Currently, I am a User Experience Lead with Cynergy Systems Inc., a global leader in the design and development of Rich Internet Applications. As a member of Cynergy's award-winning creative team, I have the opportunity to create rich, powerful business and consumer applications for companies large and small across the globe.

Working side by side with a Technology lead, I play an integral role in all phases of the user experience from discovery to development. I lead my clients through Cynergy's LookFirst approach, a process that involves understanding users and objectives thoroughly, creating storyboards, wireframes and pixel-perfect designs that serve as a roadmap for development. I then work closely with my development team to maintain the highest level of quality and ensure our client's vision comes to life.

I have a strong Midwestern work ethic and the ability to iterate effectively and efficiently. I am a perpetual student and advocate of user-centric design methodologies and am constantly researching and testing cutting-edge usability practices.

Before joining Cynergy, I worked for numerous graphic design studios and web design agencies. With over a decade of experience designing and developing engaging user experiences, I combine my extensive understanding of design (typography, color theory, composition, etc.) with a passion for code and front-end development. These years of experience have solidified my knowledge of all stages of web and software product design; from user research and requirements gathering, information architecture and interaction design to prototyping, production and usability testing.

I am self-motivated with a positive attitude, strong leadership and communication skills and have years of experience interfacing closely with clients. I embrace new challenges as well as new methods of thinking.

I have a BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) in Graphic Design with minors in both Art History and Photography. I also had the opportunity to study Art History at Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (University of Groningen) in the Netherlands as a student abroad.

• Art Direction
• Branding
• Information Architecture
• Multi-Touch Interfaces
• Interaction Design
• User Interface Design (UI)
• User Experience Design (UX)
• Usability Testing
• HTML5 Application Design and Implementation
• Silverlight/WPF Application Design and Implementation
• Flex/Flash Application Design and Implementation

• Adobe Creative Suite
• • Photoshop (10+ years)
  • Illustrator (10+ years)
  • Flash (6+ years)
  • Fireworks (4+ years)
  • Flex/Flash Builder (2+ years)
• Microsoft Expression Blend
• • WPF
  • Silverlight
  • Windows Phone 7
  • SketchFlow Prototyping
• Microsoft Expression Design
• Microsoft Visual Studio
• HTML5
• CSS3
• Javascript (jQuery)
• PHP/MySQL