Graphic Design".
In 2021, I completed my Master of Professional Studies (MPS) degree in User Experience Design from Maryland Institute College of Art. This offered the opportunity to collaborate with many intelligent and creative instructors and colleagues from diverse professional backgrounds. I was one of five contributors in a project called Mira, a conversational-AI personal coach and life-planning virtual assistant. This project was selected out of 30+ applicants in Round 1 of MICA 2022 UP/Start Venture Competition. I also published my Capstone thesis project called AstroCompass on UX Collective Bootcamp via Medium.
MY PROCESS
Empathize
I always ask my clients first, "How do you want the solution or design to make yourself or the user feel?" It is through feeling that we first identify with a product or experience. Feeling evokes empathy and opens up dialogue with the user. This is a collaboration and is at the heart of the identifying the problem or challenge to be solved.
Discover
Next, I start the journey of discovery and identifying your wants, pain points, intentions, assumptions and expectations. Research into the subject and competitors will prepare the ground for developing a design strategy. This is the most important step in the process of choosing a direction. It is at this juncture that the problem will be defined and a path will be chosen.
Vision + Planning
After careful assessment of surveying and understanding the lay of the land—it is now time to develop a vision for synthesizing and articulating the problem and select an opportunity for creating a plan. This is where the story emerges and the vision can start to take form.
Explore
Once a plan is defined and opportunity identified, then the fun begins with exploring options for visualizing the product or experience. Reaching out for user and expert perspectives can help to create constraints that will encourage an efficient selection of platform, medium or aesthetic.
Create
The final stage is where the theory and objective takes form and can be tested. User feedback from usability tests will help to tighten the gaps in the experience to fully solve the initial problem needs. The iterative process might take us back to earlier research and statements to better improve the final deliverable.
