As Levi Strauss & Co. navigated the transition from a world where shopping was done almost entirely in person to one where consumers want to find what they need from the comfort of their own homes, there was an issue with a complete lack of underlying structure to build that digital presence. I joined the Levi's team with a central goal of uniting teams behind a single, central source of truth for all design and development tools. This meant building the component library with an accurate depiction of patterns, guidelines, and specifications for design to work from, marketing to reference, and product to build from, in complete alignment and reflection of what users were seeing on both site and application.
File Structure
The focus here was on making it completely clear where each tier of information could be found, what it represented, and what kind of historical context and data led us to the solutions we have today.
Atomic Design
If you dive into the core of design systems, you find a pattern in how companies are defining the most basic repeatable parts and principles of their identities, all the way up through the most specific depictions of how they bring their entire story together.
Component Structure
When it comes to creating the parts that designers can use without any delay in their processes and to the tokens and specifications that engineers are using to implement the resulting designs, components need to be built with consistent nomenclature, properties, and frameworks. This can come down to how the layer panel shapes out, or how variants are used to expand on the flexibility of any singular item.
Process
The design system is not limited to just a component library or a set of styles, but relies just as heavily on how an item navigates from an initial idea, gap, or need, to a set of design system elements and tokens to be exported to integration into the codebase repository. There needs to be a level of collaboration and buy in being led along a repeatable path to get from one end to the other.
Design Exploration & Prototyping
In developing the design system, there has been a ton of opportunity to explore new concepts, rebuild existing patterns in ways that improve upon the user experience, and inject positive change into the way we present our products to our customers.
Cryptomex offers index fund investment solutions for an emerging cryptocurrency market, featuring vault-tight security, lower fees than their competitors, and algorithmic monthly rebalancing to ensure that accredited investors are holding the top coins on the market at all times. As the design lead, I developed the Cryptomex brand identity from the ground up and worked with users, professional partners, and the development team to build a web presence and product platform that focuses on clear communication in an area of investing that comes with a great deal of confusion.
Facebook’s breakthrough and growing presence in augmented and virtual reality allowed me to work with a set of exciting and fast-moving brands, opening opportunities to tap into a creative arena that engages both employees and users, with the ultimate goal of expanding on technology's possibilities. Much of my work included handling internal facing promotions that boost pride in the brands we uphold and make work as easygoing as it can be.
Problem
There is clearly market saturation for calendar and event planning applications, but it seems they all tend to have some of the necessary functions, and never all of them. They lack the ability to really plan EVERYTHING that could come up with planning a hangout. There is always a level of pressure applied to planning an event, as if a hard answer needs to be given for every question, at the moment of invitation.
Solution
NVyte considers everything you’d find in your social feed, group chats, to-do lists, and your greatest impulses. Map your event, invite groups, chat with them, assign tasks, charge for expenses, and give key updates on your ETA. Watching the game at a local bar and open to company? Let certain friend groups (or all of them) know they can join. The Open Invite feature takes the pressure off of the planning process and simply places you on a map for a friend to respond and join if they’d like. Busy schedules make last-minute planning difficult, but opening NVyte allows you to see who is free near you for a quick meet-up. Planning an event has many moving parts, where updates and communication can go a long way in ensuring that everyone has brought what is needed, paid who needs to be paid, and taken care of all the pre-trip processes that will result in a great, stress-free time for everyone.
I’ve been fortunate over my career as a designer to work with a number of small business leaders, listening to their goals, and working to understand how I can best communicate their vision to those who will consume it. Below are just a few examples of how I’ve helped those leaders build on the impact their initiatives make on their communities.
Problem
The United States political system leaves a lot of room for citizens to become disengaged with the election process, as laws vary greatly by state and it is just so hard to know where our time, energy, and contributions can make the most impact.
Solution
BlueWaveHQ provides a resource for left-leaning voters to gain insight into registration guidelines and deadlines in their state, provides access to key resources, and gives a clearer picture of exactly what is needed for majority control on a federal level. They can learn which candidates may have the best chances of winning their respective races and maintaining that hold on the senate, house, or the White House. Not all voters are looking to live along party lines, but might align with the party platform to some extent. BlueWaveHQ makes it easy to learn more about the candidates they are considering and contribute to those that align with their beliefs or political objectives.
Well known for my passion for music, I take joy in working with budding artists and my local music scene to create artwork that represents their sound in a way that attracts their aligned (or targeted depending on the vibe you're going for) listener base.
As a leader in the handling of healthcare data and an expeditor in how it changes hands, Edifecs requires a brand that speaks to their clients and potential clients in a way that simplifies complex protocol and processes within the world of health and wellness. I worked with their leaders to ensure their presence in the digital space and physical world was capable of accomplishing exactly that.
Fresh out of college, I was given the opportunity to work with world leaders in the floor care industry, including Dirt Devil, Hoover, Vax, and Oreck. I gained experience and knowledge in the production process and a wide range of collateral including packaging, manuals, digital marketing, retail displays and so much more. This work was instrumental to my growth and understanding around what it takes to maintain a global brand and build on past success.
