Played a key role in the implementation of the company design system, Luna, and partnered with Engineering to deliver robust and flexible tools to encourage rapid design and development. Designed and built custom components using Sketch, delivering tooling to designers through a Sketch library. Performed a key role in the transition to Figma, leading the production of the Figma Luna library. Planned the Figma rollout communications, and led hands-on workshops to teach designers, engineers, researchers and content strategists how to use Figma and the Luna library.Acted as lead designer for an in-house document storage and sharing system, used by clients and financial representatives to share documents in order to partner in clients' financial planning.Designed a complex account listing and details system, used by financial representatives to research their clients' needs and financial opportunities. The system compiled both Northwestern Mutual accounts and external accounts, so the financial representatives could gain a broad picture of their clients' financial world.Researched and designed a system for financial representatives to view and search account transactions and transaction details.Implemented an invitation system that allowed financial representatives to create custom invitations, which are used to invite current clients and prospects to register for a personal Northwestern Mutual site.Redesigned and implemented the client-facing account details pages, using elements from a design toolkit, while also working to include new design components as needed.Updated global navigation design to incorporate new branding standards.Designed the system status site, using out of the box status.io elements as well as customizing it to fit the complex needs of Northwestern Mutual's systems.

Worked directly with developers, designers and management to create a design vision for the product. Partnered with corporate marketing and branding to create the applications’ visual design, ensuring strict adherence to both branding and common user-centered design principles.Developed low fidelity wireframes to assist developers with initial functionality design.Evolved low fidelity wireframes into high fidelity designs, which were used as the basis for the final software visual designs. Conducted usability testing: wrote scripts and protocols, acted as proctor, and compiled results. Developed personas and use case scenarios.

Acted as user experience liaison to business teams during all phases of the development life cycle.Worked directly with project managers and business analysts to write and compile project requirements and timelines.Conducted usability testing: wrote scripts and protocols, acted as proctor, and compiled results.Developed low fidelity wireframes to assist developers with initial functionality design.Evolved low fidelity wireframes into high fidelity designs, which were used within the functional design document and as the basis for the final software visual designs. Developed personas and use case scenarios.Performed detailed heuristic evaluations of web sites and complex, data driven applications.

Key team member for the development of a web-based, enterprise-wide building efficiency management application.Established and recommended the final solution for navigational scheme.Developed the basis for the application’s workflow using detailed and extensive wireframing and rapid prototyping.Using business requirements and wireframes, and working with corporate marketing and outside agencies, created the application’s visual design, ensuring strict adherence to both branding and client vision.Served as embedded user experience team liaison to development team. Using Agile methodology, worked directly with scrum-masters and developers to ensure adherence to the overall UX vision for the project.

Conducted usability testing: wrote scripts and protocols, acted as proctor, and compiled results.Based on formal usability testing results, re-architected workflows and processes on a global oil trading application ($160B in funds passes through the application annually). Created detailed wireframes based on a migration from a web-based application to a SmartClient.Wrote project requirements, including schedule, content, tone, sitemaps and marketing plan integration.Performed detailed heuristic evaluations of web sites and applications, often integrating competitive analysis.

Performed evaluation, analysis and usability reviews for Windows-based software applications being converted for online use.Provided design services, including wireframes, web design and corporate sponsorship work.Designed iPhone applications, retrofitting current software to comply with Apple’s software developer kit standards and ensuring ease-of-use for end-users.Developed extensive style sheets, driving web site look and feel, while incorporating a table-free layout.Reviewed web sites for section 508 accessibility and ensured consistent compliance.

Provided expert evaluation of other independent contractors’ work with an eye toward principles of usability and user-centered design.Performed web writing and editing work.Re-designed and developed account applications with a focus on interaction design and process automation. These applications were extremely complex and required extensive conditional logic. Launched in series March-May 2009.

Developed & maintained company intranet sites with an eye for maintaining company standards & branding requirements, while also incorporating improvements to content, design, usability & navigationSupervised XHTML & CSS code standards, ensuring cross-platform/cross-browser compatibilityPerformed all coding with a special emphasis on 508 accessibility Represented department at in-house usability workshops led by Human Factors International; brought usability ideas & potential improvements back to management for reviewDeveloped meta tags for web sites to ensure maximum searchability (search engine optimization)

Led team of developers, designers & content managersProvided employee mentoring & technical leadershipSupervised code standards throughout sites, ensuring cross-platform/cross-browser compatibility & Section 508 accessibility Developed site protocols, an extensive document outlining IFMA design & code standards & advertising guidelinesCollaborated with stakeholders to ensure content's accuracy, availability & current relevance to the industry & our clientsManaged company's reporting tools, providing advertisers & stakeholders timely & accurate reports of site trafficLed initiative to bring event and membership applications online, eliminating need for paper-based processingPartnered with technology department to develop databases to collect application dataResearched emerging technologies & trends to keep executive management knowledgeable about possible future enhancements to web sites

Designed new design standards using wireframes & XHTML templatesTeamed with call center, financial advisors & select clients to test site, using results to create prototypes for redesignWorked directly with vendors & corporate IT to ensure branding was compliant on all sitesDesigned database used to dynamically build site dashboard, ensuring seamless integration of content within multiple sitesDeveloped site style guide to facilitate consistent branding for both AIG VALIC & vendor-produced web sitesEnvisioned & created offline demos of transactional web sites used by executives in bid presentations, assisting in acquisition of over 10 new groups with over $250M in assetsDeveloped & designed online targeted-marketing campaigns that resulted in over 23,000 leads & 6,200 wins for a total of $28M in sold/saved revenue in one calendar yearLed initiative to centralize company web operations, establishing department as primary channel for web-related projects

Developed wireframes & XHTML templates for site redesign, ensuring cross-platform/cross-browser compatibility & Section 508 accessibilityDeveloped CSS & JavaScript libraries for conversion to IE5- and NS6-oriented designAttended & participated in usability studies for site redesignGlobalized standard content to create customized sites for individual countries in Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese & SpanishDeveloped online advertising campaigns, including copywriting, visual design & productionIncorporated basic ASP coding to manage content navigation & displayDeveloped online style & standards guides for projects in development, existing web sites & banner adsEnsured standards, quality & content maintenance of existing sites

Designed, developed & deployed web sites, including graphic design, information architecture, hand-coded HTML & client guidanceSupervised code standards throughout project life cycleCoordinated contractors on a project-to-project basisEnsured standards, quality & content maintenance of existing sitesDeveloped & wrote style & standards guides for projects in development & existing sitesResearched new technologies, analyzed their pros & cons & made recommendationsLed conversion of all web sites from HTML 4.0 to XHTML

Designed, developed & deployed web sites, including graphic design, information architecture & hand-coded HTMLSupervised code standards throughout project life cycleEnsured standards, quality & content maintenance of existing sitesResearched new technologies, analyzed their pros & cons & made recommendationsSet up & maintained web serversAdministered company email operationsWrote copy for company's printed & online catalogue

Supervised production of monthly, 30-page newsletterCreated design & layout of the newsletterWrote copy for Center eventsCoordinated of a team of volunteer writers, including story assignments, work distribution & deadlinesEdited copy for factual accuracy, proper grammar & spelling & adherence to AP styleCoordinated with printer on schedule, production & mailing list

Proofread articles, with a focus on factual accuracy, proper grammar, spelling & adherence to AP styleWrote headlines that reflected the intent of the staff writers & their articles