What do I do?

I solve business and brand problems by fusing creativity & interactivity with technology. I focus on opportunities to develop and design beautiful, engaging online presences and applications using clean, equally beautiful design.

I thrive in environments where inspiration and collaboration are valued and I enjoy all forms of design. From application to web, identity, marketing, video and branding, all while inviting new challenges that require me to build my skill set and add diversity to my craft.

My approach to developing a design strategy is to find a balance between design. that is action oriented, user-centered, aesthetically appealing and solution-focused towards the desired expectation. There are so many paths to take when solving a problem, and the ambiguity of the design process pushes me to discover and create. I derive inspiration from my surroundings to stay motivated to design products that are relatable and accessible.

Specialties: Product Design and Direction, UX Design and Direction, UI/ UX Design, Interactivity, Product, UX/UI DesignProduction, Team Mentoring & Management and Animation.

I have 18 years of design experience and currently serve as a Product/UX/UI Director. My passion lies in shaping the future of digital experiences by transforming user interactions into meaningful life experiences. Through innovative design solutions, I strive to deliver outstanding products and services that exceed expectations.

My expertise extends beyond design, encompassing research and strategy, which greatly informs my approach to design. I possess a track record of building teams, leading designers, and cultivating a design-centric culture that fosters creativity and collaboration. I am well-versed in navigating complex Design Systems and managing the entire product development lifecycle.

With extensive skills in UI and Interaction design, I specialize in creating compelling experiences for web, mobile, and wearable products. I excel in crafting intuitive and visually elegant designs that address complex problems and provide intuitive solutions. My work spans across various platforms, including desktop, mobile, tablet, VR, and Al, as I am driven to deliver world-class products and elevate the brands I work with.

An effective communicator, I can articulate my design vision at any level, ensuring that stakeholders understand and align with the design direction. I am deeply passionate about creating immersive experiences that are both beautiful and intuitive, whether it's for web, web applications, or mobile applications. I thrive in fast-paced environments and have a proven ability to motivate and inspire team members to deliver exceptional creative work, even under tight deadlines.

In summary, my experience and expertise position me as a Product/UX/UI Director who is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of design and delivering impactful digital experiences. I am driven by a desire to solve complex problems, create visually stunning designs, and foster a culture of creativity and innovation within my teams.

My Design Systems Experience.

As a Senior Product Director and Designer, I have extensive experience in working with design systems. Design systems are essential tools that help ensure consistency and efficiency in the design process, and I have utilized them in various projects throughout my career. I first started utilizing and familiarizing myself with Design Sytems at Dexcom in 2014 and have been working with them ever since.

One aspect of my design systems experience is creating and maintaining a comprehensive design language for products. This involves establishing a consistent visual style, defining typography, color palettes, and iconography, and creating guidelines for spacing, layout, and interactions. By developing a design language, I ensure that all elements within a product align with the brand identity and provide a cohesive user experience.

In addition to defining visual elements, I have also worked on developing and documenting design patterns and components. This involves creating reusable UI elements, such as buttons, forms, and navigation menus, that can be easily implemented across different screens and platforms. By building a library of reusable components, I streamline the design process, improve consistency, and facilitate collaboration between designers and developers.

Another important aspect of design systems is establishing a workflow for versioning and updating design assets. I have implemented tools and processes to manage design system documentation, ensuring that it remains up to date as the product evolves. This includes establishing clear version control, managing component libraries, and providing guidelines for design system contributors.

Collaboration and communication are crucial when working with design systems, and I have experience in leading design system initiatives and facilitating cross-functional collaboration. I have worked closely with product managers, engineers, and other designers to gather feedback, iterate on design components, and address any challenges or inconsistencies that arise.

Overall, my experience with design systems as a senior product designer has enabled me to create scalable and consistent designs, improve collaboration within teams, and enhance the overall user experience. I understand the value of design systems in building successful products, and I am always eager to leverage my expertise to drive design excellence.

My Extensive Experience with Gestalt Principles of Design.

Throughout my career as a designer, I have had the privilege of extensively exploring and applying the Gestalt Principles of design in my work. These fundamental concepts have played a crucial role in shaping my design approach, allowing me to create visually appealing and effective designs across various mediums.

One of the first Gestalt Principles I encountered was "Proximity." Understanding how the arrangement of elements influences the viewer's perception, I learned to group related elements together to create a sense of unity and coherence. By strategically placing objects in close proximity, I was able to guide the viewer's attention and communicate complex ideas more effectively.

The principle of "Similarity" has been a powerful tool in my design arsenal. By utilizing elements with similar attributes such as color, shape, or size, I could establish patterns and relationships within my designs. This created a harmonious and organized visual experience, allowing viewers to quickly grasp the intended message./p>

I found "Closure" to be particularly intriguing. Learning how the human brain tends to complete incomplete shapes or patterns, I began incorporating negative space and implied shapes to engage the viewer's imagination. This technique not only added a touch of creativity to my designs but also made them more memorable and thought-provoking.

"Continuity" played a significant role in creating smooth and flowing designs. By guiding the viewer's eyes along continuous lines or curves, I could lead them through a visual journey and ensure a seamless reading experience. This principle became especially valuable in web and user interface design, where a clear flow of information is essential.

Applying the principle of "Figure-Ground" allowed me to enhance the focal points in my designs. By carefully managing the contrast between the foreground and background elements, I could draw attention to key elements and create a sense of depth and dimension within the design./p>

Furthermore, the concept of "Symmetry and Balance" has consistently guided my approach to creating aesthetically pleasing designs. Whether it's creating a balanced layout or symmetrically arranging elements, this principle has helped me achieve a sense of harmony and equilibrium in my work.

What are my skills?

I have a strong skill set in Product Design Direction and Product Design. Additionally, I possess expertise in various disciplines such as Visual Design, UX Design, UI Design, Sketching & Prototyping, User Research, Interaction Design, and Responsive Design. My meticulous attention to detail fuels my passion for tackling complex design challenges.

What I get excited about

I find great enthusiasm in creating aesthetically pleasing design flows, developing user-friendly applications, and exploring groundbreaking new technologies. Moreover, I derive a sense of satisfaction from enhancing work processes, where I have successfully introduced innovative ways of working, efficient project management tools, and effective communication systems.

Leadership and Values

My leadership style can be characterized as direct and leading by example. I find fulfillment in assigning tasks and assuming project leadership roles, while also maintaining active involvement to inspire my team by demonstrating my willingness to work alongside them and provide assistance whenever necessary.

In leadership positions, my primary objective is to empower others to reach their fullest potential, even if their knowledge surpasses mine in certain areas. I firmly believe in the continuous nature of the learning process and I am passionate about leading, learning, and collaborating with individuals and team members. I consistently make myself available to answer questions, offer support and guidance, ensure team members are on track, and meet project deadlines.

My Leadership Experience

With eighteen years of management and direction experience at the Director level, I have a track record of successfully creating teams, leading designers, and cultivating a design-centric culture. I possess extensive hands-on knowledge of the complete product development lifecycle. As an excellent communicator, I have the ability to effectively articulate design vision at any level of an organization.

My primary focus is on leading the creation of immersive and memorable experiences. I strive to produce design work that is visually elegant and modern, while also addressing complex problems with intuitive solutions. Whether it's for world-class products or renowned brands, I am dedicated to delivering exceptional design outcomes across all viewing devices.

In my role as a Design Director, I excel at leading the design process through effective facilitation of collaborative design sessions. I am skilled in planning and overseeing diverse project plans, and I guide both clients and teammates towards the delivery of stunning digital design solutions. With over 16 years of experience, I have consistently provided strong leadership in experience design, whether as a leader, manager, or senior team member, particularly on large and complex client engagements. I am committed to ensuring the production of high-quality design output in every project I undertake.

With more than 18 years of experience, I have taken on leadership roles on both national and international levels. Throughout my career, I have successfully managed and provided senior experience design leadership across a wide range of projects, varying in size and complexity. Whether the projects were small, medium, large, or highly intricate, I have consistently demonstrated my ability to lead and deliver exceptional design outcomes.

During my tenure at Apex Systems from 2016 to 2019, I gained valuable experience in team building. Working under a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), I played a key role in training recruiters on the nuances of different design roles such as UX Designer, UI Designer, Product Designer, Visual Designer, and Interaction Designer. I provided comprehensive guidance to recruiters to help them effectively identify and evaluate candidates based on specific design skill sets.

Furthermore, I offered talent screening services to ensure that recruiters fully understood the clients' requirements beyond what was mentioned in the job descriptions. This allowed for a more accurate alignment between candidates' expertise and clients' needs, resulting in successful placements and satisfied clients.

In leadership roles, I have recognized that fostering the creativity of others requires a distinct skillset from what made me successful as a designer. Leading designers can be challenging due to their emotional and passionate nature, varying levels of confidence, and strong attachment to their ideals. Projects may encounter turbulence when designers are pushed in directions that do not align with their visions.

To be an effective Design Director, I have honed my mentoring skills. Designers thrive on progression, and it is crucial to teach them how to empathize, design, collaborate, communicate, present, and sell their ideas. Diplomacy plays a vital role in managing design teams, as clashes and disagreements can arise. I am sensitive to everyone's feelings and strive to find resolutions when conflicts arise.

Maintaining a positive outlook is crucial in the design field, where ups and downs are common, especially when deadlines are approaching. I have the ability to refocus the team on the next opportunity and ensure we learn from our mistakes, continuously pushing forward to deliver the best possible design solutions.

My next role

My preference is to work with a single company in a long-term leadership role, rather than taking on multiple contract projects. I aspire to apply my expertise in Product Design and UX processes, drawing from both my professional experience and academic background, to tackle intricate design challenges.

After conducting thorough research and formulating effective solutions, I am equipped to utilize my skills in Product Design and Visual Design. This allows me to seamlessly bridge the gap between UX and UI, ensuring a cohesive and compelling user experience throughout the design process.