My journey in user experience design began in the early 2000s, rooted in visual design. Over the past two decades, I’ve witnessed and actively participated in the transformation of UX from a subset of visual design into a comprehensive, multidisciplinary field.

In the early years, my focus was primarily on creating visually appealing interfaces. As the field evolved, so did my skillset. I expanded into user research, information architecture, interaction design, and usability testing. This evolution mirrored the industry’s growing recognition of UX as a critical component of product development.

Throughout my career, I’ve adapted to significant technological shifts – from the rise of mobile computing to the emergence of VR and AI-driven interfaces. Each new platform and paradigm has required me to rethink and refine my approach to UX design.

One of the most significant changes I’ve experienced is the increased emphasis on data-driven design decisions. Early in my career, design choices were often based on intuition or established best practices. Now, I regularly use analytics, A/B testing, and user behavior data to inform and validate design decisions.

Another key development has been the growing importance of accessibility and inclusive design. What was once an afterthought has become a fundamental consideration in my design process.

Today, my approach to UX is holistic and strategic. I don’t just design interfaces; I help shape product strategies, contribute to business decisions, and work to align user needs with business goals. This evolution from a purely creative role to a strategic one reflects the broader maturation of UX as a field.

In essence, my two decades in UX have been a journey of continuous learning and adaptation. The principles of user-centered design remain at the core of my work, but the methods, tools, and scope of UX have expanded dramatically. This long-standing experience allows me to bring both depth of knowledge and adaptability to each new challenge, ensuring solutions that are not only visually appealing and functional but also strategically aligned and future-proof.

My professional design experience spans a diverse array of disciplines, reflecting the evolving landscape of digital and interactive media. My core expertise lies in UX/UI design for web applications, desktop software, and mobile platforms. I’ve also ventured into more specialized areas, including:

1. Game Design: Both 2D and 3D game interfaces and environments
2. Virtual Reality: Limited but valuable experience in VR interface design
3. Animation and Motion Graphics: Enhancing user interfaces and creating engaging content
4. Simulation Design: Creating realistic, functional interfaces for training and educational purposes
5. Motion Capture: Integrating human movement data into interactive experiences
6. eLearning Platforms: Designing intuitive interfaces for educational software
7. Interior Design: Applying spatial design principles to physical environments

Additionally, I’ve had opportunities to work on projects involving emerging technologies and cross-disciplinary applications. This broad spectrum of experience allows me to bring a holistic perspective to my design work, often finding innovative solutions by cross-pollinating ideas from different design disciplines. It’s also enabled me to adapt quickly to new design challenges and technologies as they emerge in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Leadership in Open Source UX Community

As the current UX Chairman of the SIG-UI-UX group, I’ve played a pivotal role in creating and nurturing an open source UX community. My responsibilities and achievements include:

Community Management and Governance:
• Established and maintain the charter, including all rules of engagement
• Lead design workshops and run product initiatives
• Create and publish public articles about UX activities and updates

Design System Development:
• Spearheaded the creation of the BlueJay design system with my team
• Oversee ongoing maintenance and evolution of the design system

Team Leadership and Mentorship:
• Hire, manage, mentor, and train other designers
• Establish and host internship programs, overseeing various projects
• Participate in and lead classroom learning experiences

UX Research and Design:
• Conduct comprehensive UX research, including user interviews, surveys, and A/B testing
• Create interactive prototypes to test and refine design concepts
• Manage and maintain UX needs and requirements for all related tickets

Innovation and Intellectual Property:
• Invent new features, resulting in awarded patents and several pending patents
• Drive product direction, leveraging project management skills

Stakeholder Management:
• Deliver leadership presentations to SVPs, VPs, and product teams
• Conduct and host customer interviews to gather insights and feedback

Community Engagement:
• Create free digital content for the open source community
• Foster a collaborative environment for UX professionals and enthusiasts

This role demonstrates my ability to lead complex, multifaceted initiatives in the UX field, balancing technical expertise with community building and strategic leadership. My work has not only advanced the state of UX in open source projects but has also contributed to the broader UX community through education, innovation, and open collaboration.

Over the past decade, I’ve had the privilege of guiding the UX direction for several major applications and projects across diverse domains. My contributions have spanned game development tools, enterprise software, consumer-facing applications, and innovative concepts. Here are some of the key products and projects I’ve worked on:

1. O3DE (Open 3D Engine): Led UX initiatives for this open-source game engine, focusing on its applications in games, simulations, robotics, and VR.

2. Amazon Lumberyard: Shaped the user experience for this AAA game engine prior to O3DE.

3. AWS VAMS (Virtual Attendee Management Service): Designed user interfaces for this cloud-based event management platform.

4. Amazon Locker: Contributed to the UX design of this innovative delivery solution.

5. Amazon A to Z: Improved the employee experience for this internal app.

6. Amazon Connections: Developed UX strategies for this employee feedback tool.

7. Amazon Stocks: Enhanced the user interface for this internal stock management tool.

8. Asset in the cloud: Led the conceptual design for this cloud-based team asset repository and node-based scripting tool.

9. BlueJay Design System: Co-created and maintained this comprehensive design framework for O3DE.

10. Multiplayer Sample Project: Designed the UI for this project showcasing AWS multiplayer services integration with O3DE.

11. PhysX Integration: Created tutorials and designs for implementing PhysX within O3DE.

12. Asset Browser and ScriptCanvas: Developed these crucial tools for asset management and visual scripting in O3DE.

In each of these projects, my role involved conducting user research, creating wireframes and prototypes, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and iterating designs based on user feedback and data analysis. This diverse portfolio demonstrates my ability to apply UX principles across various industries and technologies, from game development tools to enterprise applications and innovative cloud-based solutions