UX Strategy
Practice Director of Interaction Design, at Quarry Integrated
Communications
Robert leads projects for clients who want to distinguish
themselves through products that are well designed, usable,
and deliver an outstanding customer experience. As Practice
Director of Interaction Design, he also works with teammates
to develop Quarry’s design methods. For instance, Robert introduced
the use of personas to Quarry and has
since then employed personas for projects in a variety of industries.
He has also helped develop methods for better aligning usability
with the goals and practices of marketing and branding. Some
of this expertise is captured in Robert’s invited chapter
about “Marketing Versus Design Personas,” in
The
Persona Lifecycle,
a book Morgan Kaufmann will publish in 2006. With over 14 years of experience designing software
and Web applications, Robert has worked throughout North America
and Europe, at companies with familiar names such as Sony and FedEx.
Specialties: Brand Strategy | Consulting | Interaction Design | UX Design | UX Strategy
Steve Baty
Principal Consultant, at Meld Consulting
Focusing on the business and technology side of the user experience equation, Steve has worked on corporate Web sites and Web applications since 1997. Working with user experience designers, information architects, and usability specialists, Steve integrates user and business imperatives into balanced user experience strategies for corporate, not-for-profit, and government clients. He holds Masters degrees in Electronic Commerce and Business Administration from Australia’s Macquarie University (MGSM), and a strong focus on defining and meeting business objectives carries through all his work. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Statistics, which provides a strong analytical foundation that he further developed through his studies of archaeology. Steve is a member of IxDA, IA Institute, and UPA and is a regular at the Sydney IA-Peers confabs.
Column on UXmatters: “User Dialogues—Creating exceptional user experiences through research”
Specialties: Consulting | UX Strategy | User Research
Richard F. Cecil
Rick has nearly a decade of experience envisioning and designing innovative solutions for a variety of companies, including startups, non-profits, universities, and Fortune 100 companies. During his tenure at Motricity, he has worked with Cingular, BET, Ask, Alltel, and other clients and has been the Design Lead for their core product offering. Rick was a co-founder of both the Interaction Design Group—now the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)—and the Triangle Usability Professionals Association (UPA). Active in the UPA, he also serves on the organizing committee for World Usability Day. Rick is also the UXnet Local Ambassador for Research Triangle Park.
Specialties: Interaction Design | UX Design | UX Strategy | User Interface Design
Pabini Gabriel-Petit
Principal User Experience Architect, at Spirit Softworks LLC
At scanR, Pabini is leading user experience strategy and design for Web and mobile applications that let users scan digital photos of whiteboards and documents. Founder of Spirit Softworks, a Silicon Valley user experience strategy and design consultancy, Pabini has over 15 years of experience designing digital products. She is highly skilled in interaction design, information architecture, and visual interface design and has designed innovative desktop and Web applications in product domains that encompass authoring, hypertext, collaboration, and networking and communications. Past clients include Google, Cisco Systems, Tellme Networks, WebEx Communications, Chemdex, Whistle Communications, Kaleida Labs, Apple Computer, and Ashton-Tate. Formerly User Experience Manager at WebEx, Pabini designed Web applications for online meetings, training sessions, seminars, and remote collaboration, including the award-winning Meeting Center and Training Center. Pabini is an Emeritus Member of the Board of Directors of the Interaction Design Association (IxDA) and IxDA Local Coordinator for Silicon Valley, Co-Chair of BayDUX, UXnet Local Ambassador for Silicon Valley, BayCHI IxD BOF (Birds of a Feather) Leader, and a former Interactions Editorial Board Member.
Specialties: Consulting | Interaction Design | UX Design | UX Management | UX Strategy | Visual Design
Joel Grossman
Founder and Managing Principal, at Pivotal Click
Joel Grossman is the Founder and Managing Principal of Pivotal Click, a user experience research, design, and innovation firm that focuses on helping clients identify the moments of truth for their digital products and services. Prior to forming Pivotal Click, Joel built the Interactive Branding practice for LAGA, a nationally recognized brand design agency. He has held senior UX management positions with Playboy Enterprises and Encyclopedia Britannica. He also led product development for Edventions, a start-up that Edison Schools since acquired. Joel began his career as an independent technology consultant, working on application development and networking projects in the US and Japan. Joel has a master’s degree in political economy from the University of Minnesota and serves as Chicago’s Local Ambassador for UXnet.
Specialties: Brand Strategy | Consulting | Information Architecture | UX Design | UX Strategy
Colleen Jones
For a decade, Colleen has created successful interactive experiences and communications in industries such as health, telecommunications, and retail as well as for brands such as The Home Depot, CDC, Cingular Wireless, AutoTrader, Boston Scientific, and more. Colleen enjoys distilling complex considerations into a simple interactive experience for Web sites, IVRs (Interactive Voice Response systems), kiosks, and other channels. As a consultant, she draws on a wealth of academic knowledge and real-world experience to deliver results. With an M.A. in technical communication, she has made several presentations and contributed articles to the Society for Technical Communication and ACM SIGCHI. She also writes articles for industry publications such as iMedia Connection.
Read more from Colleen on her blog, Winning Experiences.
Column on UXmatters: “More Than Words—Content that communicates”
Specialties: Information Architecture | Information Design | UX Design | UX Strategy
James Kelway
James has worked for Reed Business Information, a part of Reed Elsevier, for over 8 years, in a variety of roles. While working as a digital art director, he studied for a Masters degree in Design Practice, specializing in UCD techniques. After qualifying, he became an information architect and is responsible for the formulation of the business’s information architecture strategy, its implementation among several teams, and the redesign of several major industry Web sites.
On his blog, User Pathways, James records his findings, as well as developments in information architecture, interaction design, and user experience.
Specialties: Information Architecture | Interaction Design | UX Strategy | User Interface Design
Patrick Kennedy
User Experience Architect, at Step Two Designs
Patrick has over 10 years of experience in the digital media and Web industries, and his expertise covers many areas, including information architecture, ethnographic and design research techniques, and best practice Web design and development. Over the years, Patrick has advised a wide range of clients, across private and public sectors, both in Australia and the United Kingdom. Patrick is a member of the Sydney chapter of the Usability Professionals’ Association (UPA), the Computer-Human Interaction Special Interest Group of Australia (CHISIG), the Web Standards Group (WSG), the Australian Interactive Media Industry Association (AIMIA), the Web Industry Professionals Association (WIPA), and the Information Architecture Institute (IAI), as well as several smaller special interest groups. Patrick holds a degree in Computer Systems Engineering from the University of Technology, Sydney.
Read more of Patrick’s thoughts on UX on his blog Pat’s Point of View.
Specialties: Consulting | Information Architecture | UX Strategy | Usability | User Research
Dirk Knemeyer
Founding Principal,
at Involution Studios LLC
Dirk is a catalyst for developing new ideas and inspiring people and groups to create meaningful change. His contributions to the business and design communities are myriad. He has participated on seven different Boards of Directors for companies, industry organizations, and design publications. He has been a keynote speaker and given presentations all around the world and has published over 100 articles on business and design topics. At Involution Studios, a digital product design firm in Silicon Valley, Dirk is responsible for the business success of the company. His diverse professional background includes time as a management consultant, advertising executive, and design director. Dirk is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the International Institute for Information Design (IIID), the Board of Directors of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) Center for Brand Experience, and the Executive Council of the User Experience Network (UXnet).
Read Dirk’s blog at www.knemeyer.com.
Column on UXmatters: “Imagine—A space for seeing the world in a different way”
Specialties: Brand Strategy | Consulting | Information Design | UX Strategy
David Kozatch
Principal, at DIG
David Kozatch brings over 20 years experience in marketing research and customer user experience to his work as an interviewer and strategic consultant. As principal of DIG, which he founded in 1989, he has conducted literally thousands of focus groups and in-depth interviews in the areas of financial/business services, software, hardware, Web/interactive services, and telecommunications. Since 1996, David has been a leading thinker in helping companies gain a deeper understanding of the ways people use the Web and mobile communications. His company’s user experience research was integral to successful launches on the Web for Google, HBO, Verizon, and Absolut Vodka. And, more recently, his work for clients like Register.com, FedEx, and Cablevision has helped these companies build better brands online.
Specialties: Brand Strategy | Consulting | UX Strategy | Usability | User Research
Joe Lamantia
A veteran architect, consultant, and designer, Joe Lamantia has been an active member and leader in the UX community since 1996. Joe has crafted innovative, successful user experience strategies and solutions for clients ranging from Fortune 100 enterprises to local non-profit organizations, digital product companies, and social media startups, in a wide variety of industries. Joe is the creator of EZSort, the leading, freely available tool for card sorting, as well as the Building Blocks for Portals design framework. He is also a frequent writer and speaker on topics including future directions in user experience; the intersection of business, culture, and design; and systems thinking. Joe is currently based in New York, working as a UX strategy consultant for the enterprise architecture group of a global IT services firm.
Joe blogs regularly at JoeLamantia.com.
Specialties: Consulting | Information Architecture | UX Design | UX Strategy | User Research
Anirban Basu Mallik
At Capgemini, Anirban is specializing in user interface design and information visualization for banking and financial services clients. Previously, as Senior Graphic Visualizer and User Experience Designer at Content and Design Services, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Anirban worked on projects spanning UX strategy, visual design, branding, creative writing, graphic design, user research, information architecture, interaction design, and design documentation. Prior to joining Cognizant, Anirban was Creative Head of Corporate Communications, at the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC). Anirban holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture and is a Human Factors International Certified Usability Analyst (CUA). He is also a member of IxDA and HCI India.
Check out his blog, dotted arrow.
Specialties: Brand Strategy | Information Architecture | Information Design | Interaction Design | UX Strategy | Visual Design
Sam Ng
Founder and Director, at Optimal Usability and OptimalSort
As a co-founder and Director of the consultancy Optimal Usability and a passionate generalist, Sam has been involved with over 100 usability and design projects with clients in such diverse domains as government, ecommerce, education, finance, telecommunications, and not-for-profits. With a desire to practice what he preaches, Sam recently led a small team to design and develop the online card sorting tool, OptimalSort. Built on a modest budget and with limited resources, OptimalSort is now being used by hundreds of leading companies and Web professionals worldwide.
Specialties: Consulting | Information Architecture | Interaction Design | UX Strategy | Usability
Jim Nieters
Jim has been a usability and user experience design practitioner for more than 15 years—and a leader and management consultant for eight of those years. He built and managed the Cisco User Experience Design Group. Each year, over $200 million in increased revenues resulted from their work. Jim specializes in UX organizational leadership and transformation and in driving big ideas that significantly increase revenue.
Column on UXmatters: “Management Matters—Leading user experience teams”
Specialties: UX Design | UX Management | UX Strategy | User Research
Matteo Penzo
Director of Design and Development, Research Center, at Consultechnology
At Consultechnology, an ITC company with offices in Milan and Lamezia Terme, Italy, Matteo’s research projects focus on natural interactions between people and computers, automotive applications, and universal design—specifically for the elderly and the disabled. Matteo began his career in information technology working for Anixter International at their Milan and London offices, managing their intranet design and programming team. Then he worked as a project manager for a leading Italian Web agency in Milan, where he managed Internet projects for international Fortune 500 companies. Matteo is a sought after speaker at national and international seminars—including CHI2005, Macromedia, and VNU to mention just a few—and is a professor for the Interaction Design course in the Masters program in Humanistic Computer Studies at Bicocca University, Milan. He has written numerous articles on the subjects of natural interfaces, user experience, and technological innovation. He is also the UXnet Local Ambassador for Milan.
Matteo is the founder and publisher of an online magazine
about user experience for Macromedia® Flash® called
Flashability.
Specialties: Consulting | Interaction Design | UX Strategy | Usability
Joi L. Roberts
During the past 13 years, Joi has worked in a variety of roles within the telecommunications industry, ranging from requirements gathering to software development/validation to user interface design—voice, telephony, and Web—to user-centered process development and institutionalization. Currently, as the Design Ambassador for the Motorola Consumer Experience Design (CXD) team, Joi is responsible for driving strategic initiatives internally and externally around design education, design culture, talent growth and development, and industry contribution. And, in her spare time, Joi is quite active in the UX design community—often organizing or presenting at local and international industry events and conferences. Joi firmly believes that, in order for the UX community to make a real difference in the world, industry and academia must work together to develop design leadership. In her current role and through her industry participation, she seeks to spread this message.
Specialties: UX Design | UX Strategy | User Interface Design
Louis Rosenfeld
Information Architect, at
Louis Rosenfeld LLC
Lou is an independent consultant and entrepreneur, whose latest startup, Rosenfeld Media, will publish books for UX professionals. He holds a Masters in Information and Library Studies and was instrumental in establishing the field of information architecture. At Argus Associates, a stellar IA consulting firm Lou co-founded in 1991, he was president and lead information architect on projects for such clients as AT&T, Borders Books & Music, Chrysler Corporation, Dow Chemical, and SIGGRAPH. With Peter Morville, Lou co-authored the best-selling book, Information Architecture for the World Wide Web, which has become a standard text for many graduate-level classes. In 1993, he founded the Argus Clearinghouse, a popular Internet research service. Lou is a popular speaker and writer who has presented at CHI, COMDEX, Intranets, and various Web design conferences, done speaking tours, and contributed columns to CIO, Internet World, and Web Review magazines. Lou is co-founder and past board member of the Information Architecture Institute (IAI). He played a leading role in organizing and programming the first three IA conferences—the 2000 and 2001 ASIS&T Summits and ACIA 2000—and still serves on the Summit’s program committee. Lou is a co-founder of UXnet and leads its Local Ambassadors and has served on the advisory boards for Content Management Professionals, AIGA ED, and IxDA.
Read Lou’s Bloug.
Specialties: Consulting | Information Architecture | UX Strategy
Daniel Szuc
Principal Usability Consultant, at Apogee Usability Asia Ltd.
Daniel is based in Hong Kong and helps companies in Asia like PCCW, HSBC, CSL, China Light & Power, Sunday, Cathay Pacific, Marriott, ADB, and Yahoo! China make their products easier to use. He has also worked with Telstra Australia and IBM. Daniel has spoken on Usability in Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Malaysia, United States, and Australia, helping to develop new groups of interest in the region. He recently co-wrote and released the Usability Kit with Gerry Gaffney. Daniel is a founding member and President of the UPA China Hong Kong Branch, co-founder of the UPA China User Friendly conferences, and holds a BS in Information Management from Melbourne University Australia.
Specialties: Consulting | UX Strategy | Usability
Ben Werner
As part of the Usability Engineering group, Ben is responsible for conducting user research, providing human factors guidance, and leading a transition to user-centered design at RightNow Technologies—a leading Customer Relationship Management (CRM) vendor handling over 1 billion customer interactions in 2007. He holds an MS in Human-Computer Interaction and is a board-certified Associate Human Factors Professional.
Specialties: Human Factors | UX Strategy | User Research
