Hello! I am a user experience (UX) leader, strategist, and designer. My fellow co-workers describe me as a natural-born leader, with a clear vision for and an understanding of creative problem-solving. I am organized, high-energy, and solution-driven. I developed my deep empathy for user-centered design from the customer-centered approach I honed while in the retail industry.
After graduating from Indiana University β Bloomington (IUB) in 2015, I worked in corporate retail buying offices, helping to manage businesses with yearly sales as large as $68 million dollars and developing a passion for enhancing every detail of the customer experience. At IUB, I minored in Informatics, which is where I received my initial training in UX/UI design. While at Sears/Kmart and Nordstrom, I specifically focused on the eCommerce businesses, using the UX/UI skills I gleaned at IUB to totally transform the way customers interacted with our eCommerce platforms. In an effort to shift my career path in a direction that directly aligned with this passion for improving the customer experience, I turned to Designation, where I expanded my knowledge and gained real-life client experiences in UX/UI design.
While my background was in retail and eCommerce, I also have significant experience in and passion for healthcare, manufacturing, semiconductors, QSRβs, travel and hospitality, and non-profit. I possess extensive experience in both B2B and B2C. I have substantial experience designing for Salesforce using the Lightning Design System. I have experience creating native apps for both iOS and Android, as well as desktop, tablet, and mobile web experiences. I am proficient in Figma, AdobeXD, Sketch, InVision, Axure RP, and [hidden link]
While at Deloitte Digital, I have had the pleasure of leading large teams of designers and developers, both onshore and offshore, to create dynamic, user-centric designs for my clients.
When I am not critically problem-solving, you can find me helping to plan fundraising events for Opportunity Knocks, scrolling through dog memes on Instagram, eating my way through the plethora of Chicagoβs truly distinctive culinary establishments, or exploring the city’s breathtaking architecture.
Bachelor of Science in Apparel Merchandising; Minors: Informatics, Business,Fashion Design
Worked with B2B and B2C companies in various industries, including commerce, retail, travel and hospitality, and healthcare. Leading large teams of designers and developers, helping to make a lasting impact for our clients with how their users interacted with their digital experiences. Working on software, native apps (iOS and Android), and web products, the goal was always to produce products that prioritized the users’ needs while aligning with the business’s goals.
Led and managed hybrid teams of UX and UI designers and developers, both on-shore and off-shore.
Spearheaded multiple Salesforce-based projects using the Lighting Design System.
Drove to create accessible digital solutions for users that were ADA and WCAG-compliant.
Oversaw design teams to create, manage, and maintain large, dynamic design systems.
Administered stakeholder workshops, including persona, prioritization, and user journey workshops, to help gather relevant input from key individuals.
Conducted numerous stakeholder and user interviews to create deep empathy for their wants and needs.
Used various software to wireframe and prototype potential digital solutions for users, including Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD.
Conducted both virtual and in-person usability testing with actual users.
Working in an Agile model, worked closely with developers and product teams to help shape the best possible digital products.
Helped to manage and mentor junior designers on projects to enable them to reach their full potential.
Was an active member in the DE&I initiatives for Deloitte Digital, helping to promote a more diverse and inclusive culture firm-wide.
Working with multiple clients at a time from numerous industries and varying complexities to create meaningful and innovative digital experiences that consistently met the user’s needs while exceeding the clientβs expectations. All starting from the initial request for proposal through the deployment of the solution and its continuous improvement.
Used empathy for the user gained from interviews, along with insights derived from industry research, to help influence the definition of a problem and the structure of a solution that meets the user’s needs and the stakeholders’ requirements.
Developed detailed, dynamic sitemaps outlining straightforward and intuitive navigation based on research and industry best practices.
Created process flows, wireframes, and annotations that communicate intended detailed interaction behaviors based on a gained understanding of the user from the conducted research.
Presented research and design work to the internal teams and project stakeholders throughout the design process for review and feedback.
Provided critical input to the visual design team to ensure high-fidelity designs offer the user the best possible experience while meeting the business and stakeholders’ goals.
Partnered with development teams to build designed experiences, providing them with appropriate design specifications and conducting a thorough review of interfaces throughout the development phase.
Collaboratively worked with four other designers for REDoc, a seed-stage startup, to understand, define, design, and test a solution in a rapidly evolving setting for how commercial real estate professionals manage and interact with building-related documents.
Coordinated user research, domain research, and competitive analysis, which helped define a set of design principles and a persona.
Ideated and created 10 varying concepts for testing with users to evaluate their effectiveness at solving a defined problem.
Facilitated user interviews, concept tests, and usability tests.
Designed prototypes using Axure RP.
Presented findings at the end of each week-long design sprint.
Tasked by Constellation Brand Inc. (CBI), a Fortune 500 Total Beverage Alcohol company, to identify, design, and test additional features and functionality for an existing internally-facing native iOS mobile application.
Conducted research with users to identify areas of opportunity.
Used the affinity diagramming method to synthesize insights gained from research.
Participated in brainstorming and ideation sessions to create concepts, leading to a version 2.0 prototype.
Performed usability testing on the prototype with CBI employees.
Proposed an MVP to client and outlined future recommendations for application based on findings from research.
Managed in-season business by adjusting prices, reordering items, and reducing unproductive inventory to maximize sales potential within sunglass, jewelry, outerwear, hat, beauty, and handbag categories.
Collaborated with the Assistant Buyer to develop buy strategies and improve location-level inventory content.
Contributed to weekly business reviews, providing the current status of the business, performance to sales plan and KPIs, as well as regional and item performance to assist with identifying appropriate action plans.
Researched, analyzed, and gained an in-depth understanding of the needs, wants, and expectations of the trendy, ever-changing young customer base.
Negotiated markdowns and RTVs with vendors.
Accurately identified and matched the quality of products to appropriate markets via the JDA Allocation tool.
Regularly reviewed sales and inventory reports to complete callouts on stores for more accurate inventory.
Worked to improve the user experience of shopping for all items on the various ecommerce platforms by redesigning the layouts of the category landing pages.
Key Achievements:
Played a crucial role in managing a $40 million business in the United States and Canada for physical and online presence in the marketplace.
Co-managed the third largest sunglass brand, increasing sales from $7M to $9M.
Actively participated in managing and developing the largest beauty accessory brand in the division, growing sales from $50k to $1M within a year.