Resume

Qualifications & Training

BA(Hons) Comms – Creative Media
Dundalk Institute of Technology

Advanced User Research Techniques
User Focus – David Travis

Enterprise Design Thinking
IBM

User Research in Government
Government Digital Service

Skills

UX Design
UI Design
User Research
Workshop Facilitation

I am currently leading the UX design of a new student finance account that will deliver a smoother experience for millions of users across the UK. It will offer users greater detail about the progress of their applications, payments and provide new features such as virtual assistant and live chat. At SLC my design approach starts with identifying the user needs of our diverse customer base through user research. I then facilitate design thinking workshops to collaboratively narrow down the best approach, before iteratively refining designs through user testing to ensure as many user needs are met as possible.

I am also responsible for providing mentoring and training to our junior designers on interaction design, user research and testing.

Bureau workspace is a small technology start-up located in Glasgow that develops digital products to disrupt the commercial furniture sales industry. My role as the Senior UX/UI Designer was to identify user needs for a diverse range of users, from sales reps and support staff to interior designers. I provided user-centered design solutions to improve the efficiency and quality of tasks such as providing quotes and sourcing a more diverse range of products to ultimately provide a better experience to Bureau’s customers and give the business an edge on its competitors.

My role within Sopra Steria was to provide specialised UX design and research skills to their client base. I was assigned to the Student Loans Company where I functioned as the UX designer for their new online repayment service. During the project, I was involved in the GDS alpha assessment for the new service and helped the team pass their assessment on the first attempt.

As an interactive designer at NGX I worked within an experience design team tasked with developing high-level digital storytelling concepts into user-centred products. NGX’s niche is in the technology-forward visitor experience industry. My role included conceptual ideation, wireframing, prototyping, art direction and UI design, user-testing and product validation. I also fulfilled illustration and video production roles.

My position was within a busy communications department where I was responsible for fulfilling print and web design requirements for all departments of the organisation. I ensured that tight deadlines were met and brand consistency was maintained throughout the 13 countries in which Self Help Africa operates. The role also required occasional field trips to programme countries in Africa to capture documentary footage.

The range of work included:

• Producing Annual Report.
• Producing bi-annual magazine/newsletter for donor communications.
• Producing infographics and other visuals for social media and development education.
• Icon development for print and web.
• Producing brochures, leaflets and posters for fundraising campaigns, events and retail (charity shops).
• Video production and editing for online presence.
• Maintaining and updating organisation websites.

I was also responsible for brand conception and development for new social enterprises and associated organisations such as TruTrade Africa and WorldWise Global Schools.