Resumé

CATAPULT SYSTEMS/SLINGROCK 2010-PRESENT
Senior Lead Consultant
The ideation, leadership and practice of user experience engagements, primarily for Microsoft SharePoint and custom applications. Contribution to procedures and workflow. Deliverables include heuristic evaluations, surveys, personas, requirements documentation, site maps, wireframes/prototypes, user testing documentation/evaluation and presentation layer visual design.

USER EXPERIENCE CONSULTANT 2009-2010
Self-Employed
Working locally, nationally and internationally on user experience, information architecture and visual communication projects. Projects include desktop, web and iPhone applications, web properties, interactive animations and micro sites. Deliverables include strategy, stakeholder and requirements documents, heuristics, site maps, wireframes, use cases, A/B and multivariate user testing documents, functional specifications, storyboards and prototypes.

IDEA INTEGRATION 2008-2009
User Experience Designer
Responsible for the design and evaluation of new and existing UI. The analysis and interpretation of information, target markets, segment and technical considerations, including JAD sessions. Conducting primary and secondary research and competitive analysis, using qualitative and quantitative methods including personas and profiles, card sorting, user testing and heuristic evaluation. Developing complex wire frame diagrams and sitemaps. Conducting SEO strategy and recommendations. Design of accessible interfaces including 508 compliance. Clients included: HP, Microsoft, Sony, Harris County Toll Road Authority.

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT 2005-2007
Senior Project Manager
Drove multi-million dollar interactive projects to on time delivery for a major educational technology company. Interacted with internal clients to meet business needs and industry standards. Developed products to meet unique educational and usability requirements. Liaison with marketing, editorial and senior management internally, onshore and offshore vendors externally.
• Created the Assess>Define>Design>Implement>Deploy department development process.
• Major stakeholder in interactive strategy development for revenue generation.
• Responsible for all rich media development company wide.
• Mentoring and management of designers and producers.

HOLT RINEHART & WINSTON/HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT 2001-2005
User Experience Design Director
Setup, managed, mentored and grew 7-person user centered rich media design department. Conducted vision sessions, user testing, persona development, heuristic evaluation, cognitive walkthroughs and presentation layer design. Created information architecture and prototypes including rough drafts and sketches, paper and working prototypes, storyboards, look and feel. Managed delivery of large interactive projects, and was evangelist for UCD methodology company wide.
• Created multiple award winning interactive user experiences.
• Represented education business unit at company global usability meetings.
• Formulated process and procedure for department.
• Major stakeholder in interactive strategy for revenue generation.

FUNDSXPRESS INC. 2000-2001
Director of Graphic Arts
Developed the UI for company’s financial application. Oversaw qualitative and heuristic usability studies. Managed the creation of 10-15 custom web portal sites per month.
• Established card sorting nomenclature techniques for company products.
• Created iterative agile design process for department.

AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE 1992-2004
Adjunct Faculty Member
Created curriculum and taught Interactive Design classes. Interactive classes focused on information, interaction and presentation design. Set up of first ACC multimedia lab including budget, equipment, software selection, etc.


EDUCATION
Southampton College of Technology/BA Graphic Design
London College of Printing

AWARDS
AIR Houston (Third Place Winner) 2008

Technology and Learning Magazine Award of Excellence 2004

Golden Lamp Award for Excellence in Education 2003

Texas Interactive Media Award (SXSW) 2002

Invision Award 2000

EDDIE Award 1999

Texas Monthly Top Click Award 1997

Silver Award Direct Marketing Assoc. 1993

Silver Award Direct Marketing Assoc. 1992

Projects by Edwin Blake