Portfolio
These are examples of my recent work. I have 15 years of design experience, including 11 years of designing for the web. I follow a user–centered design process and involve real users as much as possible.
Mobile Design
Video Inventory
Challenge:
Only a small percentage of people who file an insurance claim due to property damage or loss have documentation for what they lost.
Process:
- – User interviews
- – Participatory design
- – Heuristic evaluation
- – Prototypes
- – Usability testing
Solution:
Video Inventory was prototyped as an iPhone application that encourages users to create videos of their home and belongings in advance of potential loss or damage. It syncs with a secure website that allows the user to share videos with an insurance agent if they need to file a claim.
Travel TAMEr
Challenge:
Travelers can struggle with navigating a new city, especially if using public transportation.
Process:
- – Heuristic evaluation
- – User personas
- – Task scenarios
- – Participatory design
- – Prototypes
- – Usability testing
Solution:
Travel TAMEr was prototyped as a PDA application that caters to users who travel via public transportation. It includes adjustable travel routes, information on rideshares and the ability to find out when the next bus arrives by pointing the PDA at a bus stop sign.
Web Design
Newsroom at Catholic Relief Services
Challenge:
Content owners were unable to highlight timely information in the Newsroom section of CRS.org, which led to phone and email requests from users for help. Since the users are journalists, this was potentially impeding media coverage.
Process:
- – Stakeholder brainstorm
- – Web strategy
- – User personas
- – Expert review
- – Information architecture
- – Wireframes
Solution:
A new design and information architecture was created within the constraints of the parent website design. The website now clearly conveys the information that journalists most need. Preliminary web analytics show that visitors are spending more time on the site and are less likely to visit just one page before leaving. View the site map for CRS' Newsroom and a content inventory of the original website.
The Search Group
Challenge:
Stakeholders wanted to refresh the design of The Search Group website and create space for external job hunting resources.
Process:
- – Stakeholder interviews
- – Expert review
- – Wireframes
- – Development
Solution:
I designed and built the new site using HTML and JavaScript.
Budg–It
Challenge:
A spectrum of traits need to be considered when developing an interface for users with Asperger’s Syndrome.
Process:
- – Audience research
- – User personas
- – Competitive analysis
- – Wireframes
Solution:
Wireframes were created for Budg–It, an online budgeting tool for young adults with Asperger’s Syndrome. To accommodate users who are not financially independent, it allows a guardian to access the information and leave messages with social media-like features. View wireframes for Budg-It.
Information Architecture
Act Now at Catholic Relief Services
Challenge:
Content owners of the Act Now section of CRS.org struggled with presenting information from multiple websites to a diverse group of users.
Process:
- – Stakeholder brainstorm
- – Web strategy
- – Competitive analysis
- – Card sorts
- – Information architecture
Solution:
The proposed information architecture creates paths of engagement that leverage content that lives on other CRS websites. Although not implemented, this is the basis for a new website of Catholic resources that is in development.
CRS Espanol at Catholic Relief Services
Challenge:
As part of a redesign of CRS' Spanish language website, the content and organization needed evaluated to better appeal to a Spanish-speaking Catholic audience.
Process:
- – Stakeholder interviews
- – Web analytics review
- – Content inventory and expert review
- – Information architecture
- – Usability testing
Solution:
After doing an almost straight translation of the English-language website to Spanish based on the stakeholder’s request, usability testing revealed confusion over the information architecture. This served as an impetus for the stakeholders to agree to a more tailored approach for the audience. The changes evolved into the website's current navigation. View the site map for CRS Espanol.
Fair Trade at Catholic Relief Services
Challenge:
Users had trouble finding information and resources on CRS' Fair Trade website and overlooked the companion blog.
Process:
- – Stakeholder interviews
- – Survey
- – Web analytics review
- – Card sort
- – Information architecture
Solution:
The new information architecture highlights the most requested resources and replaces blog posts with more frequent updates to the website. It evolved into the website's current navigation. Web analytics show that visitors spend more time on the new website and view more pages per visit. In addition, the number of visitors who only visit one page decreases regularly each quarter. View the site map for CRS' Fair Trade.
