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Resume

GREGORY A WILLIS
Arlington VA
e-mail: greg at 19thstreetdesign dot com

:: expertise

  • 14 years experience in interactive media and application design
  • design world-class application-level UI for consumer-facing online products
  • develop iterative solutions which fulfill business requirements within the scope of development
  • negotiate successful product implementation while maintaining UI design priorities
  • lead design teams and mentor junior designers
  • analyze user work flows to improve usability of products
  • lead brainstorming sessions for design conceptualization
  • supervise third party design implementation
  • write design requirements and product functional specifications
  • innovate, collaborate, and quickly respond

:: experience

Contract Web Designer [jun04 – now]

  • designer, site architect and interactive media consultant providing a range of creative and technical services
  • focus on website strategy, user-flow design, page layout, and information architecture
  • clients include Discovery Communications, America Online, Nimblefire, Grafik Marketing Communications, Mediabarn Interactive, The Map Network, Revolution Health, Chanco on the James Camp and Conference Center, Concepts Integration, Suburban Hospital, Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia, Graduate Management Admission Council, Softbank, RTC Marketing, Blue Canopy, The Motley Fool

America Online Dulles VA [may95 – jun04]

Sr User Interface Designer [feb03 – jun04]
User Interface Designer [aug00 – feb03]

  • lead UI design for the core application functionality and navigation of AOL 9.0 and the next generation AOL client, for advanced R & D clients, for the AOL China client, and for the Instant AOL / Gateway internet device
  • designed all aspects of the AOL service including core navigation, e-mail, instant messaging, content browsing, settings, and connectivity
  • created flowcharts, schematic drawings, screen layouts, and written documentation to illustrate product structure and functionality
  • designed user interface experiences based on target audiences
  • lead teams in creating screen designs and UI specifications
  • involved in system architecture discussions
  • acted as an advocate for user experience throughout design and development
  • advised on usability testing strategies and metrics
  • created and delivered presentations for executive design review
  • created products working within a formal process of executive approvals and an informal, rapid, and independent process working directly with business and development

Information Systems Engineer [mar98 – aug00]

  • performed system analysis, designed, and developed an internal web-based database system for tracking assistance requests from AOL worldwide joint venture partners
  • designed information architecture for new issue tracking system based on needs analysis interviews
  • designed UI and developed an online area using AOL proprietary technology to facilitate customer communication
  • worked directly with local and international customers to resolve technical issues, including on-site production and training assistance for the launch of AOL Hong Kong

Senior Interactive Media Developer [may95 – mar98]

  • lead production teams for AOL content areas, including Motley Fool, Love@AOL, Housenet, Urban Legends, Santa’s Home Page, Hecklers
  • designed content organization, navigation, information hierarchy, and taxonomy
  • performed user needs analysis and presented findings to executives
  • coordinated resolution of remote server / host technical issues with airline reservation service
  • led training classes and wrote technical documentation
  • learned and mastered AOL proprietary development tools

Environmental Risk Information and Imaging Services Herndon, VA [jul.91 – may.95]

GIS Coordinator [jan.95 – may.95]

  • developed and maintained a Geographic Information System (GIS), including address geocoding and database integration
  • designed cartographic products, improved existing ones, and implemented them into production flow

Production Manager [jan.92 – jan.95]

  • supervised a team of 25 researchers and increased production capacity fourfold by automating procedures
  • designed, developed, and implemented database order entry system including reports, queries, and screens

Historic Map Researcher [jul.91 – jan.92]

  • researched historic Sanborn Fire Insurance maps

:: deliverables

wire-frames, detailed mock-ups, navigation site maps, process flow charts, design requirements documents, functional specification documents, use cases, storyboards, prototypes, executive presentations

:: patents

:: education

  • BS in English Education, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, graduated Cum Laude, May 88
  • BA in English, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, May 85

:: technical skills

Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, Dreamweaver Flash, Visio, MS Office, HTML, CSS, PHP