Previous Experience

Logo: Motivate Design

Motivate Design

New York, NY
Aug 2014 - Jul 2016

Senior Experience Designer

As a senior team member, I had responsibilities as both an individual contributor and as a team lead on client accounts. Below is a selection of accounts I worked on.

Otsuka Pharmaceuticals

Project

Led and participated in all design tasks and managed all digital assets of this industry first-to-market digital medicine device (mobile phone app).

Solution

Conducted several workshops with the client to refine and improve the user experience of the app. Participated in several research activities where patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals were interviewed, and prototypes were evaluated. Recreated all digital assets to improve ongoing project design work. Recreated a complete Full Story Wireframe document to accompany a newly created Visual Design Guide. Otsuka Case Story

Trendsetter

Project

Assisted the founders to create an MVP to showcase to potential investors. 

Solution

Led an all-day Workthrough with client team to discover user journeys and key user types. Based on this session I created a set of wireframes, the visual designer applied a layer, and the client was able to build an MVP.

Chick-fil-A

Project

The client understands their current web offering is sub-par and wanted to kick-off a research project to explore a new direction.

Solution

As part of the research project two prototypes was created to use during user testing sessions. I was assigned to create a version that mimic current fast casual restaurants’ websites Prototype (password: christo1)

itBit

Project

The client needed to demonstrate their platform at an investor conference.

Solution

We created a branded interactive “working” prototype to illustrate the functionality Prototype (password: christo1)

Voya

Project

The client needed a microsite to showcase a dual managed investment product.

Solution

Worked within the brand and style guide to create two design directions. From there we iterated until we had a solution that the client felt was forward looking but will not alienate their conservative user base. Prototype (password: christo1)

Logo: Pershing

Pershing

Jersey City, NJ
Jul 2012 - Jun 2014

UX Team Lead

As lead I had to manage the day-to-day activities of the global interaction and research team members. As an individual contributor I was responsible for project work on Pershing’s entire suite of client (NetX360 – PC, web, mobile) and investor facing (NetXInvestor – web, mobile) platforms.

I worked on both the retail and the professional trading platforms. Below are some of my accomplishments.

  • Enhanced both the Financial Advisor and Investor mobile platforms.
  • Evangelized UX practices and principals within the company.
  • Lead redesign of investor financial platform with 2 million investment accounts.
  • Added new features, including online account opening, asset movement (ex. digital check deposit) and a robust trading platform.
  • Collaborated with UX management team to set strategy for the team.
Logo: BlackRock

BlackRock

Princeton, NJ
Oct 2000 - Jun 2012

Global UX and Design Strategy Lead
2011 – 2012

  • Coordinated UX & design strategic direction working with design teams in geographically dispersed offices.
  • Led strategy to design a Financial Professional mobile platform, focusing on their interactions with clients.
  • Mentored designers and provide guidance on design work.
  • Led high profile projects to overhaul BlackRock Institutional Client’s online offering and Retail product profiles.

Web Strategy and UI Layer Standardization
2010 – 2011

  • Set front-end development strategy for online platforms.
  • Managed UI layer coding process.

User Experience & Design Manager
2007 – 2010

  • Managed the UX&D team that designed and iterated BlackRock’s award-winning Financial Professionals’ website (ranked #1 by kasina in 2009, 2010, 2011).
  • Direct design for all BlackRock’s interactive online applications.
  • Created and oversaw an in-house usability lab.

Key Responsibilities

  • Participated in the product definition and strategy process.
  • Led the interaction design, IA and information design process.
  • Oversaw creation of visual design comps and functional prototypes.
  • Executed the BlackRock brand within the style guidelines for all online venues.
  • Managed design team career paths through mentoring and facilitating learning opportunities.

Senior Web Designer
2000 – 2007

  • All aspects of the design process.
  • Coding of all UI code.