Professional Experience

Founder, Designer

Creative Kate Design

Feb 2022—Present  •  Laurel, Maryland

• Work with both agencies and small businesses to solve UX and marketing problems. Examples include:
• Improve site functionality and UI based on usability testing and design systems.
• Enhance app functionality to improve usability.
• Create design systems and components to align brands.
• Design and build sites for local businesses

Digital Design Supervisor

Crosby Marketing Communications

Feb 2020—Feb 2022 •  Annapolis, Maryland

• UX lead for national and federal government brands. This included Crosby’s largest client that has have over 2 million users per quarter. Provided strategic direction.
• Built strong partnerships with clients and agency staff while managing and mentoring junior UX staff. Developed strong communication and collaboration with even the most challenging staff.
• Created and presented UX artifacts including sitemaps, wireframes, prototypes, journey maps, and heuristic evaluations to stakeholders. This included conceptualizing, building, and growing design systems.

Sr. Digital Designer

Crosby Marketing Communications

Jan 2016—Feb 2020

• Managed creative direction and digital design projects including websites, digital advertisements, and interactive initiatives.
• Visualized ideas and concepts through wireframes, mockups, storyboards, and prototypes.
• Provided digital strategy from IA through project launch. Advocated for quality UX solutions.
• Coordinated with project managers, clients, and developers. Ensured client expectations were exceeded, and internal stakeholders were brought into the process.
• Improved Crosby’s approach to digital design to keep up with industry advancements.

Graphic Designer

ACDI/VOCA

Aug 2011—Dec 2015 •  Washington, DC

• Managed ACDI/VOCA’s brand, created visuals, and developed internal communications initiatives.
• Created graphics, publications, photos, videos, templates, and mentored staff to ensure communications best practices.
• Initiated and led ACDI/VOCA brand refresh. Created new style guide and assisted with strategic visioning and messaging.
• Worked closely with vice president to launch a new department for Internal Communications to ensure professional materials, an integrated process, and engaged staff. Strategized and implemented new communications vehicles.
• Designed website, www.acdivoca.org, sister site, www.asintl.org and our intranet on SharePoint.
• Traveled to Liberia and Ghana to shoot videos, photos, and train staff on communications.

Graphic Designer

Baltimore-Washington Conference of The United Methodist Church

Sep 2005—Jul 2011 •  Columbia, MD

• Designed and managed conference-wide graphics for 700 local United Methodist Churches. Helped set priorities and vision for Conference communications. Developed the Conference brand, including designing newspapers, marketing and branding material, web pages, packaging, logos, and books.
• Regularly developed creative solutions for new initiatives such as coaching groups, sermon series, and devotional books.
• Designed Conference website. Worked with web specialist on information architecture and implementation.
• Developed and implemented a creative briefing processes to increase work flow.
  Served on teams tasked with organizational restructuring, architecture, and worship.
  Coordinated $130,000 printing budget. Managed relationships and deliverables with printers and freelancers.
• Photographed events, people and objects for news coverage and graphic creation.

Graphics Specialist

Innovectra Corporation •  Dec 2004—Aug 2005

• Designed artwork for CD covers and labels.
• Converted .pdf files into online yellow pages and debugged SVG code.

Education

BA, Art: Commercial Design and Photography

2000-2004
3.8 GPA