UI/UX Designer 

Hello! I have a passion for leading design in organizations to solve hard and complex problems with creative user centered design solutions. I seek out opportunities to work at the intersection of technology, production, and business. I have 10+ years of experience in the design industry, I lead design in data driven visualization and immersive technology for building high-end visualization apps for various customers utilizing web, VR, AR, Mobile platforms. I have lead design on UX/UI design on innovative apps and game-changing technologies. I have work on R&D projects that include gaming simulation platforms, plug-n-play technologies, autonomy, robotics, and AI. I have worked on dozens of the most advanced space systems, leading design development and engineering teams from concepts to production with a high degree of success in competitive landscapes.

KEY CAPABILITIES:

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Senior Lead UI/UX/XR Designer at The Aerospace Corporation | Oct. 2018 - Present

Senior Lead UX/UI/XR Designer in the visualization and immersive technology department responsible for building high-end visualization apps for various government and military customers utilizing VR, AR, Mobile platforms. I lead design on external/internal UX/UI design on innovative apps game-changing space technologies. I work on R&D projects that include gaming simulation platforms, plug-n-play satellite technologies, autonomy, robotics, and AI for space. I have worked on dozens of the most advanced space systems, leading design development and engineering teams.
• Utilizing a systematic UI/UX Design process that ensures a high-level of success for each project delivered
• Researched and analyzed competitive landscape within our industry
• Generated wireframes, interactive low/high-fidelity prototypes, and visual UI design mockups
• Participated in client usability studies and testing
• Communicated with Product Owners to acquire clear business requirements and delivered designs on time
• Conducted stakeholder reviews and presentations
Design
- Lead design development and launch of dozens of applications. Building design systems for interactive VR, AR, Mobile platforms. From information architecting to concept art phase, through design development, reviews, integration, testing, and deployment
- Lead UX/UI design on storytelling presentations, concept art, motion graphics, and video production to solve complex problems for customers across the space mission enterprise

Innovation
- Develop projects to cultivate design innovation ecosystems through collaboration across the organization.
- Lead design systems and design integration of technologies leading to inventions for space exploration systems.

Research and Development
- Lead efforts in a broad range of technical areas, including AI, software apps, satellite technologies, interactive design, VR/AR , and video game design
- Led design development and integration of technology strategy efforts that spanned multiple areas and integrated hundreds of projects

Engineering and Teams
- Cultivate strong relationships across engineering and business to support existing technology platforms and create new products and services to support growth.
- Lead teams design development for plug-n-play technologies, digital simulation, gaming platforms, and AI for space apps
- Lead teams of engineers, scientists, and business partners to develop products and services in a range of technology areas

Art Director & Lead Product UI/UX Designer at RageOn! | Oct. 2014 - Nov. 2017

RageOn! is the simplest custom creation marketplace for on demand printing solutions that unite creators, brands and fans to make products instantly on their phone or desktop. As a leader in the highest quality all-over-printing, their products range anywhere from t-shirts, tank tops, shower curtains, pillows, and more.

• Lead UI/UX and designed projects from concept to production, working primarily on the RageOn Platform (responsible for over $5M in annual revenue) 
• Utilizing a systematic UI/UX Design process that ensures a high-level of success for each project delivered
• Researched and analyzed competitive landscape within our industry
• Generated wireframes, interactive low/high-fidelity prototypes (Invision), and visual UI design mockups (Sketch)
• Participated in client usability studies and testing
• Communicated with Product Owners to acquire clear business requirements and delivered designs on time
• Worked hands-on with the development team on HTML/CSS to ensure accurate design implementation within our platforms
• Lead scrum teams within agile software development process to work more efficiency in conjunction with the UI/UX process
• Conducted stakeholder reviews and presentations
• Lead the design of the RageOn platform which resulted in $15M+ revenue, 550K+ users, and 30M+ user generated products in the marketplace
• Organized the on boarding and building of the store brands for the following partners: KISS, Lisa Frank, Black Eyed Peas, Shaq, and Hulk Hogan

Adjunct Product Design Professor at Progressive Arts Alliance | May 2016 - Jan 2017

Progressive Arts Alliance is Cleveland’s leading learning experience for students, educators, and artists by designing and implementing innovative, arts-integrated, project-based learning programs in the Cleveland community.

• Instructed a series of product design work shops to over sixty students from all backgrounds and ages
• Developed product design lesson plans
• Provided hands on training with using adobe illustrator and rapid prototyping machines

Lead Product UI/UX Designer & Digital Sculptor Intern at 4D Parts Direct | May 2011 – Aug 2011

4D Parts Direct is online 3D Printing and Rapid Prototyping Service that offer design assistance, full color 3D printed business cards, promotional products, and fully functional design prototypes.

• Managed UI/UX and visual design for all products
• Developed 3D concepts and prototypes for clients using ZBrush
• Worked closely with stakeholders, clients and the engineering team to ensure accurate execution of all design concepts

Design Consultant at VazquezDesign.com | May 2005 - Present  

VazquezDesign is a design consultancy that leads product development and strategic planning for start ups and large companies.

• Strategizing & Planning for online marketing and e commerce
• Orchestrating a strategic UI/UX design to build dynamic and engaging products
• Managing overall brand development and creative initiatives from concept to production

EDUCATION

A Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Industrial Design, with an emphasis on UI/UX design, product design, and automotive design at The Cleveland Institute of Art | Aug. 2008 - May 2012

• Awarded over $96K in scholarships from Ford Motor Company, C.I.A.Portfolio Scholarship and departmental awards

Full Stack Web Development Certificate  at Case Western Reserve University Coding Bootcamp | April 2017 - Oct. 2017

A 6 month immersive full stack web development curriculum primarily focusing on HTML, CSS, JavaScript, SQL, and PHP. Core stack focus is MERN (MongoDB, Express, React, and Node). Source control via GitHub and web app hosting/deployment via Heroku, each with a focus on CLI implementation.

• Developed and implemented highly effective web and mobile applications
• Lead design in three group projects that gained academic awards such as best UI/UX design, most innovative and most creative team project
• Designed and developed front-end for a fully responsive WebVr application within 4 weeks along a team whom had no prior experience with WebVR

Interests

Life | Fun times

I have a passion for martial arts, Hip Hop, photography, videography, outdoors, and traveling. You might even find me out on the dance floor at hip hop event or dancing salsa to live band.