UX/UI Engineer
Freddie Mac
Total years of experience :20 years, 6 Months
Initially contracted by Apex Systems then hired by Freddie Mac in September 2016.
Designated as a UX/UI Engineer for Freddie Mac’s Business Intelligence (BI) unit. Freddie Mac is a mortgage lender operating in the secondary market. BI is an essential unit that deals with copious amounts of sensitive data. My mission is to simplify the data for consumption through information architecture, intuitive web and mobile experiences, data visualization, and user interfaces.
My duties, tools, and projects:
- Design information environments, and evaluate hierarchies.
Utilize UX principles and adapt unique principles for Freddie Mac’s culture.
- Host sessions for ideation, writing outlines, wireframes, and user flows.
- Design wireframes, user interfaces, interactions, and micro-interactions.
- Abide by and contributes to corporate style guides.
- Build prototypes and solicit feedback from business and end users.
- Work through project iterations, and generate hand-off documents.
- Work alongside developers and assist with implementation challenges.
- Write code in JavaScript, jQuery, CSS, D3 and HTML.
- Work in DEV, SIT, UAT, and PROD environments.
- Primary tools include Adobe Experience, Dreamweaver, Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign; MicroStrategy Dossier, Developer, Web; Apple Xcode.
- I built an iPad prototype in Xcode using Swift to accurately test interactions.
- Designed and published two native iPad apps to Freddie Mac’s internal App Store.
- Key contributor to Freddie Mac winning its first award at 2018 MicroStrategy World annual conference.
Consulting work included advising the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in the following categories: public facing website, internal SharePoint site, and print collateral. I also worked on various freelance projects, including branding, web design, and print design.
- Revised a retirement home’s website to accommodate a variety of UX website expectations of visitors, ranging from younger adults to advanced seniors.
- Utilized Content Management Systems (CMS): - Drupal, Joomla!, and WordPress.
- Designed a style guide for a new law office.
- Designed 120-page print annual report for a nonprofit organization using process and spot colors.
- Generated schedules, timelines, and milestone charts to set customer expectations.
- Utilized Adobe Experience (Beta), Dreamweaver, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat, OmniGraffle, CodeKit, and Brackets.
- Wrote HTML, CSS, PHP, JavaScript and jQuery.
Worked for U.S. Defense Media Activity (DMA) by contracting through DRC Inc., Engility Corporation, and REJ & Associates Inc.
Designated as a web designer and developer for the DMA office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, Department of Defense. DMA is a fast-paced, daily news environment supporting the Defense Department’s homepage: www.Defense.gov. Collaborated with senior executives to implement the department's strategic vision by leveraging my design and development skills. Developed and lead the design of features and news web pages, special reports, and graphics on a variety of national and international issues for global consumption. Utilized UI and UX design principles to simplify complex content for site visitors. Performed multiple site-wide redesigns of defense.gov using statistical data, design principles, usability testing, and development. After my first year at DMA, I became essential to their mission.
- Collaborated with top government officials and lead mission-critical design projects.
- Communicated with leaders, colleagues, management, and other agencies.
- Worked on projects from ideation to wire framing, prototyping, user testing, and development.
- Designed and developed interactive web applications and infographics.
- Provided leadership in managing the design and development process.
- Hosted team-building activities, which improved communication and work relations.
- Helped train, assimilate, and support new designer and content managers.
- Designed and developed intuitive solutions, turning complex data into consumable information.
- Designed and developed a working prototype of a DMA mobile app.
- Hosted sessions for ideating a new DMA logo, gathered input, and designed official logo, which was adopted throughout the department.
- Collaborated with other departments, reached goals, and met deadlines.
- Tracked the progress and development of Defense.gov.
- Collaborated using Jira and captured, tracked, prioritized, and advanced tasks.
- Used Confluence to post requirements, facilitate commenting, and share ideas.
- Produced requirements document detailing designs, behaviors, and styles for the front-end and back-end systems of our CMS.
- Wrote, illustrated and designed a user manual for DMA's proprietary CMS.
- Utilized Adobe Dreamweaver, InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, CodeKit, and OmniGraffle.
- Measured, charted and presented web site analytical data using various software.
- Joined and contributed to DMA's Innovation division to help pave a path for the future.
Opened a start-up design firm with a partner. Assembled and led a small team of subject matter experts in web design, print design, multimedia, marketing, and sales.
- Led corporate branding, and creation of mission statement.
- Led creation of context, content, and style guide.
- Designed compelling corporate website, stationery, and marketing material.
- Set up SalesForce web service and integrated it into our workflow.
- Set up internet hosting account, email, and live web assistant service.
- Led social media efforts including Facebook and Twitter.
- Collaborated on interior design and office layout.
- Established daily team meetings, sales meetings, and production meetings.
- Implemented effective operational procedures and workflow.
- Managed Google AdWords, Google Analytics, and Google Admin Tools accounts.
- Worked closely with Google search-engine engineers and increased online visibility.
- Designed and managed web sites (Dynamic, eCommerce, and CMS-based), interactive kiosks, web applications, presentations, digital signage, and print publications.
- Installed and networked RAID 5 file server, FTP server, backup server, and network.
- Led video editing and presentation projects for top clients, such as Gold's Gym.
- Created a positive and inspiring workplace environment.
- Led leadership sessions to help sales team land more accounts.
- Negotiated favorable business contracts.
- Prepared and used large number of photographs, illustrations, drawings, art work, charts, diagrams, maps, and other visual files for use in print material.
- Produced large publications using Adobe CS suite. Utilized best practices and advanced techniques such as Paragraph Styles, Character Styles, and Graphic Styles.
- Designed and prepared trade-show booths, product packages, tri-folds, posters, presentation folders, and complex illustrations.
- Created effective visual presentations utilizing video, audio, charts, and other visual material.
- Skillfully edited and composited quality video footage.
- Preflighted and troubleshooted large print files of over one thousand pages.
- Successfully implemented new methods and practices for that dramatically improved production.
- Planned and drew a new server based high production operation, based on secure redundant technology while implementing best practices.
- Planned a new production work-flow that increased productivity, eliminated waste, and reduced human error.
- Supervised and conducted pre-press operations.
- Delivered quality customer service in person and over the web. I worked professionally and successfully with the company's most prominent clients such as GPO, the White House, the Smithsonian Museum, and the Department of Energy. Delivered a product that met and sometimes exceeded expectations, by assessing needs, providing assistance, resolving problems, and by being an expert or SME in the company's products and services.
- Coordinated major purchases and projects with the company's top officials, designed and executed presentations and held meeting to better express situations and convey points.
- Produced several monthly full-colored magazines.
- Conceptualized, designed, and supervised the production of publications, brochures, newsletters, and corporate identity.
- Conceptualized, designed web-sites and web-site user interfaces.
- Designed User Interfaces for web sites and training software.
- Coordinated between customers, designers, and print suppliers.
- Provided fluent communication with colleagues, agency management, and others outside the agency.
- Served as a senior specialist and technical advisor in all areas of desktop publishing, video, and graphic art production.
- Offered technical assistance and visual advice for documents, presentations, and publications.
Related Skills:
- Demonstrated professional skills using Adobe's design applications, Macromedia design applications, and production applications.
- Edited video and produced 3D animations.
- Fluent in English and Arabic.
- Delivered best customer service. Worked well with clients and delivered a product that met or exceeded their expectations. Assessed customers' needs, provided assistance, resolved problems, and became knowledgeable in the company's products and services.
- Demonstrated thorough attention to detail.
- Demonstrated effective communication skills, taking into account the audience and the nature of the information, and made clear and convincing presentations.
- Demonstrated a strong ability in identifying problems, determining accuracy, relevance, and used sound judgment and recommendations.
Studied fine arts and graphic design.
Studied at one of Europe's best High schools and obtained my O-Levels and A-Level degrees in Science with an intended career in Electronics.