- Conducted user research through surveys and interviews to gather insights and understand user needs and behaviors.- Analyzed and synthesized user research data to create user personas, journey maps, and user stories.- Developed and maintained information architecture, including site maps, wireframes, and flowcharts to ensure intuitive navigation and content structure.- Created low-fidelity wireframes and high-fidelity prototypes using Figma.- Designed visually appealing and cohesive interfaces aligned with brand guidelines and design systems.- Produced detailed UI specifications and assets for development teams.- Defined and designed interactive elements and micro-interactions to enhance user engagement and experience.- Collaborated closely with product managers, developers, and other stakeholders to ensure alignment and effective implementation of designs.- Communicated design concepts and decisions through presentations, design reviews, and documentation.- Contributed to the creation and maintenance of design systems and guidelines to ensure consistency and scalability across products.- Curated and maintained UI Kits- Created detailed user personas based on research data to represent key user segments and guide design decisions.- Developed user journey maps to visualize user interactions and identify pain points and opportunities for improvement.- Compiled research findings into comprehensive reports and presentations for stakeholders.- Ensured designs adhered to accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) to create inclusive experiences for all users.

- Designed and managed all social media marketing and traditional marketing- Provided art direction and creative campaign input for seasonal cookie offerings- Managed and conducted photography shoots for cookie products- Created environmental graphics for all Cookies & Dreams Store locations- Updated the Cookies website with new product as needed - Managed, wrote, sourced content or created content, and planned all social media campaigns and email/text campaigns- Created packaging for Cookie products or seasonal offerings- In charge of sourcing for new product packaging and seasonal packaging printers- Managed in-store digital menus, designed and updated them monthly

- Created original responsive email templates to be used for BeePro, a digital email campaign editor- Worked independently and worked with other designers to refine template visions

- Created interactive museum interfaces for kiosks, projection systems and environmental spaces.- Helped plan environmental spaces by measuring, creating mockups of spaces, and floor plan layouts.- Design, conceptualize, and implement branding and advertising materials for print and digital campaigns.- Animated website interactions, interactive kiosk experiences, and social media graphics.- Created and illustrated 60 unique profile avatars for a client’s E-Learning platform.- Illustrated and created themed interfaces for University and High School sport hall of fames.

- Design, conceptualize, and implement new branding for ARA corporate and ARA’s Departments: Education, Membership, ARA Show, Events, State & Local, ARA Political Action Committee, Rentalytics, ARA Insurance, Women In Rental, Young Professionals Network, RentalU and ARA Foundation. - Create and edit video for social media or email campaigns.- Responsible for creating outgoing communication for campaigns to promote new educational opportunities, membership offerings, ARA Corporate announcements, and social media via strategic marketing plans created by the marketing managers.

- Created cross-platform print and digital concepts and ideas that are presented to clients and brand managers. - Designed and created identity systems and concepts that are effective, meaningful, within set budgets and reach or exceed client expectations.- Managed team members, multiple projects and coordinate the execution of creative vision while working along side the Vice President of Design.

- Responsible for generating new clientele and new campaign leads.- Created and sold digital advertisements for WQAD.COM, Storm Tracker app, News app and The Weather Channel app. - Responsible for optimizing advertisements for various platforms.

- Designed niche magazines and layout pages for The Dixon Telegraph, The Daily Gazette, Prairie Advocate, and The Golden Echo.- Created original advertisements for real estate and automotive companies in the Sauk Valley area for The Telegraph, The Daily Gazette, and Ogle County News.

I worked with a team of marketers and designers to create original designs and campaigns for retail and university events. I have gained experience designing in-store signage for retail programs including shelf-talkers, product descriptions, pop-up banners, and hanging display signs. Also, I have illustrated designs for print and digital retail promotions. Designing at M + D has also challenged me to create large format displays, table tents for university events, pull up banners, newsletters, posters, and flyers.

I worked for the University of Iowa Biology Department for a full school year. I designed original posters, t-shirts, table covers, logos, newsletters, and flyers for academic programs and speaking events. I also worked closely with their web department and created graphics for campus events and updates with the Biology Department's academic programs. I also recorded professional scholar research speeches and edited video that was regularly broadcasted on the Biology Department website. I was also given the opportunity to direct, create, and edit an instructional video series for an introductory biology course.

I got the full experience of being a production master for the River Bandits team (May-August 2013). I was the only full time production intern working in a fast paced and deadline heavy environment. I had a long list of duties that were not limited to: designing digital signage, managing teams of interns, creating and implementing concepts for commercials, editing video, directing cameras during games, coordinating with other departments for commercials and signage, and learning to be a master problem solver with limited resources.