Role: Product Designer
Entity: Start-ups / Windows Cloud / Mars Data Suite
Location: Seattle in person / remote / hybrid
Years: 2023 – 2025
Team make-up: Collaborative work with founders, developers, and marketing, broad and different teams at each place
Skills used: Brand Development, UX/UI Design, Wireframing, Prototyping, Component System Development, AI-Notebook Interaction Model, Collaboration, coding in React/css/visual front-end
Role: Product Designer
Entity: Meta
Years: 2020 - 2023
Team make-up: Collaborated with engineers, PMs, and other designers.
Synopsis: I spearheaded the initial creation and development of Daquery notebooks, a concept involving a series of merged SQL query cells designed to enhance data analysis workflows. This innovative approach allowed users to seamlessly run and visualize SQL queries within a single interface, significantly improving efficiency and usability.
My work on Daquery notebooks laid the foundation for integrating these features with Bento notebooks, creating a cohesive and powerful data analysis tool. This merger involved extensive collaboration with engineers and PMs to ensure the functionalities were harmoniously integrated and provided a seamless user experience.
Throughout the project, I focused on both the interaction and visual design aspects, ensuring that the notebooks were not only functional but also intuitive and visually appealing. My contributions included designing prototypes, conducting user research, and iterating on feedback to refine the final product.
Skills used: UX Design, Interaction Design, Visual Design, Prototyping, User Research, SQL / Python notebooks deep dive
Prototypes:
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Team Dynamics:
Worked closely with engineers to determine and then implement the initial functionality around grouped cells.
Presented and connected across the org to get the concept moving, creating whatever was needed across visuals, prototypes, discussions.
Engaged with other designers to maintain consistency and enhance the user interface between this product space and others.
Role: Product Designer
Entity: Meta
Location: Seattle but with talks in MPK, London and Tel-aviv
Years: 2022 – 2023
Team make-up: The team consisted of myself, a main front-end developer, a main PM, 5-8 engineers involved in training, additional engineers brought in for related work, and a researcher helping confirm the results.
Synopsis: Over the past two years, I led a significant project at Meta focused on creating a Data Visualization framework for Meta Infra. As a Product Designer, I was instrumental in also coding prototypes using Vega, an open-source visualization grammar, to flesh out what our visual capabilities and options were.
I championed the need for structured guidance in this area, overseeing the visuals, documentation, and prototypes. My responsibilities included working closely with engineering in Vega to develop coded examples of various chart types and ensure their implementation met our high standards.
Collaborating with a front-end developer, the main PM, and a team of engineers, I pushed for innovative and intuitive solutions that elevated our data visualization capabilities. Additionally, I worked with a researcher to validate our results, ensuring the framework was both effective and user-friendly.
This work was integrated alongside the design system I was building out, ensuring consistency and coherence across the platform.
Skills used: UX Design, Visual Design, Prototyping (Vega), Documentation, Collaboration with PMs and Engineers, Research Validation
Role: Product Designer
Entity: Microsoft
Location: Seattle in person
Years: 2019 (ended into quarantine)
Team make-up: Product designer / Design lead / connective engineering and PM
Synopsis: This was a stay near the end of my time at Microsoft. It was a little bit of a lesson in not moving orgs at large companies or you lose your history for moving up in levels. But otherwise it was a lot of interesting quick wireframes and concepts about the back-end tooling that makes public facing communications tools work.
I don't have a great story for this time, but I'll put up some screens of the work. Largely a bunch of dashboard / alter parameters / and some basic video/camera tooling concepts.
Skills used: Wireframing, research, prototyping, understanding of the complexities of admin work behind toolings
Role: User Experience Designer/Researcher
Entity: Microsoft
Location: London, Paris, and Redmond, WA
Years: 2018
Team make-up: Collaborated with a principal researcher, a senior designer, a fellow designer, multiple PMs, and engineers.
Synopsis: In a collaborative study focused on developing a 'Silence Mode' for the Office suite, I worked alongside a principal researcher, a senior designer, and a fellow designer. We visited 8 clients in London and Paris, iterating on designs based on real-time feedback and insights gathered during the trip. This hands-on approach allowed us to refine our concepts continuously.
The project concluded with a comprehensive proposal, which has since evolved into the current focus time concepts within the Office suite. My role involved conducting in-person interviews, rapid design conception, and prototyping. Upon returning to the States, I also played a crucial role in aligning stakeholders and ensuring the project's objectives were met.
Skills used: In-Person Interviews, Quick Design Conception, Prototyping, Stakeholder Management
Team Dynamics:
Collaborated closely with three other UX-focused designers and a research-focused designer.
Engaged with multiple PMs and engineers post-study to integrate findings and design improvements into the product.
Role: Product Designer, expansion of design system, mentoring
Entity: Microsoft
Location: Redmond, WA
Team make-up: With this specific area, one main PM and one main Engineer were involved. My role evolved from consulting with a contracting designer, to primary designer and expansion of my design system into this space.
Synopsis: Many of the projects I worked on for Workplace Analytics were extensive and ongoing. For this particular project, which focused on the topic keyword analysis section of the app, I took over a struggling initiative and transformed it into a success. Initially joining as a design lead, I provided direction to a contractor and then took over the redesign efforts as the project parameters changed.
This study took place at the same time as expansion of the design system I’d been fleshing out and provided a good space to view this in.
Skills used: UX Design, Visual Design, Mentoring, Background in Analytics, Tool Creation
Role: Primary Designer for Interactions
Entity: Microsoft
Location: Redmond, WA (MyAnalytics – Workplace Analytics team)
Years: 2018
Team make-up: Initially worked with a design lead and another FTE designer. Later became the sole FTE designer in the US, leading 4 contractors and remote FTE designers in India. Eventually helped onboard and support a new manager and additional FTE designers.
Synopsis: Alongside other IC work, I spearheaded the design and implementation of an improved design system now utilized by the sister products MyAnalytics and Workplace Analytics. This initiative involved conducting stakeholder interviews, performing internal research, and extensive visual design work. Engaging in numerous discussions with PMs and engineers, I emphasized the importance of this process and ensured its successful adoption.
Starting with a small team, I led the design efforts through various team changes, becoming the de-facto design lead. My role evolved to manage multiple contractors and remote designers, culminating in onboarding a new manager and additional FTE designers. I ensured they were well-integrated and organized with the existing design files and systems.
Skills used: Stakeholder Interviews, Internal Research, Visual Design, Advocacy and Collaboration with PMs and Engineers, Team Leadership
Role: Product Designer, prototypes for specifics
Entity: Microsoft
Location: Seattle, WA
Year: 2019 (part of larger efforts)
Team make-up: Sole designer for this project, collaborating with one primary Project Manager and multiple developers.
Synopsis: During a transition period, I became the de-facto Design Lead for our group in Seattle after the main design lead quit. I managed a team of contractors and remote FTE designers, ensuring they were aligned with our group's work. As the sole designer for this project, I was responsible for comparison analysis, UX wireframing design and layout, and coding prototypes.
My efforts culminated in creating key prototypes, such as the specifics of card design, to guide the development process and ensure a cohesive and intuitive user experience.
Skills used: Comparison Analysis, UX Wireframing Design, Layout, Code Prototypes
Prototypes: Prototype 1: Specifics of Card Design,
Role: User Experience Designer/Researcher
Entity: Microsoft
Location: 2019 Hackathon
Team make-up: Sole designer working with multiple data scientists, PMs, and engineers.
Synopsis: During the 2019 Microsoft FHL hackathon, I served as the sole designer on a fast-paced project. My responsibilities included quick visual experimentation, front-end coding, and both UX and visual design. Collaborating closely with data scientists, PMs, and engineers, we rapidly developed and refined our project.
I played a key role in transforming initial concepts into a functional prototype, which involved iterative design processes and agile development practices. My contributions culminated in a final set of designs and front-end code, effectively demonstrating the project's potential and usability.
Skills used: Quick Visual Experimentation, Front-End Coding, UX Design, Visual Design
Prototypes: Final set of design and front-end code
Role: Product Designer, Researcher, Visual Designer, Data-Viz and Statistics Consultant, Front-End Programmer
Entity: Microsoft
Location: Redmond, WA (collaborating with remote teams in India, Wisconsin, and California)
Years: 2017–2019
Team make-up: Initially worked with a manager and one other FTE designer alongside multiple PMs and engineers. Later I became the sole FTE designer managing multiple contractors and remote designers. Eventually I helped onboard and support a new manager and additional FTE designers and brought them into the design system I'd been building for this space.
Synopsis: This was one of two sister programs that were my primary focus for 2.5 years at Microsoft. My work centered around integrating Workplace Analytics and MyAnalytics through the bridging component of programs, which tied the two products together. Additionally, I led a wide range of design changes, including improving data visualizations, refining navigation systems, and driving a visual design refresh.
As the de-facto design lead during a transitional period, I managed contractors and ensured their work aligned with the broader design system. My role encompassed wireframing, research, coding, content writing, visual design, and data visualization consulting—essentially handling all design-related needs for the team.
Skills used: Wireframing, Research, Coding, Visual Design, Data Visualization, Content Writing, Statistics Consulting
Prototypes from this space:
Codepen Prototype One – Top Four Redesign and Animations
Codepen Prototype Two - Email Usage Redesign and Animations
Codepen Prototype Three - Sharing button concept
Codepen Prototype Four - Motion Concept
Role: Designer 2 (primarily User Experience design with prototyping and work with Front-End Developers)
Entity: Microsoft
Years: Early 2017 – 2018
Synopsis: MyAnalytics leverages the analytics of Office365 to provide users with insights into how they spend their time across meetings, emails, and focus time. The goal is to help users better navigate and manage their schedules. Since joining the team, I’ve been instrumental in evolving MyAnalytics from a straightforward analytics tool into a self-help tool.
Key Projects and Contributions:
Initial Sharing Experience: Designed an intuitive sharing feature to enhance user engagement and collaboration.
Redesign of Top Four Metrics: Revamped the core metrics to make data more accessible and actionable for users. Developed animations to guide users through the metrics.
Onboarding Experience: Created a comprehensive onboarding process to educate users about the source of their data and how to utilize it effectively. This included multiple iterations from the initial design through PM alterations to the final coded design.
Skills Used: UX Design, Prototyping, Front-End Development, Diplomacy in Design Iterations, Process Improvement
Codepen Prototype One – Top Four Redesign and Animations
Codepen Prototype Two - Sharing button concept
Codepen Prototype Three- Motion Concept
Role: Product Designer (primarily User Experience design with prototyping and work with Front-End Developers)
Entity: IBM Design
Location: Austin, TX
Years: 2016 – 2017
Team make-up: Collaborative work with engineers, PMs, and data scientists at IBM. Main design lead for this area of work.
Management/leadership work w/ newer designers and cross-org communication
Synopsis: This was one of my favorite projects at IBM. It involved the redesign of SPSS Modeler, a powerful data mining and predictive analytics software used for building predictive models and conducting advanced analytics. The tool offers a visual interface, enabling users to leverage statistical and data mining algorithms without extensive programming knowledge.
I focused on enhancing various unique data visualization aspects of SPSS Modeler. I worked hand-in-hand with both the engineers developing the new product and the data scientists at IBM who used it, aiming to create a modern and more intuitive user experience.
My role was unique in that my background in engineering and information science significantly contributed to the data visualization work. I utilized my skills in UX and visual design, coded and Figma prototyping, and conducted interviews with stakeholders, users, and PMs/engineers to inform the design process.
Skills used: UX and Visual Design, Coded and Figma Prototyping, Stakeholder Interviews, User Research, Collaboration with PMs and Engineers
Links:
Prototype 1: Tooltip Exploration
Prototype 2: Display of Specifics in Motion
Prototype 3: Neural network diagram highlight example
Role: UX Designer / Design Developer
Company: IBM Design, Watson Data Platform (formerly Analytics Platform)
Years: 2016 – 2017
Team make-up: very healthy leadership combo of design, dev and management with PM. For direct work I was doing a mix of UX concepts and coding to see how these components played out.
Synopsis: My last main group at IBM was the Watson Data Platform team, a position that was incredibly hard to leave. My role blended design, development, and asset and product management in the creation of a comprehensive guide used across multiple products. Although it was a team effort, we worked highly collaboratively to achieve our goals.
I was deeply involved in both the coding and UX aspects of the guide. Everything in the guide was built and coded between myself and my dev lead, while I also engaged in UX work with our visual designers and Design Lead. The final implementation of the guide into products was incredibly gratifying, and it was rewarding to gather feedback on the components as they were used in real-world applications.
Skills used: Design, Development, Asset and Product Management, UX Design, Collaboration with Visual Designers and Design Lead
Watson 1
Role: UX Designer / Researcher / Prototyper
Company: IBM Design, Watson Analytics
Years: 2013-2014
Team make-up: Collaborated with researchers, designers, developers, and PMs.
Synopsis: During my tenure at IBM, I initially focused on conducting research for what would eventually grow into Watson Analytics. This foundational work set the stage for the development of powerful analytics tools.
In the same group, my role evolved to include creating numerous prototypes to help sell the concept of social media analytics, demonstrating the potential and value of these tools to stakeholders and clients.
In addition to these practical applications, I also developed blue-sky concepts for the future of AI-powered dashboards. These visionary designs aimed to showcase the potential of AI to transform data visualization and user interaction, pushing the boundaries of what analytics platforms could achieve.
Skills used: Research, Prototyping, UX Design, Concept Development, Stakeholder Engagement
Projects and Contributions:
Initial Research: Conducted extensive research to lay the groundwork for Watson Analytics.
Prototyping Social Media Analytics: Created a series of prototypes to demonstrate and sell the concept of social media analytics.
AI-Powered Dashboards: Developed innovative blue-sky concepts for future AI-powered dashboards, highlighting the potential for advanced data visualization and user interaction.
Role: Product Designer (intern)
Company: Apple
Years: 2012; summer
Team make-up: Group of designers situated in a heavy eng-pm area of Apple, guidance from a manager but mostly me wrangling projects on my own with minimal guidance
My first professional experience in UX was with Apple’s IS&T (Information Systems & Technology) UX group, where I focused on developing internal software. During this internship, I engaged in multiple projects, with a primary focus on Accessibility—a passion that continues to influence my design work today.
Working at Apple in Cupertino provided invaluable insights into the professional User Experience environment. Apple's design philosophy, characterized by meticulous attention to detail and a seamless user experience, stood out as unique compared to my later experiences at Microsoft, IBM, and Meta. I also participated in a marketing team challenge centered around app bundles, where my team ranked in the top three.
Synopsis: Designed as part of the Glow Workshop led by Cathlyn Newell the workshop took a a shop space in downtown Flint and designed projects based upon the concept of 'Glow'. I worked alongside Beatrice Lau and William Liow and created the final project you can see below. This was one of my first projects that started to toe the line of physical interaction design, looking into how objects can directly shape users connection to a space.
Role: Machining, Electrical work, Product Conception (Design)
Entity: Glow Workshop, installation in an open storefront
Location: Flint, MI
Skills Used: 3D modeling, LED wiring, cnc machining, thermoforming, dry-ice
Role: User Experience Designer / Visual Designer / Programmer
Entity: University of Michigan Graduate School
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Years: 2013
Team make-up: Collaborated with 3 UX peers
Synopsis: This represents my earliest portfolio-kept work on data-visualization projects, undertaken during my time at the University of Michigan. These experimental classwork projects were among the initial sparks that ignited my interest in the field of data visualization and I like to keep around as comparison.
As a UX Designer, Visual Designer, and Programmer, I engaged in creating innovative visualizations using tools such as Processing and D3.js. This work involved combining information visualization techniques with graphic design principles and scripting to produce compelling and insightful visual representations of data.
Skills used: Information Visualization, Graphic Design, Processing Programming, D3.js, Scripting
Links: First project Video , Second project live site
Role: User Experience Designer/Researcher
Entity: Adler Spatial Visualization Lab
Location: Chicago, IL
Years: 2012
Team make-up: Primary designer, reporting to the museum curator
Synopsis: During grad school, I participated in a volunteer program through the School of Information at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago. I worked on a mobile app concept called "Guide to the Galaxy," aimed at providing users with an accurate understanding of the size of the solar system in relation to the planetarium. This quick volunteer project was completed in two days.
The Android application allowed users to 'walk' through the solar system, overlaying a visual representation of the system over the Adler Planetarium site. This project involved graphic design, processing, Android application development, UX research, and interaction design. (not a full working app but a base mvp that let you walk around and pop up info bubbles)
Skills used: Graphic Design, Processing, Android Application Development, UX Research, Interaction Design
Synopsis: Off and on in 2011 and 2012 I aided Joshua Bard, a professor within the University of Michigan's Architecture school, currently a professor at Carnegie Mellon. The Morphfaux titled project was meant to explore methods in which plaster could be enhanced through modern fabrication techniques. My primary input was through attempted scripting and then machine control of a moving head for the KUKA robot, for laying plaster, alongside creating presentation (see the 3D models and 2D illustrations) for this work.
Role: Design Research Assistant
Entity: Taubman Architecture
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Skills Used: Design Research, Rhinoscripting, Grasshopper (3D modeling Software), Arduino Control of Stepper Motors
Links: His research site
Synopsis: Generally lumping a number of architecture course projects here.
Entity: Taubman Architecture
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Skills Used: Advanced graphic design, 3D modeling, rendering, various modeling work
Links: —-
