Resumé

http://linkedin.com/in/bsykes
http://twitter.com/bensykes


// CAREER HIGHLIGHTS //

+++ Using JavaScript frameworks, created a way to �gDrag & Drop�h in Microsoft SharePoint for the GFS Ignition Portal at Microsoft.
+++ Conceived, Created and designed the search engine Information.com. (Global top 500 sites on theweb � Alexa Rank)
+++ Successfully led the creative UI vision of the music website American Idol Underground from conception to over 1 million unique hits a week.
+++ Designed Siderean Seamark UI which was named by KMWorld, as one of the Top Trend-Setting Products of the Year! (2006).


// PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE //

+ Google / Mountain View, CA / Sr. User Experience Designer / March 2011 - Present

++ Projects:

+++ Self-service dash boards, backed by a unified data warehouse. #bigdata
+++ Google Help & Feedback and Innovative Customer Support Systems.
-----
AdWords
+++ Display Ad Builder
+++ Help Genie
+++ Display Targeting Tab
+++ Remarketing
+++ Opportunities & Alerts
+++ Ad Status & Policy


+ INTERACTOID / Mountain View, CA / Founder / 2009 - Present

++ Projects:

+++ User Experience Design & Heuristics consulting
+++ Interactive factoids for social networks
+++ Experience & interaction design consulting
+++ Interactive video / hypervideo widgets
+++ Mobile application development / Iphone UI design

++ Technology:

+ Affiliate advertising
+ Actionscript/Flash
+ Fireworks/Photoshop
+ Sprout API
+ XML/CSS/JavaScript
+ Facebook/Iphone SDK
+ Premiere/Chroma Key
+ Amazon (AWS)


+ CISCO SYSTEMS / Ireland - San Jose, CA / Manager of User Centered Design / 2008 - 2009

++ Products:

+ WebEx & WebEx Connect
+ Cisco Unified Personal Communicator
+ Enterprise Instant Messaging Clients
+ Web 2.0 Management Portal

++ Technology:

+ Adobe Suite (all)
+ Visio
+ MS Project
+ Expression Suite
+ Visual Studio
+ XAML/WPF

++ Responsibilities:

+ Requirements capture & UI/Design spec development
+ Team & vendor management, evaluation, scheduling & hiring globally
+ Interaction design, information architecture & wireframe development
+ Coordinate WebEx Connect design (ixd, ia, wireframe) into the Cisco Unified Communicator
+ Coordinate and design (ixd, ia, wireframe) Cisco IM client integration into IBM Sametime & Microsoft Office Communicator.


+ MICROSOFT / Redmond, WA / User Experience Lead - Product Manager / 2006 -2008

++ Products:

+ GFS/MSN Ignition Portal - Microsoft Sharepoint
+ TSP Plug-in for Visual Studio (VSTF)
+ Microsoft Online Suite (saas)

++ Technology:

+ Adobe Suite (all)
+ Visio
+ MS Project
+ Expression Suite
+ Visual Studio
+ XAML/WPF

++ Responsibilities:

+ Requirements capture & UI/Design spec development
+ Product managed the marketing strategy and wrote the usability testing plans.
+ Worked closely with disparate development groups to establish product functionality, scope and delivery.
+ Led team in experience design, Interaction design, information architecture & wireframe development
+ Assisted in user contextual inquiry and usability tests. Translated user findings into affinity diagrams, event sequence diagrams, and use cases.
+ Created & managed the creation of multiple high fidelity Flash driven clickable prototypes.


+ AMERICAN IDOL UNDERGROUND / Los Angeles, CA / Assoc. Creative Director / 2005 -2006

++ Product:

+ Social network for fans and artists separate from the TV show, yet under the American Idol brand
+ Print collateral (Rolling Stone, Music Connection)

++ Technology:

+ Adobe Suite
+ Actionscript/Flash
+ ASP.net
+ MS Project
+ XML/CSS/JavaScript
+ Visio
+ Agile - Scrum
+ Visual Studio/Subversion

++ Responsibilities:

+ Design direction for both site & magazine collateral & UI/Design spec development
+ Team & vendor management, scheduling & Fremantle engagement.
+ Usability planning/testing & hotspot analytic tracking.
+ Interaction design, information architecture & wireframe development


+ OVERSEE.NET / Los Angeles, CA / Interaction Designer - Product Manager / 2004 -2005

++ Products:

+ Search engine: Information.com
+ BlogSource - Social blogging platform

++ Technology:

+ Adobe Suite (all)
+ Visio
+ WAP/WML
+ Agile - Scrum

++ Responsibilities:

+ Conception of a �gmulti-search�h engine harnessing untapped vertical engines and providing a tools layer.
+ Technical requirements capture & UI/Design spec development
+ Responsible for revenue modeling, market strategy & stakeholder pitch.,
+ Extensive new business development & strategic partnership creation.
+ Coordinated / conducted all usability tests and A/B testing - tracking.


+ DIGITAL EVOLUTION / Santa Monica, CA / Multiple Roles / 2001 -2004

++ Projects & Roles:

+ Creator - Creative Director - EMTM (interactive training for the military)
+ Sr. Web Developer - Digital Evolution corporate web site / intranet.
+ Lead UI Designer - Sony APG Intranet
+ UI Designer - Nissan brand performance system
+ Flash game developer - The Zenith Insurance (Risky Robots)
+ Lead Developer - Hewlett Packard CRM web site with focus on 508 compliance.

++ Responsibilities:

+ Requirements capture & UI/Design spec development
+ Product managed the marketing strategy and wrote the usability testing plans.
+ Worked closely with disparate development groups to establish product functionality, scope and delivery.
+ Led team in experience design, Interaction design, information architecture & wireframe development
+ Assisted in user contextual inquiry and usability tests. Translated user findings into affinity diagrams, event sequence diagrams, and use cases.
+ Created & managed the creation of multiple high fidelity Flash driven clickable prototypes.


+ SUPERFLY INDUSTRIES, LLC. / Pittsburgh, PA - Los Angeles, CA / Freelance / 1995 - 2004

++ Projects & Clients:

+ 200 plus client base
+ Gary LeMel - Warner Brothers Music
+ MGL Entertainment
+ 5G Wireless (UCLA Portal)
+ Siderean Software (NSA, NASA, Oracle)
+ Venice Nutrition
+ Hollywood Aid
+ Crowne Limousine
+ Informercial Host: Forbes Riley
+ Inhost Web Hosting (Wyenet)
+ Globe Motorsports
+ IDT Technologies: EZCD Stack
+ Designer Tracy Ross
+ Comedian Carl Labove

++ Responsibilities:

+ Web development
+ Company direction & market strategy
+ New business development
+ RFP/RFI response & bid
+ Requirements capture & UI/Design spec development
+ Contextual inquiry / usability testing / usability participant recruitment
+ Rapid prototyping
+ Hypervideo & interactive flash video
+ Worked closely with disparate development groups to establish product functionality, scope and delivery.
+ User experience design, interaction design, information architecture & wireframe development.


// TECHNICAL SKILLS //

Proficient in Macintosh and Windows operating systems. Expert user in the following applications and technology platforms

+ Microsoft Visio / Omnigraffle
+ Microsoft Project / Merlin
+ Microsoft Expression Suite
+ Visual Studio Team Foundation
+ Adobe Fireworks
+ Adobe Photoshop
+ Adobe Illustrator
+ Adobe InDesign
+ Adobe Flash (AS 2 / Video)
+ Adobe Dreamweaver
+ Adobe Premiere
+ Adobe After Effects
+ XAML / WPF / Silverlight
+ HTML / DHTML
+ CSS (Advanced)
+ JavaScript Libraries (Prototype, DOJO, JQuery)
+ Usability Testing and Contextual Inquiry
+ User Research
+ Heuristic Evaluation
ï+ Iphone Application Development
+ Facebook Application Development
+ HyperVideo and interactive flash video
+ Agile methodologies (XP, Scrum)


// RECENT SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS //

+ Irish Microsoft Technology Conference - Dublin, Ireland 2008 - Lecture: What Species Is Your User - The underlying biology of creating rich interactive experiences, and a strategy to bring your Silverlight applications to life.

+ Nextgen User Group - Coventry, England October 20th 2008

+ Learntec Cognitive Design Conference - Messe Karlsruhe, Germany February 3-5 2009


// MOTION PICTURE //

Worked on numerous feature films, and provided all video assist to the director, writer, and producers of the Academy Award winning film American Beauty.

+ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0003777/
+ Chroma Key lighting & editing
+ Project Directing


// MILITARY //

U.S. Marine Corps Infantry Reserve

+ Operation Iraqi Freedom 2003-2004
+ Provided humanitarian support.
+ Part of the "21 Days to Baghdad" documentary.

Projects by BEN SYKES

APPLICATION DESIGN
12 Files

INTERACTIVE E-LEARNING
5 Files

SPECIFICATION
12 Files

DRAWING BOARD
10 Files

WEB & RIA
50 Files

SKETCHES
34 Files

TRADESHOW
2 Files