Bethesda, MD; Manager, Mobile User Experience, November 2015 – Present
Collaborates with Product, Development, and QA teams in an agile environment to deliver mobile experience features that provide ease of booking and increased conversion; facilitates brainstorming sessions with Product team to ensure thoughtful consideration and creative execution of feature additions and enhancements; conducted comprehensive gap analysis of app redesign framework against the existing app and MVP requirements; develops prototypes and works with User Research team to gain insight into guest behavior and preferences via lab testing; communicates UX project objectives and requirements to contract and UX resources and oversees their work; advocates for users and evangelizes the value of quality design and UX to the broader mobile and digital teams.
Washington, DC; Senior UX Designer, October 2014 – November 2015
Responsible for UX and design of a range of experiences across large- and small-screen platforms including Travel, Expeditions, Education, Events, Your Shot photo community, and photo contests; ensured aesthetic and functional consistency throughout Nat Geo’s digital properties in concurrence with the NGS brand
guidelines and current web standards; collaborated closely with Product Managers and Developers on agile teams; worked with Consumer Insights team on formal and informal usability testing; provided guidance and creative direction to Designers on UX and design projects; developed and socialized a comprehensive strategy to increase member engagement across digital channels and transform audiences into interest-based communities.
Silver Spring, MD; Principal and Creative Director, May 2010 – October 2014
Provided digital strategy, creative direction, user experience definition and brand development for a variety of clients including National Geographic, Threespot Media and The Washington Post Company.
Washington, DC; Senior Designer, March 2009 – March 2010
Served as Designer and UX Lead on various projects relating to National Geographic’s site-wide redesign including wireframes and functional requirements definition; research, definition, and design of proposed My NatGeo community pages; design contribution to home page and interior section templates; design of partnership mini-sites; redesign of twitter page to incorporate member-contributed photos; and proposed design for mobile site. Designed the Oceans section to serve as a portal to all Oceans-related content and inspire audience involvement in conservation efforts.
Washington, DC; Designer, 2006 – 2009
Conceptualized and designed web sites and online experiences that adhere to clients’ brand and strategic objectives; developed flexible, usable visual systems using layout, iconography, typography, color, and appropriate image selection; worked with Creative Director, Developers, and Project Managers to collaboratively complete all work on time and on budget; clients included Pew Internet and American Life Project, Planned Parenthood, ACLU, Duke University, National Geographic Entertainment, and the National Museum of American History.
Washington, DC; Project Manager, 2004 – 2006
Coordinated teams of designers and developers to produce interactive experiences for clients including the US Senate, the Aspen Institute, and Kennedy Center ArtsEdge; developed web site architectures, wireframes, and creative briefs based on understanding of clients’ strategic objectives; maintained project timelines and budgets, and ensured proper communication to client representatives and among team members.
Washington, DC; Consultant, 2003 – 2004
Developed and implemented comprehensive strategic communications plans; managed accounts for a variety of public and private sector clients including the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and The US Department of Health and Human Services; served as Art Director of award-winning publications and marketing collateral; managed workflow for a team of three Designers.
Bethesda, MD; Web Designer and Developer, 2001 – 2003
Designed, developed, and maintained web sites and web features for contracts serving the US Department of Health and Human Services; responsibilities also included writing monthly reports, developing long-term content plans, and analyzing web site usage statistics.
Bethesda, MD; Intern, 2000
Redesigned Discovery.com’s Explore by Subject sections, which served as categorical points-of-entry to the site’s content as well as its archive; established requirements for future transformation of these sections into comprehensive, interest-based communities.
Alexandria, VA; Web Designer and Developer, 1999
Participated in all aspects of website development including needs assessment, content planning, architecture, interface design, HTML programming and content management/maintenance.
Washington, DC; Advertising Specialist, 1998-1999
Developed online advertising campaigns and mini-sites for more than 100 local and national clients; assisted in managing production, placement, and launch of advertising throughout the Sidewalk.com family of sites.
Washington, DC, 2001
MA Communication, Culture & Technology
Thesis: Networks of Knowledge: User-Driven Innovation in Product Development for Interactive Technologies
Co-founder of Gnovis, the multimedia academic journal of the CCT Program.
Pittsburgh, PA, May 1997
BFA Communication Design
Recipient of the Senior Leadership Award for outstanding leadership and contribution to the Carnegie Mellon Community; Dean’s List; Vice President Chapter Development and Social Chairman, Delta Delta Delta; Volunteer, Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital.