Samuel Bendriem Email & Phone Number

St. Louis, Mo, Us

Product designer working on Federal Grant Finder tool to make it easy for local governments and their partners to discover new grant opportunities, network, and submit competitive applications.Developed 5+ concepts to validate hypotheses around collaboration needs in grant applications. Create prototypes to demonstrate key value to stakeholders and grant finders for use in design research interviews.Evolve and evaluate design system components for consistency in wireframing and prototyping.

Knoxville, Tennessee, United States

Led the end-to-end user experience design process to scale enterprise software. Created user flows and wireframes to ship 10+ administrative features and streamline employee work processes.Conducted 15+ usability tests to evaluate software and leveraged insights to prioritize two prominent features for upcoming releases; validated concepts through iterative prototyping.Collaborated with cross-functional teams to integrate legacy processes into new software modules, increasing user base to 550+ over 2.5 years.Highlighted ROI of user-centered design methodologies to 10+ executive leaders and stakeholders through presentations of the design process and impact on business goals.Managed design system and project to unify components across 10+ platform modules and provided documentation for seamless developer hand-off.

University Of Maryland, College Park

On-going engagement with the University of Maryland to design their Restoration Journal, a critical publication on English Literature and Culture, 1660-1700.Engagement started with the University of Tennessee in 2015 and transferred over to the University of Maryland in 2016. Responsibilities include typesetting articles, book reviews, and bibliographies; applying requested changes, and verifying design consistency across all sections.Designed customized journal covers to highlight special edition issues (Pandemics, Intermedia Restoration) and collaborated with editors on defining and refining their vision.Provide press-ready packages for production and communicate with production assistants on resolving issues.Published semi-annually by Sheridan Press.

Identified business priorities for evaluative design research by meeting with project stakeholders and co-authoring research plan.Uncovered causes of user frustration as measured by ongoing complaints around internal software by conducting 60-minute usability interviews with 15 employees across six divisions.Synthesized insights into 4 actionable themes to inform strategic decision-making by tagging interview transcripts using Dovetail; collaborated on analytical frameworks in Miro and substantiated themes with direct evidence.Prioritized next steps for immediate and upcoming improvements by presenting research findings to a panel of 10 executives and stakeholders; submitted additional top-line report with recommendations and video highlight reel.

Knoxville, Tennessee, United States

Assisted in identifying needs and evaluating a community farming program for refugees in Knoxville, TN by interviewing participants about their experiences using the gardens.Uncovered a desire for more gardening space, increased access to grounds resources, and a need for a localized growing guide by synthesizing interview results through affinity diagrams. Results were supported by informal discussions with established members of the garden community. Provided a written report with recommendations for improvements, which was used as part of a grant application, securing $8,900 in funds. A new waterline was placed and multi-lingual growing guides were printed and distributed for the following season.The community program was also rebranded to New Ground Gardens, a name intended to reduce the “othering” gardeners felt when referred to primarily as refugees.

Greater New York City Area

Led the designs for a conceptual application to empower moms of children with autism to take action post-diagnosis through digital forums, roadmaps, and resources by participating in a human-centered design workshop.Improved UX for a national internet and cable provider website by designing new product landing pages and updating components to be more informative.Facilitated access and dissemination of information for policymakers and advocacy organizations by creating five responsive WordPress template pages during a rapid 8-week sprint.

Knoxville, Tn

Designed websites, printed collateral, social media, and branded assets for local and regional clients, including the Boy Scouts of America, Tennessee Tech University, and Sugarlands Distillery.Assisted Senior Graphic Designers, UX Designers, Art Directors, and Developers with multiple projects simultaneously.Presented concepts to internal review teams. Collated and implemented feedback accordingly.Experience in Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator.

University Of Tennessee, Knoxville

** Winner: Best New Journal (2017) • Council of Editors of Learned Journals**** Winner: Best Journal Design (2016) • Council of Editors of Learned Journals**Collaborated with a professor to create the extended identity of the Association of the Arts of the Present for print and digital contexts. Explored layouts and typographic systems in preparation for creating the journal's editorial templates.Designed a press-ready template including front matter, various article types (interviews, photographic essays, dialogues), and a dynamic cover that highlights the contemporary nature of the journal's contents.The journal is printed and distributed by Johns Hopkins University Press.

University Of Tennessee, Knoxville

Designed two issues of the Phoenix, a literary arts magazine printed and distributed by the University of Tennessee (42 pages + Cover).Responsibilities included layout, type treatment, and cover design. Each issue followed a creative theme, reflected in the cover's imagery and throughout.Collaborated with the editorial team on selecting writings and art for each issue. Prepared and packaged the files for the press. Spot-checked proofs for errors.

Knoxville, Tennessee, United States

Led the website redesign of a small, local architecture firm. Met with Design Manager to identify business goals and branding requirements.Developed a working brand brief to anchor design decisions by interviewing employees on the company's strengths and unique value propositions. Helped the firm achieve an updated and prominent presence in the competitive community through a new website and updated branding/marketing collateral.

Knoxville, Tennessee Area

Worked as a part of a 5-person agency to design WordPress site, brand identities, and printed collateral for local clients. Highlighted the value of a local career coach through a print and digital campaign, using well-known and humorous references to movies and social norms. Clients included the Knoxville Ice-Bears Hockey Team, Giving Tuesday, and Knoxville Executive Council.

University Of Tennessee, Knoxville

Synthesized and created a comprehensive Brand Brief, including a vision statement, mission statement, and unique value proposition, by interviewing demographics of the city of Cleveland, TN.Designed a framework for a future visual identity as part of the Smart Community Initiative at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.Improved research, strategy, and synthesis skills by collaboratively working with students, city leaders, and professors to identify and analyze patterns.

Knoxville, Tennessee Area

Designed a full-color, 128-page supplemental magazine for company publication, focusing on Radiation Therapy Case Studies and results. Followed existing brand guidelines and medical publication regulations.Additional projects included a toolkit for patients with prostate cancer and Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement guides.

Master Of Arts - Ma, Design For Social Impact, 3.7

Design for Social Impact equips citizen designers with the practical know-how (human-centered design methods, leadership.

Bachelor’S Degree, Graphic Design Bachelor Of Fine Arts, 3.7 Gpa

Activities and Societies: AIGA, Hillel

Graphic Design And Photography

Semester abroad in Florence, Italy