WORK EXPERIENCE:
July 2021 – current
Intact Financial — Senior UX/UI designer
• Part of the acquisition team, focus on online quoting and policy purchase, including coverages, growth hacks and AMF compliancy updates
• Work with diverse business partners within the Digital Lab to create optimal solutions from shared research, behavioural science insights, analytics, data analysis, technical limitations and design iterations
• Develop journey maps, process flows, wireframes, prototypes and high fidelity files ready for developer handover. Supporting several developer squads regularly, including optimizations and updates on Johnson products
• Participating or running a range of workshops, ideation sessions and online collaborations
April 2016 – July 2021
RSA Insurance — Senior UX/UI and visual designer
• Initially started as a visual designer role but soon evolved to a UX/UI role
• Some examples of work: SME broker quoting tool; Johnson health and dental claims portal, Johnson home, car and bundle online quoting and purchase (Johnson, Scotia, Deeks); AMEX travel quoting & online purchase; Johnson customer home & auto self-service, Johnson.ca redesign; rsagroup.ca redesign, to name a few
• Translate user needs and business requirements into engaging digital features and functionality
• Develop UI patterns, interactions and visual design on each project, keeping accessibility, SEO and branding at the forefront. Collaborated in the creation of both a Sketch and Figma digital styleguide for Johnson Insurance
• Projects range from brand new online tools to optimizations and growth hacks on legacy sites.
• Mainly work in an agile environment in a combination of onsite and offshore teams.
February 2012 – April 2015
Venture Communications Inc — Digital/Print Designer
• Main focus was digital, creating a wide range of web, mobile and interactive designs working with creative directors, digital strategists, copywriters and front-end developers. This included websites, microsites, wireframes, mockups/storyboards and updates/additions to existing sites, e-mails and banner and social media ads
• Designed a wide range of print work depending on the campaign and/or client
• Worked directly with external photo-retouchers, video editors, printers and sourcing stock photography and illustrations
• Started development on a new file management system on servers to deal with change in processes as agency shifted from a focus on print to mainly digital. Improved efficiencies in referencing old files for RFP and presentations, current file versions and archiving
Clients: Travel Alberta, Toyota, Scotiabank, Tourism Calgary, Cenovus, ENMAX, Brewster Travel, LCBO, Husky, Mayo Clinic, Rexall
October 2010 – February 2012 and current
Freelance — Graphic Designer
freelance contracts at: LiQuid Inc – CIBC Annual Report; Focused Creative – York Children’s Aid Society Annual Report; BIMM Communications – Telus; Venture Communications – LCBO, Sporting Life, ENMAX, Toyota, Cenovus
January 2008 – October 2010
Direct Antidote (now Squareknot) — Senior Graphic Designer
clients: AIR MILES, AMEX, BMO, Marlin Travel, RONA, Sobeys, Pharmasave, Peachtree
September 2005 – January 2008
Freelance — Graphic Designer/Production
freelance contracts at: Leo Burnett, Interbrand, The Brainstorm Group, Draft FCB, Riddoch Communications, Taylor/Sprules, Energy Creative, BIMM Communications, McLellan Group, motum B2B and Direct Antidote
October 2004 – May 2005
Hayes and Company — Graphic Designer
clients: Wellington Brewery, Teknion Furniture Inc., Optic Eyewear, Liberty Village BIA, Swan Restaurant, Oysterboy, Progressive Arts, Roofworks
May 2003 – October 2004
ZSA Legal Recruitment — Art Director
clients: in-house design
June 1998 – May 2003
Four Corners Communications — Sole Proprietor/Graphic Designer
clients: Molson Canada, GE Canada, Media Profile, Canada’s Wonderland, Toronto Finnish Credit Union, Finnish Embassy (Ottawa), Suomi Koti Seniors and Nursing Home, Eagle Eye Entertainment, PhysioTools Inc., Factory Theatre, Rebecca Gallery Ltd., Patina Metalwear, Aspasia Books Inc.
October 1994 – June 1998
Rossignol & Associates — Graphic Designer
clients: Canadian Stage Company, Laurentian Mutual Funds, Mirvish Productions, Schulich School of Business at York University, Royal Conservatory of Music, Alliance/Atlantis
March 1992 – October 1994
The Image Group — Graphic Designer
clients: Canon, Unitel, The Royal Bank, Heart and Stroke Foundation, CCA (Canadian Chartered Accountants), Peel Region Board, BodyShop, Livingston/Nexus.
EDUCATION:
User Experience Design certificate
January 2015 – March 2016 (part-time)
George Brown College
Ontario College of Art and Design
September 1990 – April 1993
AOCA – graduated with honours
- 4yr. degree in Communication and Design
- specialist program in Graphic/Editorial Design
University of Toronto
September 1998 – April 2003
Honour B.A. – with high standing
- Specialist: German Studies and a Minor: Finnish Studies
CONTINUING EDUCATION
• Foundations of Digital Marketing Management at UofT (2014)
• I've also taken several courses at George Brown, Centennial College, and OCADU in Dreamweaver, Web Design, HTML, CSS, Javascript, Flash and Advanced Photoshop (2005–2013)
• I also regularly attend workshops, lectures and conferences such as WordCamp, FITC, a11yTO (Accessibility Toronto), and RGD lectures.
AWARDS:
• LoyaltyOne’s President’s Circle Award for Achievement 2010
– LCBO RFP Response
(main designer and production co-ordinator)
• CMA Awards
– Gold Award in the Direct 1:1 Consumer Products category : AIR MILES Collector Update 2010
(main designer and production co-ordinator)