I was working as a print graphic and publication designer for the New England Journal of Medicine, when I jumped on the internet in late 1995. I was horrified that most websites were unreadable and unusuable — and surprised. Despite its failings, people were flocking to the web in droves to buy, read, learn, and socialize. It would change how we do everything, including healthcare. And people like me, who made a living creating printed matter, would become extinct.
I've been designing web-based software and websites for 15+ years, focused in the healthcare sector. I've worked for 3 eHealth startups, each with products aimed at making healthcare delivery better. Here in the U.S. we excel at healthcare innovation and advancement, but compared to other developed nations, fail at point-of-care delivery. I'd like to see that change.
For the past three years I've been a contracted freelancer out of necessity, needing schedule flexibility to care for an ill family member. During this time I also went back to school, completing The Weinschenk Institute's (Team W) UX certification program. (I scored 90% on the test!)
I'm currently seeking permanent, full-time opportunities as a visual, UX, or product designer.
I still enjoy pure graphic design print work, when those projects come my way — hence the print and branding sections of my portfolio. The print graphic design process is similar to that of UX: discovery, design, feedback, iteration, and testing.
Design
I create prototypes, mockups and wireframes to illustrate how an application or website works — its flow from screen-to-screen as users interact with buttons and other interactive elements. Viewport sizes differ on different devices, and functionality on each has to be considered, to maximize usability.
I use different tools to craft different types of visual artifacts.
For low-fidelity mockups and wireframes (design presentations that aren't clickable or interactive), I use Balsamiq, Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office Suite tools.
For high-fidelity mockups and prototypes, Adobe Creative Suite, Axure and InVision, depending on how refined an aesthetic I need for the presentation.
If subtle interaction animation is expected of the prototype, I'll spin some code with jQuery into a basic framework like CSS-based Skeleton.
All that said, it's collaboration that really drives great design. Design's a team sport, and getting input and feedback from partners, subject matter experts, developers and most importantly, users, is critical in creating products that are intuitive to use, solve the customer's needs, and support business requirements.
Development
As a designer with basic front-end programming skills, while my focus is still concentrated on how something looks and how seemlessly the user can interact with it, I'm always thinking in terms of how to execute on a code-level, even though I'm likely not the person who will write the production-level code.
For me, there's an artform in writing code that creates good-looking web stuff that works, while still being easy to maintain and update.
The short list of non-graphic things I craft: XHTML, responsive HTML5 with CSS3, jQuery, vanilla JavaScript, and DHTML. I'm familiar with XML/XSL, bug trackers, version control (e.g. CVS, VSS, Subversion), and I've worked as a front-end developing designer in both .NET and LAMP environments.
Other
When I'm not working, I'm usually writing or volunteering. As a designer, I'm passionate about communication, and words, like visuals, are powerful tools. I've been dabbling in creative writing for several years, and have participated in local writer's groups. A bucket list item is to some day publish a novel.
I volunteer in my community, serving dinners at Council-on-Aging socials, taking minutes as secretary of my local neighborhood association, and giving my time to community improvement projects and fundraisers for local residents and charity support organizations in need.
