Designing for the end-user is critical for project success. When I approach a new project, I take time to learn about the client and the intended audience to establish effective guidelines for the design. My experience includes graphic design for Web and print, as well as information architecture design. As a project manager, I have experience completing extensive documentation to illustrate system architecture (using Visio) that is used to garner client approvals and communicate exact guidelines for the development team to follow.

My approach to design is to allow form to follow function. Usability is the mark of success for any design and I strive to ensure that design enhances, not impedes, functionality.

Portfolio Examples & Experience in Information, Graphic & Web Design

	NCAA Division II Community Web Site - Worked directly with clients for several months to determine site communication needs - Reorganized site information into more intuitive navigation - Developed extensive information architecture documentation for the client to approve and the development team to use in rebuilding the site, with particular attention to the CMS architecture - Created CMS-use documentation to guide the clients with deciding where to post documentation in this information-intensive site >>Launch the site
	Rockwell Moments Web Site - Created detailed documentation for client approval and development team on e-commerce system, user account creation, and file upload process for the site - Developed B2B structure and documentation for positioning this venture with potential new business partners and presented to the clients - Continue working with clients to determine scope and architecture of next phase of development, including robust administrative back-end for order processing and management >>Launch the site
	Good Works Book Company Catalog - Created several design concepts for the cover and interior pages - Designed and laid out entire 44-page catalog - Edited page copy and product descriptions - Indexing catalog - Managed project timeline and print production >>View the catalog (PDF 2MB)
	JIST Publishing Web Site & and E-mail Campaigns - Designed and wrote numerous e-newsletters and e-mail campaigns using Exact Target CRM and e-mail publishing software - Worked with sales and marketing staff to identify targeted product campaigns and translate those into e-mail campaigns - Helped redesign company e-newsletters to refresh look - Edited copy and streamlined messages so readers could find essential information quickly >>View a sample E-campaign that I wrote and designed >> View a sample E-newsletter that I wrote and redesigned
	IIT Research Report "Inventing the Future" - Created design concept for report interior - Designed and laid out 50-page report - Researched potential stories, conducted interviews, wrote and edited stories - Managed the timeline, budget, photographer, and print production >>View the report (PDF 2MB)
	IIT Graduate College Web Site Redesign - Managed and executed the redesign of the 200-page Graduate College Web site at the Illinois Institute of Technology - Studied new university branding guidelines and effective Web design techniques to improve design of the site - Carefully examined the existing site to pinpoint areas of poor usability, including inconsistent navigation and design - Determined the target audiences for the site, conducted interviews with users, and mapped out the site - Redesigned the site with a front-end portal to help direct users to their respecitve sub-site,, updated the style to match university branding, and featured consistent navigation. (The site was redesigned four years later in 2008 to reflect new university branding and incorporating a new CMS.)