What I Do
I make things easy to find and understand and fun to explore. I take the frustration and irritation out of searching for important information and completing tasks. I enjoy creating complete user experiences that are intuitive and creative.
I am an experienced information architect with expertise in usability, accessibility evaluation, and user interface design and a proven track record of creating compelling, interactive, effective solutions. Project management is my forte, and I am a skilled communicator with an extensive background in writing and editing for print and the Web.
Information Architecture | Usability | Writing and Editing | Project Management
Information Architecture
Information architecture is the blueprint that drives your Web site. It is the underpinning of how users navigate and experience your content. Good information architecture is usable and accessible and complements a well-executed design. Poor information architecture will seriously detract from even the most beautiful graphics and interesting content.
From user profiles to content inventories to wireframes and site maps, I can create the information infrastructure you need. Solid information architecture is flexible and scalable and saves you money in the long term.
Usability
I have extensive usability experience to help you review, test, and improve your software interface or Web site. In 2002, I was the chief usability consultant for www.utexas.edu, which gets 5 millions hits a month. Heuristic analyses are a quick, inexpensive way to provide a baseline of information that you can use to make effective changes. Task-based usability testing with a sample of your target audiences is one of the most enjoyable, rewarding things you can do to provide intensive real-time feedback about your users' experience.
Writing and Editing
I've been a professional writer for the past eleven years. I began my career doing technical writing and have written software manuals (I've won an STC Award of Excellence), Help files, promotional and marketing materials, and news articles. I can create content, edit existing content, and suggest new content appropriate to your mission and business needs.
Project Management
As both a technical writer and an information architect, I've worked on numerous projects where I was the project manager and team lead, responsible for the allocation of resources, asset tracking, and delivery of the finished project to the client. I served as liaison between the client and the creative/development team, set expectations, and oversaw the completion of the work on time and on budget.
Portfolio
Below is a selection of examples of some of the work I've done in Information Architecture, Usability Studies and Writing and Editing. Several work samples noted below and some additional projects are available for review
in-person only.
Information Architecture
Dell's Go Bigger Tool
- Redesigned and revamped existing Flash tool's architecture from the ground up, creating a totally new, improved customer experience - sample wireframes [pdf]
- Redesign goals: Improve sales of widescreen and dual monitors and educate consumers about product benefits before purchase
- Client referred to this as "some of the best work T3 has ever done for Dell!"
Universal Studio's Script Your Trip
- Created information architecture and user process flow for
multimedia experience, generating a custom movie for vacationers interested in visiting Universal theme parks - wireframes, user
process flow, and documentation for site builders available for in-person review
- Client wanted to create a fun, viral experience that would improve customer data collection, generate leads, and help plan vacations
UPS Global Trade
- Redesigned architecture, nomenclature and navigation, working within UPS style and template guidelines and existing site
- Reviewed all content and suggested streamlining and improvements
Orlando Flexticket
- Redesign of previous site
- Did heuristic analysis of site usability
- Created new information architecture and user process flow - sample wireframes [pdf]
- Redesign goals: improved navigation, branding, and scalability for additional content and new parks
UTOPIA Redesign (site no longer live)
- Created usable, navigable information architecture for index and four levels of sub-pages, working with designers, site builders, and programmers
- Created and conducted card sorts, tests of prototypes and task-based usability and accessibility reviews
- Redesign goals: improved navigation, taxonomy, branding, accessibility and use of CSS layout
- Site statistics: 200,000 unique sessions per month
Study of the Spanish-Speaking People of Texas
- Created information architecture and site nomenclature
- Catalogued and managed all site assets
- Edited content for grammar, spelling, and style
- Managed project and coordinated project process flow with clients and other internal technical staff
- Clients got an additional grant and a book deal as a result of this site's success!
Texas Architecture: A Visual History
- Created information architecture and site nomenclature
- Catalogued and managed all site assets
- Managed project and coordinated project process flow with clients and other internal technical staff
- Designed a gallery viewer and special search results page to accomodate image-intensive site
The Barbara Jordan Historical Essay Competition
- Complete redesign of previous site
- Created information architecture and site nomenclature - sample page template wireframe [jpg]
- Catalogued and managed all site assets (photographs, essays, and videos)
- Coordinated project process flow with clients and other internal technical staff (designer, site builders, programmers, and videographers)
Musicians Off The Record
- Created information architecture and site nomenclature
- Catalogued and managed extensive, constantly-changing site assets
- Coordinated project process flow with clients and other internal technical staff (designer, site builders, programmers, and videographers)
Wildflowers of Texas
- Corrected information architecture and site nomenclature so project could be brought to completion
- Coordinated project process flow with clients and other internal technical staff (designer, site builders, programmers, and videographers)
Usability Studies
www.utexas.edu - I was the chief usability consultant for the 2002 redesign of UT's top-level domain. Wrote, conducted, and interpreted results of task-based user analysis testing of four different constituent groups, including blind and low-vision users.
Prototype discussion group recommendations [Word] |
Final recommendations [Word]
UTOPIA - I was the chief usability consultant for 2006 redesign of UTOPIA, a high-traffic portal site showcasing UT educational project grants and academic treasures.
Usability and accessibility report [Word]
UT's Online Public Access Library Catalog - I was co-usability consultant for the 2007 redesign of UT's online public access library catalog, with 8 million records and 50,000+ users.
Usability report [Word]
Writing and Editing Examples
I have written and edited promotional and informational materials, marketing collateral, academic articles, press releases, magazine articles, online Help, and software manuals. Here are a few brief examples available online. I have several print examples available upon request.
- I wrote the UTOPIA Information Architecture Guide [pdf] with our metadata librarian to give to new UTOPIA grantees who had little experience with the process of creating a Web site. I wanted them to understand what information architecture was and why it was important to consider when developing their project.
- I wrote the UTexas.edu IA Guidelines [Word] as a concise suggestion guide intended for campus Web publishers. This was released after www.utexas.edu was redesigned in 2002.
- The BevoWare Windows virus documentation was originally written by me when I worked for ITS, though it has been updated since I last worked on it. I was the lead writer for most of the BevoWare documentation when I worked for ITS.
- www.arfcoop.org is an informational site that I built for the Austin Raw Feeders' Co-op, which I am a member of. I wrote all of the content as well.
In 2001, I won an Society for Technical Communication Award of Excellence for online Help I developed at BMC Software. This Help was embedded in our product. I also have a number of software manuals that I have written available for review in print only.
Résumé
You can download my résumé in PDF or Word format.