Owner / Designer
Amaya Design
Sep ’98 – Present
Projects include corporate identity, websites, mobile apps, iconography, packaging, trade shows, product sheets, marketing brochures, direct mailers, and more. By applying stable design principles and relentless attention to detail my objective is to evoke an emotional response from the audience through a harmonious design strategy. My process begins by obtaining a complete understanding of the product or service through market analysis, research product requirements to the delivery of a polished and profitable product.
Senior Interaction Designer
Apple
Feb ’18 – Oct ’18 (contract)
Worked within the Retail Commerce & Digital Experience Department (previously AOS) under the Small Talk Agency. Efforts included enhancements and upgrades to the Apple Online Store experience.
Creative Lead
Apple
Feb ’17 – Jun ’17 (contract)
Rejoined the AOS (Apple Online Store) team to lead the design and direction of Apple's freshly branded transactional emails, contributing to a variety of crucial tasks:
• Crafted custom email templates tailored to diverse email types, devices, and regions, addressing numerous transactional use cases.
• Fostered close collaboration with the development team to ensure the seamless transition of designs into functional code.
• Actively participated in the Product Validation Test (PVT) to validate and endorse the designs for integration into final email builds.
• Successfully completed a comprehensive range of email designs, including detailed specifications.
Visual/Production DESIGNER
Airbnb
Oct ’16 – Nov ’16 (contract)
Enlisted to contribute to the design and production of in-situ imagery and various digital assets for the highly anticipated Airbnb Open 2016 event.
• Proficiently utilized Photoshop to craft lifelike in-situ representations of customers engaging with Airbnb's products.
• Timely delivered images that were prominently featured during the CEO's presentation at the Airbnb Open 2016 event.
Interaction Designer
Apple
Jan ’16 – Jun ’16 (contract)
Recruited by HERO as an interaction designer within Marcom for a complete overhaul redesign of the transactional emails.
• Inventoried various emails by type, region, and use-case scenarios in conjunction with business requirements
• Identified common components and modules, then consolidated and systematized a more universal framework
• Created a responsive, user-centered, simplified email design optimized for desktop and mobile devices
• Presented daily reviews with art directors, designers, and producers to ensure the success of the designs
• New designs were successfully incorporated into the Apples Standards Guidelines and resonated with the Apple brand
• Inventoried various emails by type, region, and use-case scenarios in conjunction with business requirements
• Identified common components and modules, then consolidated and systematized a more universal framework
• Created a responsive, user-centered, simplified email design optimized for desktop and mobile devices
• Presented daily reviews with art directors, designers, and producers to ensure the success of the designs
• New designs were successfully incorporated into the Apples Standards Guidelines and resonated with the Apple brand
Visual / Production designer
Facebook
Jul ’15 – Aug ’15 (contract)
• Enabled collaboration across numerous teams to articulate design revisions and guarantee their smooth integration into mobile platforms.
• Swiftly integrated into diverse design teams, employing Photoshop, Illustrator, and Sketch to harmonize their work into a cohesive style guide.
• Successfully integrated the designs into Facebook's Timeline, culminating in their release to the broader Facebook audience.
Visual/Production Designer
Airbnb
Jul ’14 – Aug ’14 (contract)
Recruited by the AirBnB production team during the pinnacle stage of unveiling the rebrand of Bélo.
• Produced and delivered pixel perfect imagery and optimized digital assets to meet crucial deadlines
• Worked closely with developers to guarantee timely deliverables and reduce possible unforeseen engineering issues
• Company’s rebrand was successfully launched on time and broadcasted for worldwide exposure
User Experience Designer
PayPal
Jun ’12 – May ’13 (contract)
Contributed to the RISK team's efforts in enhancing user-friendly experiences related to company security policies on both Mobile and Web platforms.
• Created and presented storyboard wireframes to articulate solutions for optimal user experience
• Partnered with a content strategist to achieve the best use of language to complement designs
• Designed high-fidelity prototypes and conducted usability testing for review and data collection
• Successfully upgraded the experience with a new, more streamlined, and intuitive flow for a users authentication process
• Created and presented storyboard wireframes to articulate solutions for optimal user experience
• Partnered with a content strategist to achieve the best use of language to complement designs
• Designed high-fidelity prototypes and conducted usability testing for review and data collection
• Successfully upgraded the experience with a new, more streamlined, and intuitive flow for a users authentication process
Visual/UX Designer
Adobe Systems
Nov ’05 – Feb ’11
Started as a Visual Designer on the Photoshop Elements team then advanced to Product/User Experience design on Adobe’s XD developing creative solutions for a variety of high-impact products across a broad range from large to small.
• Designed clean polished user-interface concepts for Adobe’s Desktop Mobile and Web applications
• Created storyboard workflows with high-fidelity mockups followed by comprehensive specifications and detailed redlines
• Worked under rapidly-changing requirements that met evolving business goals while staying on track for critical deadlines
• Confer with stakeholders and development teams to prioritize needs, resolve conflicts, and aid in finding solutions
• Analyze data from usability testing to understand the user’s needs, then improve features for more intuitive usability
• Collaborate with art directors, designers, developers, and product managers in a “think-tank” environment for optimal design solutions
• Designed clean polished user-interface concepts for Adobe’s Desktop Mobile and Web applications
• Created storyboard workflows with high-fidelity mockups followed by comprehensive specifications and detailed redlines
• Worked under rapidly-changing requirements that met evolving business goals while staying on track for critical deadlines
• Confer with stakeholders and development teams to prioritize needs, resolve conflicts, and aid in finding solutions
• Analyze data from usability testing to understand the user’s needs, then improve features for more intuitive usability
• Collaborate with art directors, designers, developers, and product managers in a “think-tank” environment for optimal design solutions
Education
UCSC Extensions: Certificate Web and Interactive Media Design
San Diego State University: Bachelor of Arts Graphic Design