WORK EXPERIENCE
Senior UX Designer @ Elsevier
March 2020 to Present
I am the UX designer for the Trust and Transparency squad within Elsevier’s Submission Systems team. I ensure the delivery of user-centered products aimed to increase trust and transparency in research publishing by leading the creation of concepts, wireframes, high-fidelity designs, and prototypes.
I have an expansive, holistic understanding of the E2E submissions journey across Elsevier and Aries (Editorial Manager) products. This enables me to recommend minimally-disruptive product solutions that increase transparency and enhance research integrity.
I ensure the entire design process is thoughtful, deliberate, and always driven by research. I regularly conduct surveys, interviews, and perform user testing. I also use existing insights and data whenever possible.
I regularly assist colleagues with brainstorming, idea mapping, note-taking during interviews, and provide any other design guidance and coaching as needed.
Actively provides design patterns and usage guidance to the burgeoning Submissions design system as a core contributor specializing in product copy and complex workflows.
Works 1-on-1 with engineers throughout the entire product development process to ensure the best user experience within various constraints, including legacy tech stacks.
Works closely with product owners and data scientists to identify data gaps and decide how we can best fill them within GDPR and other constraints.
In collaboration with my product owner, I help determine and write our squad’s Objectives & Key Results (OKRs) for all Trust & Transparency products within Submissions. I also frequently lead our bi-weekly extended stakeholder meetings.
Manages stakeholders from other business units (e.g., Legal, STMJ) to ensure we effectively balance our users’ needs with business objectives.
Mentors junior designers, and educates product and UX colleagues about industry best practices, as well as identifying similar workflows in products across the entire Elsevier ecosystem.
Provides guidance on A11y accessibility standards and inclusive design practices.
Product Designer @ Paytronix
May 2018 to February 2020
As the lone designer on the product team, I lead the crusade for thoughtful user experiences, instructive copy, and clean interface design within an enterprise CRM and loyalty platform serving restaurants and convenience stores. Quite simply — sketching, wireframing, and prototyping with purpose.
I educated colleagues on ‘good design’ and information architecture. I also conduct qualitative research, and interview both primary and secondary users to make the case for features that improve the experience of all customers.
As the voice of the user, I collaborated directly with product managers, product owners, and front-end developers in an Agile environment to transform a built-by-engineers-for-engineers platform into self-service software that prioritizes the needs of both marketers and customer success teams.
Sr. UX Content Strategist @ CVS Health (contract through Onward Search)
October 2016–December 2017
Translated business requirements and consumer research into empathetic, consistent, user-first strategies and customer journeys using agile and waterfall methodologies for projects across mobile and web platforms.
Created wireframes and user flows to solve complex problems and expand responsive user experiences amongst the CVS Caremark and CVS Specialty products.
Collaborated with senior UX managers and visual designers to research, define, and wireframe end-to-end user experiences for prescription benefits plan members and patients taking specialty medications for both mobile and web.
Overhauled email alerts through improved information architecture, structural design enhancements, and warmer messaging. This contributed to a 25% increase in alert enrollment, and fewer related phone calls to Customer Care.
(Freelance) Creative and Strategy
March 2015–Present
Enhanced the usability of consumer-facing mobile applications and websites through user research and content-driven UX design.
Since 2017, I’ve almost exclusively focused on branding and creative for progressive PACs and political candidates — both in print and digital. Beyond logos, website, and palm cards, I also work with both organizations and individuals to develop effective messaging and digital strategies that support campaign objectives.
Senior Content Strategist @ Intralinks
March 2014–February 2015
Acted as user experience and technical documentation lead for a proposed API site. While the direction of our experimental IL Lab group was shifted to other projects, my team's work guided the eventual deliverable—a well-constructed developers' portal designed to expand and support the Intralinks product suite.
Lead content strategy, keyword analysis, and crafted the tone of voice for the website redesign of a global SaaS specializing in secure-yet-collaborative document workspaces—making the complex facets of infosec more readily digestible.
Crafted the Information Rights Management (IRM by design™) brand and ‘story’ through whitepapers and blog posts.
Digital Strategy Lead @ Inphantry
May 2011–March 2014
Provided content strategy, creative direction, and UX design at a boutique experiential agency specializing in technology and lifestyle brands including DataXu, Puma, and John Hancock.
Lead user research, brand direction, user behavior analysis, social listening, and strategic guidance for the planning and execution of digital and integrated campaigns.
Senior Copywriter @ Everest BetClic Group
August 2008—May 2011
Crafted a unifying creation direction and tone-of-voice for interactive experiences, online promotions, live events, affiliate marketing campaigns, print ads, and more as the lead copywriter in an agile, in-house agency for an international online gaming brand.
Managed and mentored a team of 3 copywriters, acting in a lead role providing creative/copy direction. Collaborated directly with art directors, designers, developers, and marketers to deliver targeted campaigns and product enhancements.
Senior eCommerce Copywriter & Editor @ NameMedia
November 2007—August 2008
Wrote and edited copy for over 700 long-tail-focused, e-commerce sites, and managed off-site freelancers supporting the project.
Analyzed and optimized content to drive traffic and improve search metrics. I also developed paid search campaigns (Google AdWords) and provided additional SEM support.
Lead Product Copywriter & Production Editor @ SmartBargains.com
March 2005—August 2007
Managed and trained a five-person freelance team to ensure consistent copy standards, while also ensuring keyword optimization in every piece of product copy.
Created and edited promotional and product copy for apparel, fine jewelry and home goods for a high-volume online retailer.
SOFTWARE
Figma
Miro
Dovetail
InVision
Atlassian
Sketch
Adobe Creative Suite
Microsoft Office
Pendo
Adobe Analytics
TECHNOLOGY
HTML and CSS/Sass
Semantic, Flexbox, Bootstrap, Foundation
Git and Gulp
JavaScript (React)
Unity
PRODUCT METHODOLOGIES
Agile
Silicon Valley Product Group (SVPG)
Lean
EDUCATION
Certificate in UX/UI design and front-end development
Startup Institute | Boston, MA
M.A. in Print & Online Journalism
Emerson College | Boston, MA
B.G.S. in Textile & Apparel Marketing / Communications
University of Missouri | Columbia/St. Louis
LANGUAGES
English (native fluency)
Spanish (intermediate)
Norwegian (beginner)