Résumé

Aaron’s Resume (.pdf)

UX Strategist and Researcher: Various Contract,  2018–present

  • For a large cable company, created and executed research plans to understand how call-center agents use data collection tools while on calls. Types of research included contextual on-site research, interviews, heuristic tool analysis and focus groups. Synthesized and presented findings.
  • For a large mining company, led implementation of remote user behavior testing using Google Tag Manager. Designed and tested interactive charts for viewing blast data.
  • For a medium-sized, international non-profit, designed GDPR-compliant consent and member data management screens; modified research program to be GDPR compliant as well.
  • For a small early stage AI startup consulted about usability and research strategy for user interaction with AI and predictability technologies.
  • For a telecom startup, implemented lean UX research program and managed co-creation group of 300+ product users

User Experience Lead: Teach for America, 2013–2018

  • Built partnerships to institute departmental design culture
  • Led implementation of goal-directed-design and Lean UX practice
  • Led research and product design for internal compliance system which tripled user satisfaction and increased data quality by nearly 100%.
  • Designed mobile application which increased year-over-year completion rate by over 25%; with nearly 100% increase on mobile
  • Developed and executed research plans grounded in ethnographic research methods such as contextual study
  • Worked with stakeholders to identify business goals and craft research hypotheses
  • Hired and mentored junior UX designers and researchers

Researcher and Designer: The GIN is IN, 2009–present

  • Conducted research on how people talk about gin
  • Annually publish a report based on data I collect and aggregate, about what flavors people are looking for and how distillers can design products for those drinkers.
  • Designed visualization tool based on findings; led social media promotion effort around tool which resulted in increased page views and increased affiliate product sales.
  • A/B Tested new homepage designs with Google Analytics , Grew traffic by about 20% year-over-year to 750K uniques annually

UX/UI Designer: American Social History Project, 2008-2013

  • Conducted research with teachers on how lesson plans are prepared; led design of tool called HERB based on findings. Launched HERB in 2011.
  • Collaborated with a team of subject matter experts (historians and pedagogy specialists) in design of several projects, websites and grant proposals
  • Co-wrote Badges for Lifelong Learning Proposal; oversaw interaction design and worked with agency hired to execute proposal. Badges for Teacher Professional Development launched in 2013.
  • Posited new strategies, oversaw social media campaigns. Led sessions on emerging web technologies and web writing. Advocate for new technologies.

Lab Advisor:  New Media Lab, 2008-2013

  • Worked with PhD students conducting digital scholarship to identify appropriate tools, methodologies and approaches.

Education

Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), 2016

Masters in City and Regional Planning, Pratt Institute

  • GPA 3.9
  • Coursework includes: psychology of design, anthropological research methods, statistics, visual design
  • Presented work to community boards and community stakeholders

B.A. in Environmental Design , University at Buffalo,

  • GPA 3.75
  • Coursework in visual design, public presentation, statistics and research design
  • Minor in English Literature and Writing.
  • Won award for outstanding undergraduate research: LeClaire-Kindel wildlife sanctuary as a potential model for redeveloping land adjacent to highways