UX Architecting
My Library Science graduate studies impressed upon me the importance of information structure. Visual metaphors rely on information architecture to ground the concepts. At the most atomic level something as simple as the quality of micro-copy can make or break a user's experience and consequently even my love of the english language's nuances has found a practical tech outlet in the below work.
When you spend hours with users you can't help but want to solve what ails them large and small. I approach UX Design from the pragmatic perspective that style shouldn't hinder usability, but I also understand that delighting users is critical but so is the learnability of new interfaces, new interactions.
SWBC Bacon Loan Pay - UX Manager & Contributor
Following initial successes for Bacon iOS, SWBC endeavored to create a second financial product atop the Bacon platform. Bacon Loan Pay is a unique white labeled product that a financial institution can deploy, similar to PayPal, that gives their end users a way to pay off loans quickly.
As UX Manager I was Directly Responsible Individual (DRI) for the final UX architecture. I created information architecture (IA) and application user flow diagrams and guided visual designers as they created the final stylized layouts and views.
Example of a relatively simple interaction flow to cancel a payment within a recurrence pattern
Bacon iOS - UX Manager & Contributor
Early Discovery Phase findings that I led were rapidly informing the first several rounds of prototyping of this mobile financial app. Together with another two designers, I worked on creating the first iterations of sketches, information architecture, high fidelity wireframes, and testing prototypes.
My work often involved interfacing with Engineering team members to validate the feasibility of ideas and balance that against usability concerns. In later stages of the product lifecycle I became a final sign off individual responsible for go/no-go on features.
Samples below are from a tiny fraction of the overall work.
Application data flow diagram created to bridge Design's proposed views, and Engineering's data and business logic needs
NNG Usability Researcher Specialty Certification
The closest thing that HCI has to a professional certification is Nielsen Norman Group's specialty certification for Usability Research. I'm continuing to work towards a Master Certification as well as becoming increasingly involved in workshops sharing my knowledge and experience with eager organizations.
