Summary

Experienced, creative information architect with expertise in usability, accessibility evaluation, and user interface design and a proven track record of creating compelling, interactive, results-driven Web sites. Effective communicator and project manager with an extensive background in writing and editing for print and the Web.


Professional experience

Information Architect
The Think Tank (T3), Austin, TX
October 2007 - present

  • Create usable and accessible information architecture, navigation, and nomenclature for client projects, including online exhibits, catalogues, portals, galleries, and educational Web sites.
  • Analyze target audiences and their needs and work with clients to define functional goals, strategy, content, and features for final project design.
  • Evaluate, organize, and manage digital project assets, including audio, video, and text files.
  • Work with art directors, designers, programmers, and rich media developers throughout production cycle to ensure proper implementation of information architecture.
  • Create documentation to accompany information architecture, including an architecture plan, wireframe templates, process flow, assets sheet, narrative, and programmer's guide.

Information Architect
University of Texas Libraries, Technology Integration Services–Austin, TX
August 2004 - June 2007

  • Create usable and accessible information architecture, navigation, and nomenclature for client projects, including online exhibits, catalogues, portals, galleries, and educational Web sites.
  • Analyze target audiences and their needs and work with clients to define functional goals, strategy, content, and features for final project design. Clients include UT faculty, researchers, the UT Libraries, the Texas State History Museum, the Center for American History, and UTOPIA grantees.
  • Acquire, edit, and organize project content. Write content as needed. Evaluate and manage digital project assets, including audio, video, and text files.
  • Work with UT Digitization Center, design team, site builders, and programmers throughout production cycle to ensure proper implementation of information architecture.
  • Assist in building project sites using HTML, CSS, and PHP.
  • Create and implement heuristic and task-based usability tests and accessibility reviews (using Section 508 and WCAG 1.0 guidelines) of Web projects. Recommend improvements and changes based on interpretation of test results.
  • Create Web and print documentation to accompany information architecture, including an architecture plan, wireframe templates, assets sheet, narrative, and programmer's guide for every project.

Technical Writer/Editor III and Usability Consultant
Information Technology Services, University of Texas–Austin, TX
August 2001 - August 2004

  • Produce original Web-based documentation and training materials for internal software and Internet applications in conjunction with members of development, quality assurance, and support organizations.
  • Write promotional and informational copy for targeted e-mail and the Web
  • Create and maintain instructional Web sites covering implementation and use of third-party hardware and software at UT. Write FAQs and other documentation including installation, configuration, and troubleshooting instructions.
  • Serve as usability, accessibility, and information architecture consultant for academic departments and campus organizations. Evaluate Web sites and user interfaces and serve as usability and accessibility liaison on various project teams. Conduct and interpret usability and accessibility tests to ensure ADA compliance, ease of use, and user satisfaction. Clients include Information Technology Services, Research Consulting, UT System Information Technology Management Council, UT Direct, and Web Central (http://www.utexas.edu).
  • Design curriculum for and teach accessibility and usability classes to campus Web publishers.

Information Developer
BMC Software–Austin, TX
August 1999 - July 2001

  • Produce original documentation for the DataMove product. Documentation includes task maps, release notes, and procedures illustrating how to coordinate DataMove with other members of the Enterprise Data Propagation (EDP) product family, how to define and manage bulk data propagations, and troubleshoot problems. DataMove is a data propagation tool that assists users in materializing data from mainframe to distributed systems database environments.
  • Lead writer for the DataMove User Guide, a comprehensive manual detailing how to define and edit job parameters for data sources and targets, target environments, select transformation references used in bulk data propagation, and work with JCL. Lead developer for DataMove online Help (HTML Help).
  • Contributing member of the EDP documentation user task-analysis and usability team, and the BMC Austin usability council.
  • Lead writer for EDP maintenance documentation. Work closely with support and development to produce readme files and technical bulletins for service pack releases. Design and create graphics and diagrams for manuals. Perform edits of peer- and self-produced material, and prepare manuals for print production.

Technical Writer
Pervasive Software–Austin, TX
August 1997 - August 1999

  • Produce original documentation for installation, status (error) codes and messages, and troubleshooting of the Pervasive.SQL product line. Pervasive.SQL is a dual-access transactional and relational database.
  • Lead writer for the Pervasive.SQL Users' Guide, a comprehensive manual detailing setup, configuration, and use of product and utilities.
  • Create and manage content for Pervasive Products and Services, a marketing-oriented manual.
  • Project lead/writer for the Pervasive.SQL Application Migration Guide, a manual illustrating conversion of applications based on the Scalable SQL API to ODBC or ActiveX Data Objects. Manage documentation project in its entirety, including design of manual structure, creation of all content, and scheduling of engineering resources contributing to document deliverables. Facilitate and lead weekly meetings with inter-departmental migration team consisting of senior members of engineering, professional services, quality assurance, and marketing.
  • Contribute to development and implementation of style sheets, templates, and documentation standards. Develop content for the Technical Publications internal website.

Education

B.A. with honors in sociology, Rice University, 1997


Knowledge and Skills

Languages/Scripts: Proficient in HTML by hand. Familiar with CSS, SQL, Perl, XML, PHP, CGI, JavaScript, Java, and JCL.

Platforms: UNIX, Linux, Windows, and Macintosh operating systems.

Software: FrameMaker, RoboHelp, HTML Help Workshop, Acrobat, WebWorks ePublisher Pro, Dreamweaver, FrontPage, Illustrator, Photoshop, Microsoft Office including Visio, Sharepoint, JAWS, SPSS, OpenOffice, OmniWorks, Vantive, Scopus, Documentum, and Visual SourceSafe.