I am the creator of the UX for XR Toolkit, which covers the foundational aspects of UX design for Extended Realities in a way that is understandable and actionable in the hopes that I can help push forward the UX design field within this technology landscape. I consult with VR shops and teams in order to enable them to create more compelling and user-friendly experiences for their clients. I also equip UX professionals with the foundational knowledge necessary to transition into the Immersive Tech space - providing practical instruction in UX best practices and User Centered Design methods as they apply specifically to extended realities.Skills Acquired:Live streamingSkills Honed:Video editing, script writing, live instruction, curriculum creation, lesson plan creation and iteration, writing, UX education, basic Unity 3D rapid prototyping for XR, UX for extended realities (XR), virtual reality (VR) UX design, emerging tech research, conducting XR UX workshops and talks, interaction design critique, vision casting, UX research reports, VR usability testing, project scoping and ideation, advocacy and adaptation of new technologies, XR UX design pattern research, branding, business strategy planning, information architecture, content strategy, basic web development, marketing, storytelling, XR UX storyboardingLessons Learned:If you want to succeed in something seemingly impossible and keep going in spite of difficulties, you have to start with the why. You have to remember why you’re doing this to begin with. If it’s just for money, there are much easier ways to do it.

I break apart all of the interfaces within a science fiction film and then use my interaction design knowledge to analyze them and derive lessons from them — both good and bad — and share them with the world.Skills Acquired:Video slicing and editing, emerging tech analysis and critique, emerging tech ethicsSkills Honed:UX education, writing, interaction design critiqueLessons Learned:- As with fire, any technology can be used for great evil or great good and it is our responsibility as the creators of these technologies to ensure we’re going down the right path.

I created and taught foundational XR UX design courses, enabling people from diverse backgrounds to get a basic understanding of the skills and technology needed in this industry.Skills Acquired:Basics of Instructional Design while working on a curriculum creation teamSkills Honed:Live instruction, curriculum creation, lesson plan creation and iteration, writing, UX education, basic Unity 3D rapid prototyping for XR, UX for extended realities (XR), virtual reality (VR) UX design, emerging tech research and development

I equipped UX professionals with the foundational knowledge necessary to transition into the Immersive Tech space by providing practical instruction in UX best practices and User Centered Design methods as they apply specifically to extended realities.Skills Acquired:Live online instructionSkills Honed:Lesson plan creation and iteration, UX education, UX for extended realities (XR), virtual reality (VR) UX design, mentoring, vision castingLessons Learned:- There is joy and fulfillment in teaching others and helping them succeed in life. It makes the hard times you've been through yourself feel all the more worth it.

I started out as one of the first few professional UX Designers within the company. Working closely with my supervisors and peers to educate leadership on the UCD process, and experience design in particular, enabled them to grow their design team from a small handful of professionals in Houston into a large and global design community.Advocating for UCD and writing UX best practices within the XR (augmented and virtual reality) space helped empower that platform to gain traction and become a highly-sought-after service both within the company and out in the enterprise XR industry. They became a thought leader in the space of UX and XR for the Enterprise.Skills Acquired:Conducting UX talks, UX education, UX for extended realities (XR), virtual reality (VR) UX design, emerging tech research and development, basic Unity 3D, vision castingSkills Honed:Design documentation, information architecture, content strategy, UX design, interaction and graphic design, mobile app design, UX Research, responsive design, progressive enhancement, design tools, clear and transparent communication, project scoping and ideation, pitch decks for funding and buy-in on new projects, use cases, flow diagrams, pattern guidelines, advocacy and adaptation of new technologies, design toolkit creation, semi-automation of UX research analysis workflowsLessons Learned:- The only way to truly accomplish anything great in your life is to step out of your comfort zone, surround yourself with positive influencers, and just do it.

Previously Continental Airlines. I was the lead designer on multiple customer-facing, cross-platform, international experiences.Skills Acquired:Responsive email development (when that was a thing), Mental Models, contextual inquiries, customer immersion researchSkills Honed:Design documentation, information architecture, content strategy, UX design, interaction and graphic design, basic web development, mobile app design, UX Research, responsive design, progressive enhancement, graphic facilitation, kiosk design, design tools, clear and transparent communication, project scoping and ideation, pitch decks for funding and buy-in on new projects, use cases, flow diagrams, pattern guidelines, advocacy and adaptation of new technologiesLessons Learned:- It's just as important to have a diversity of backgrounds, perspectives, cultures and heritages as it is to have a diversity of skillsets in order to help solve human-centered design problems.

Interaction and Graphic Design for Interactive Marketing at Continental Airlines.Skills Acquired:UX Research, responsive design, progressive enhancement, graphic facilitation, kiosk designSkills Honed:Design documentation, information architecture, content strategy, UX design, interaction and graphic design, basic web development, mobile app design, clear and transparent communication, advocacy and adaptation of new technologiesLessons Learned:- There is so much more you can accomplish when you have a team with diverse skillsets working together to solve a problem.

Not-for-profit, pro-bono. Provided strategic direction and leadership to all communications functions in support of the Ministry’s vision, mission and core values. Branding standards. News writing, reporting and editing. Communications planning and logistics utilizing new (at the time) media.Skills Acquired:Fundraising initiatives, non-profit leadership, news writing and reporting, vision and mission establishment, social media marketingSkills Honed:Branding, information architecture, content strategy, marketing collateral, interaction, visual and graphic design, technology research, clear and transparent communication, basic web development, advocacy and adaptation of new technologiesLessons Learned:- Success should not be measured by the amount of money you earn, but by the impact you make for the betterment of yourself and others.

Skills Acquired:iPhone apps, mobile webSkills Honed:Corporate branding, information architecture, content strategy, interaction design, UX design, marketing collateral, e-commerce consulting, site redesign and implementationLessons Learned:- The speed of innovation can be staggering at times. You have to make the effort to stay up to date on latest technology news, trends and predictions or else fall behind.

Mexico Travel & Life Magazine was a travel magazine focusing exclusively on travel and tourism in Mexico. Created website from concept to completion including content flow and graphics.Skills Acquired:Web publication creation and management, subscription management, advertising space management, content management, content strategySkills Honed:Interaction, visual and graphic design, information architecture, basic web development, technology research, UX design, clear and transparent communication Lessons Learned:- Our insights and perspectives expand when we step out of our small worlds and learn more about other cultures and heritages.

Skills Acquired:Photo restoration, color separation and film development process for the traditional printing press, non-profit business administrationSkills Honed:Traditional painting and artistry, interior design, graphic design, marketing and communicationsLessons Learned:- There is beauty in slowing down the chaos of "busyness" to create something lasting.- Regardless of circumstances, there are valuable lessons to be learned for the longer game.

Skills Acquired:Inter-departmental and inter-company coordination and communication, retail business operations and administration for the sports and entertainment industry, how to work in a fast-paced and competitive environmentSkills Honed:Retail and e-Commerce operations, marketing, interaction, visual and graphic design, information architecture, basic web development, technology research, advocacy and adaptation of new technologies, UX design, clear and transparent communication, business administration, additional design toolsLessons Learned:- There is a balance of what to share and what not to share, when, and with whom.- What you say and how you say it matters.- Don't ask others to do what you're unwilling to do yourself. Do more than you ask of those you lead.- If a coworker is acting in a hurtful manner, look past your own hurt to the pain that's radiating from them.- In the noise of "busyness" and competition, it's easy to forget that people are humans. We then become less courteous and our worlds become smaller.

Skills Acquired:Business administration, additional design toolsSkills Honed:Retail and e-Commerce operations, marketing, interaction, visual and graphic design, information architecture, basic web development, technology research, advocacy and adaptation of new technologies, UX design, clear and transparent communicationLessons Learned:- Acknowledge the areas that need improvement, whether that's a personality trait or an undeveloped skill. Then get help to improve those areas.- Running your own business is hard. Get the right people in the right positions to help.

Skills Acquired: UX designSkills Honed: Retail and e-Commerce operations, marketing, interaction, visual and graphic design, information architecture, basic web development, technology research, advocacy and adaptation of new technologiesLessons Learned:- Clear and transparent communication is important. - Admitting what you don't know is key to growth and effective team collaboration. - Diversity makes the world more interesting.- If you want seemingly impossible things to happen, you need determination and energy to follow up.