Hello!

Currently I'm working at Cell Division in Manhattan as the Director of User Experience. My new job consists of 25% Sales, 25% Strategy, 25% Management and 25% Design. It's exciting, challenging and something new every day. I am super passionate and enthusiastic about what I do.

I have over 14+ years of industry experience in Design, Marketing and IT Development and have two degrees. My initial degree is a BA in Multiple Disciplinary Studies from North Carolina State University. There I studied design and learned a few valuable things about how people communicate with one another. It worked out for awhile but I felt a lot of decisions were too subjective. Next I atteneded DePaul University in Chicago to get an MS in Human Computer Interaction. I wanted to see what people really wanted with analytics and usability studies. Now I have the tools and knowledge to improve my work and I've been happy ever since.

I have a wide range of skill sets and have been asked to hold titles such as: User Experience Designer, Interaction Designer, Information Architect, Visual Designer, User Researcher, and Web Designer. I've had the fortunate opportunity to work as each one of those, which has given me insight on my strengths and weaknesses. Even though I'm currently in a leadership role, I still love to design.

I've had the opportunity to work with amazing mentors and colleagues that inspire me. Working in different environments has allowed me to understand different design processes. From all of those experiences I am able to solve problems quickly and efficiently. I further my studies in user experience by reading new material, attending conferences, and having great conversations with people in the community.

When I'm not working, I spend my free time exploring New York.

If you wish to contact me, please contact me via LinkedIn.

10 fun things about me...

  1. I heart my Vespas
  2. I adopted two fun-loving giraffes a few years back in Chicago
  3. My favorite color is red.
  4. I'm a 3.0 level tennis player (half way to Wimbledon)
  5. I used to downhill mountain bike race until I kissed a tree
  6. I race cars (SCCA) in my free time
  7. I'm passionate about my work
  8. Design is a lifetime learning experience - I'm always taking a class
  9. I went to school in the Czech Republic for a while
  10. My real hair color is still blond - I just discovered this after 18 years.

My other sites...

A few bookmarked sites...

This is what I do for work...

  • Work with team members/clients to define and negotiate a project’s scope and requirements

  • Create demos and help pitch ideas to co-workers/clients

  • Plan development schedules

  • Work on Competitive Analysis

  • Analyze a site and write a Heuristic Evaluation

  • Learn how exisisting products work

  • Help write Requirements Documentation

  • Develop Information Architecture

  • Collaborate with Managers, Directors, Engineers (presentation & back-end), Business Analysts, Designers, User Researchers and Clients

  • Create Task Flows

  • Communicate complex tasks to team members

  • Design Wireframes

  • Iterate on those Wireframes

  • Light Prototyping (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Flash)

  • Create Visual Designs

  • Produce Product Demos

  • Run Focus Groups and Cognitive Walkthroughs

  • Write Usability Testing Scripts

  • Observe Users (in lab and natural environments) and document their behavior

  • Find a resolution to complex design problems

  • Write Design Documentation and develop Technical Specifications for layouts

  • Code compliant HTML/CSS pages

  • Animate and ActionScript Flash modules

  • Aid in Quality Assurance

  • Troubleshoot cross-platform issues, browser differences and software

  • Deliver well-designed Animations, GUI aplications, learning tools, prototypes, search engines, campaigns, shopping carts, trade show presentations and Web sites

  • Follow-up and make sure team members/clients are satisfied

  • Continue to be out-going, friendly and approachable - Rumor has it I'm fun to work with