Matt Tolbert Email & Phone Number

Greenville, Sc, Us

Mclean, Virginia, United States

As a Service and Customer Experience Designer, I lead the strategic design and implementation of PuckBoard 2.0, a scalable product innovation used by the US Air Force. My role focuses on designing user-centered solutions, building strategic plans, and ensuring smooth internal and external communications and processes.Key Responsibilities:• Developed the strategy, information architecture, and RBAC structure for PuckBoard 2.0, allowing the user base to scale to over 100,000.• Co-led the implementation of a Material UI-based design system, improving efficiency and consistency across product teams.• Managed design-to-development handoffs using Figma, Jira, and Storybook, reducing delays and improving workflow.• Conducted user research and usability testing, creating personas and user journeys to drive improvements.• Built and implemented key product metrics to inform feature development and optimize the user experience.• Developed, designed, and implemented product kickoffs, workshops, and presentations to gain 95% alignment of stakeholders and SCRUM teamsKey Achievements:• Scaled PuckBoard 2.0 from 38,000 to 100,000 users, supporting a 275% increase in concurrent users.• Increased UI component reuse by 50%, reducing development time and the need for custom designs.• Reduced design-to-development revisions by 20%, enabling faster product iterations.• Delivered 5 data-driven product improvements, improving user engagement and feature adoption.• Increased user satisfaction by 20% through UX research and usability testing.• Implemented 4 major workflow improvements, enhancing system integrations across U.S. Air Force bases.• Launched 4 new product initiatives, driving innovation and improving development efficiency.

Greenville, Sc

New Covenant Christian Fellowship WebsiteResponsibilities: • Redesigned the church website to improve user experience and mobile accessibility using Bootstrap. • Implemented a streamlined online booking and event registration system for services and events. • Created digital assets and crafted strategic messaging to align with the church’s mission. • Managed and updated the website using a CMS, ensuring scalability and ease of use. • Conducted UX research to gather insights and improve the overall user experience.Key Takeaways: • Enhanced mobile usability and improved community engagement. • Streamlined event registration, contributing to smoother church operations.Slade’s Plumbing WebsiteResponsibilities: • Redesigned the website to increase traffic, promote job opportunities, and simplify the booking system. • Focused on mobile-friendly design and accessibility across devices. • Managed the website using HTML5 and CSS, ensuring performance and usability. • Conducted UX research to guide design improvements and enhance user interaction.Key Takeaways: • Improved booking system efficiency and user engagement through modern design and better mobile experience.

United States

Responsibilities: • Co-founded a startup and collaborated with product founders to design and develop the first version of a network and inventory management system for enterprise users. • Conducted user research through interviews and usability testing to identify challenges and ensure the product met diverse user needs. • Designed a user-friendly interface that improved workflows and usability for both technical and non-technical users. • Worked closely with engineers during prototyping and development, ensuring design iterations aligned with user feedback. • Developed personas and journey maps to create a more personalized user experience tailored to different roles.Key Takeaways: • Successfully enhanced operational efficiency through user-centered design. • Took a hands-on role in user research, conducting interviews and usability testing to identify key challenges and ensure the product addressed diverse user needs. • Worked across multiple functions to design a user-friendly interface that enhanced workflows and improved system usability for both technical and non-technical stakeholders. • Collaborated directly with engineers throughout the prototyping and development phases, ensuring that design iterations aligned with user feedback and evolving project requirements. • Developed personas and journey maps to tailor the product to different user roles, leading to a more personalized and efficient user experience. • Although the product remains under NDA and has not yet been publicly released, internal feedback from stakeholders has been highly positive, and development continues to refine the system’s capabilities.

Anderson, Sc

Responsibilities: • Developed and taught curriculum for courses in Graphic Design, Digital Imaging, and Illustration, focusing on design principles, user-centered approaches, and iterative problem-solving. • Instructed over 150 university students across all academic levels, helping them develop skills in industry-standard design software such as Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. • Created 50+ presentations, projects, and assessment tools that emphasized visual hierarchy, design research, and real-world applications of design thinking. • Lectured and demonstrated key concepts such as best design practices, user-centered design, and the use of personas, preparing students to solve complex design problems. • Guided students through an iterative design process, providing feedback and mentorship to help them refine their design solutions in response to user needs. • Introduced students to new supplementary software and techniques such as 3D design, motion graphics, and template mockups, expanding their design toolkit and promoting innovative solutions. • Applied marketing techniques to promote student work, showcasing projects to a wider audience and preparing students for industry exposure.Key Takeaways: • Successfully applied user-centered design principles in the classroom, helping students develop solutions that aligned with real-world design challenges. • Fostered iterative problem-solving and strategic design thinking among students, aligning with the methodologies used in professional UX/UI design and product development. • Expanded students’ technical skills through the introduction of new tools and techniques, complementing my own experience in digital design and product innovation.

Piedmont, Sc

Responsibilities: • Created and delivered 300+ presentations using Adobe Creative Suite, Keynote, and other tools, developing both traditional and digital art skills with a focus on user-centered design principles. • Provided mentorship and career guidance to over 2,000 students, developing their skills in creative problem-solving, design thinking, and digital media. • Managed the end-to-end production of the school yearbook for 11+ years, acting as a project manager overseeing design, content creation, photography, and stakeholder engagement throughout a 9-month production schedule. • Developed unique branding, style guides, and icon sets for each yearbook, strategically aligning design and user engagement with business goals, while managing a $50-70K budget and increasing sales annually. • Utilized UX research techniques such as surveys and interviews to continuously improve the yearbook experience, ensuring it aligned with the needs of students and stakeholders. • Spearheaded the integration of AR (augmented reality) and video production technology to enhance the interactive experience of the yearbook. • Developed and led the district-wide Summer Program for Gifted and Talented Art Students and created the district’s 9-12th grade arts progression guide, applying strategic planning to arts education. • Designed marketing strategies to balance user needs and business goals, increasing user interaction and yearbook engagement year after year.Key Takeaways: • Leveraged strategic design and project management skills to deliver award-winning yearbooks that met business goals and enhanced user engagement. • Applied user-centered design and UX research principles, aligning educational initiatives and creative projects with the needs of diverse stakeholders. • Successfully managed large-scale creative projects from concept to execution, complementing my experience in UX/UI design and product development.

Remote, Greenville, Sc

Responsibilities: • Designed the physical layout and user experience for the New Balance NYC Marathon Expo at the Javits Center, overseeing the design of 60,000 sq ft of event space, which was experienced by over 100,000 attendees. • Collaborated as a concept artist, graphic designer, and illustrator to develop the visual experience, guiding attendees through key areas such as registration, wayfinding, and retail spaces. • Utilized design thinking, design sprints, and agile methodology to refine research and enhance user experiences, ensuring a seamless and engaging flow from entry to exit. • Conducted comprehensive user research, including interviews, surveys, competitive audits, and persona development, to inform the design and layout of the event. • Developed rapid prototypes for experiential design, wayfinding, and retail presentations, ensuring that the design met both user needs and business goals. • Created the UX/UI for the Bib Final Registration and pick-up process, applying user research insights to streamline attendee interaction and improve overall efficiency. • Managed the design process using Jira and created prototypes with tools such as Figma, FigJam, and Adobe XD to ensure clarity and collaboration across teams. • Worked cross-functionally with project leads, 3D designers, graphic designers, and New Balance stakeholders, ensuring all revisions and final designs were implemented successfully.Key Takeaways: • Applied UX research and design thinking to create a large-scale, user-centered event experience that catered to both practical and emotional needs of attendees. • Successfully developed and implemented UX/UI solutions that optimized user interactions, contributing to the smooth operation of a high-traffic, complex event. • Demonstrated leadership in cross-functional collaboration, working with a diverse team to deliver a cohesive design that aligned with stakeholder expectations.

Master Of Fine Arts (M.F.A.), Illustration, 3.75 Gpa, Cum Laude

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Art Teacher Education, 3.9 Gpa, Summa Cum Laude