About

As a user experience strategist, researcher and designer I often have to wear many hats: strategist, workshop facilitator, business process analyst, user researcher, information architect, ux designer, team coach, interface designer, accessibility evangelist and usability test facilitator. My gift is the ability to learn a client’s business very quickly, see the path to the solution, and work effectively with visual designers, content strategists and engineers to bring that solution to life. This usually involves doing new business development, project planning, estimation and client management along the way. My focus is on bridging the gap between research and design and inspiring the team through insights.

I am a realist not a purist and ensure that solutions fulfill business constraints and address technology or data limitations while pushing the edge of the design envelope where possible.

Download my resume or view my LinkedIn profile.

GRATEFUL TO WORK WITH AMAZING COMPANIES AND TEAMS

The experiences and interactions with my clients and colleagues have allowed me to opportunity to design so many kinds of products, reflect brand in every interaction, and to infuse research where ever possible (and creating new research techniques where none existed). These products include large corporate websites, highly transactional tools, and marketing communications. All of these are created based on an understanding of how people think, do and feel. Those companies include (add)ventures, Salzman Consulting, Sapient Corporation, IDEO Product Development and Carlow International Human Factors Engineering.

I have 20+ years of experience, a Masters of Arts in Industrial Psychology/Human Factors from George Mason University and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Psychology/Human Factors from Tufts University with courses sprinkled in from Bentley around User Centered Design and Internet Systems Management from Bentley University. Since my top Clifton Strength is Learner, I am energized by new things and open to exploring and building something new and better.

ONE PERSON CAN DO STRATEGY, RESEARCH AND DESIGN

Context

My early career was grounded in human factors analysis, design and experimentation but shifted to research at IDEO and to research and design at Sapient and (add)ventures. Along the way, my approach became increasingly strategic by consolidating business, user, and technology requirements into a solution (and always keeping an eye on innovation).

UX RESEARCH

Goals, business strategies, user needs, opportunities and vision are uncovered through discovery workshops that I choreograph and facilitate with key stakeholders and cross functional teams. Facilitating the upfront of a project to gather all the inputs, learn a client’s business and make sense of a lot of information is a gift. If we are able to do research, I plan, lead and execute one-on-one user interviews and focus groups (and basic survey work). It’s important to uncover findings that are insightful yet actionable in nature. After much practice, I’ve honed the skill to know what’s important to know, to dig for deeper meaning, to find inspiration and know what is relevant when lost in a sea of data. Business process design cannot be ignored and I admit that I enjoy wading through a clients operational or business process so we can sync the experience to it (or request changes if it benefits users). If user research is not possible due to budget constraints, the intuitive approach can suffice by leveraging hundreds of projects, best practices and a heavy dose of experience.

STRATEGY AND UX DESIGN

During design, I work with user experience designers, digital visual designers, copy writers, accessibility specialists, content producers and engineers throughout the process to ensure that it all syncs well and the magic comes to life! My contribution is at the early stages of design to do the following:

  • Define the design approach and coach and lead the PM and Design team

  • Conduct competitive landscape reviews

  • Map out a content strategy

  • Perform expert reviews / heuristic evaluations

  • Build out the conceptual models that reflect the strategy and approach

It’s not uncommon for me to roll up my sleeves to create a sitemap, lead design sessions, or wireframe complex interactions. I am always looking to improve the design process (e.g. online sketch sessions during COVID, build a new template for accessibility specifications) and find ways to inspire the process or streamline the workflow

I’m looking forward to connecting; please contact me via phone or email.