hybrid design leader
Design Systems · A11y · Notion
Values are the greatest tool when making decisions and deciding how to approach a particular challenge. I use the following values to govern my actions and environment:
Autonomy. Empower groups to approach a problem with solutions of their own making. Leaders work most effectively raising up those around them.
Collectivism. Relying on individual work to measure competence motivates isolationism. Reward and incentivize collaboration, encouraging transparency and teamwork, resulting in more inclusive and successful solutions.
Humanity. We are living beings, first and foremost. Acknowledge the spectrum of human ability and limitations. Create opportunities for those at a disadvantage or a disability. Make space for emotions and behavioral variations from day-to-day.
Skills
CSS · HTML · Tailwind · Chromatic · Storybook · JS · React · Gatsby · Emotion · npm · git
Package management · GitHub · Adobe Suite · Figma · Sketch
Design Systems · WCAG 2.1 | Accessibility · UI / UX / Product Design
Design Operations · Design Technology
Carpentry · Flooring · Electrical · Framing · Plumbing · Roofing · Interior / Exterior finish
Finish carpentry · Fine woodworking · Furniture design
Public speaking · Developer / Designer advocate · Accessibility advocate · Mentorship
Diversity & Inclusion · Management
Work history
Principal Designer - Design Systems
Hudl | 2023 – 2024
Design owner of internal Design System (Uniform).
Introduced collaborative contribution model, lowering overhead and anxiety of previous process, increasing contribution >600%.
De facto internal accessibility consultant for Design; instituted automated a11y scanning & reporting tools.
Modernized existing Figma components to modern practices including:
- 90% reduction in variant count
- introduction and leveraging of contextual design tokens
- addition of comprehensive design guidelines & usage instruction inside Figma
- standardized documentation format & shared components
Replaced existing color library with a color (palette) system designed to be:
- 100% contrast compliance (WCAG AA)
- automatically generative based on any given root color
- predictable based on a numerical system with assigned relative luminance levels
Crafted guidance for data visualization including:
- examples of best practice
- color palette adapts to UI levels and user-supplied brand UI colors
- grayscale-to-color translation
Principal Design Engineer
SimSpace | 2022 – 2023
Established a culture of central review & metrics on design activities. Coordinated a migration and reorganization of information architecture on internal documentation.
Owner of internal Design System.
Strategic and People manager for Design team.
Design System Lead
FireHydrant | 2021 – 2022
People manager for the Design team; Lead for Design System team.
Technical lead and architect; responsible for releases and testing; designed governance and contribution model; worked equally with Designers and Developers on technical implementation and designed artifacts.
Responsible for bringing to life a React-based design system, leveraging modern libraries, allowing us to build a fully functional and adaptive system designed for growth in an accelerated timeline, increasing developer and designer ergonomics, productivity, and providing a source of consistency in the product surface area.
Design Technologist & Digital Accessibility Expert
Indeed | 2018 – 2021
Principal architect for composable, theme-able, React-based, CSS-in-JS Design System for global deployment. (12-person team)
Responsible for design advocacy in technical conversations and developer advocacy during design decision making conversations. Fluently communicate between disciplines and ensure that both "sides of the house" are properly represented to all stake-holders.
Accessibility expert for Design System components & architecture; a11y consultant for external product and engineering teams to ensure WCAG 2.1 compliance.
Equity ambassador working closely with Diversity, Inclusion, & Belonging (DI&B) to bring psychological safety to the team, and to facilitate difficult topical conversation.
Sr. Product Designer
RetailMeNot | 2014 – 2018
Design lead and front-end engineer for Labs team, charged with experimenting with new revenue streams, product lines, and acquisition targets. (10-person team).
Directly responsible for 600% growth on Travel category product vertical; product entities which constitute over 30% of total yearly revenue.
Significant social (public speaking) presence within the company and external; host to many internal all hands’; co-organizer of Refresh Austin local meetup.
Principal Designer
TabbedOut | 2013 – 2014
Design and Creative lead for all product, marketing, and branding assets. Directly responsible for entire mobile app redesign; creation and launch of bespoke CRM/ Loyalty program. (4-person team)
Software Developer / Analyst
The University of Texas at Austin | 2012 – 2013
Digital Web Consultant
Jonathan Paul Eyewear | 2011 – 2012
Support Technician
HostGator | 2010 – 2011
Producer / Designer
UGOBE Life Forms | 2006 – 2009
Certifications
Education
Austin Community College
Woodworking / Construction Management
2022 – Current
Leadership Austin
2021 – 2022
Western Michigan University
BA, English – Creative Writing
2002 – 2006