Samantha Hornitzky

Senior UX Designer

Sydney, Australia
I’m a very direct, fierce woman that likes to ask a lot of questions.
If we work together, I will challenge you, give you my best and will want to learn about the bigger picture.

I love variety and have had the pleasure of adding value through design to many industries including finance, healthcare, electronics, B2B, FMCG, telco, entertainment, fashion and e-commerce.

My UX approach & philosophy is always evolving. Some constants:
-Be proactive
-Test it (but not stupid low risk stuff)
-Seek many viewpoints (when possible)
-Cut out unnecessary info
-Prioritise! Put energy into what is of the highest value to customer + business
-Keep learning
-Do the best you can with what you have

Work Experience

RedBubble

Senior Product Designer

November 2018 - Melbourne, Australia

SBS On Demand, SBS Australia

Senior UX Designer

I own the research.
Introduce best practices.
Collaborate with many different people.
Take the lead when needed.
Encourage team members to bring in new ways of working.
Remain consistent through a lot of team changes.
Deliver to a high standard & on time.

I do all of the UX activities which you can find in my folio. I think approach is more important than just being able to do activities well.
December 2016 - September 2018 Australia

Amaysim

UX Designer

I single-handedly picked up a complex redesign project.
Consulted existing foundational research (survey, personas, analytics reports).
Conducted desk research (user flows, comp analysis, heuristics etc).
Lead workshops & presentations with technology.
Designed & delivered complex usage feature & navigation.
June 2016 - October 2016 Australia

Ing Direct

UI/UX Designer–3 month contract

I delivered multiple projects at once (home loans, credit cards, internet banking).
Proactively engaged with different teams.
Organised & conducted internal usability testing.
Picked up styles/ interactions quickly.
January 2016 - April 2016 Australia

UBank Backed By National Australia Bank

UI/UX Designer

I owned the iOS app product design
Kicked ass and delivered the UrHome Property App to a high standard
Proactively developed product knowledge about home loans
Created opportunities to incorporate UX activities into our process (guerrilla testing, contextual inquiry and workshopping)
Ensured that the customer’s voice was heard: created an ongoing relationship with the customer service team
Harmoniously collaborated with many different stakeholders
Stretched myself
March 2014 - August 2015 Australia

Leafcutter Creative Digital

Lead Designer

I stepped up beyond a traditional visual design role. I was the sole creative and expanded my skill sets in responsive and native app design when they were still new to the market. That, and everything in-between since we were a young go-getter agency.

I collaborated closely with the company directors, developers, sales and clients (mostly small business owners) to deliver solutions that gave them confidence about stepping into the market for the first time.
September 2012 - October 2012 Australia

Freelance

UI/Visual Designer

Projects I'm proud of:
• Designing a content aggregation website for the multi-billion dollar Barangaroo development when I was fresh out of uni
• Running social media campaigns (one of my campaigns increased our number of Facebook followers by 200%), blogging, online and instore graphic design for Bondi fashion destination Tuchuzy
• Working on the Sydney Film Festival rebrand and a magazine for people who owned private jets with my design idol at Leuver Design
• Designing whatever came out of my imagination (including the BEST photo shoot) for the infamous and playful World Bar in Kings Cross
• Conceptualising a full rebrand for leading international call tracking company AVANSER in collaboration with Marmot Inc.
April 2011 - December 2016 Australia

The Campaign Palace

Junior Graphic Designer - Part time

It was my dream to work in advertising while I was in uni. I'm glad that I got the experience with some of the BEST people in the global industry AND win some awards (Art Directors Club, Canne Lion and New York Shield). Still, it wasn't for me.

Clients: Panasonic, Luxottica, Bonds, The Australian Government, The Heart Foundation

Chief Creative Officer: Reed Collins
Executive Creative Director: Karl Fleet
June 2011 - November 2011 Australia

Education

University Of Technology Sydney

First Class Honours, Bachelor of Design in Visual Communications

March 2008 - November 2011 Australia

General Assembly

User Experience Design - 12 Week Design Course

Instructor: Jason Davey
January 2014 - March 2014 Australia

Awards

Art Directors Club (ADC) - New York

Integrated, The Campaign Palace, "The 28 Day Persecution of Rommy Gulla"

2011

New York Festivals Awards

INTERACTIVE: Online Advertising - Products & Services, The Campaign Palace, "The 28 Day Persecution of Rommy Gulla"

2011

Volunteer Experience: UN Women

Roles:
- Women's Empowerment Principles Summit Scribe @ Commonwealth Bank (October 2014)
- International Women's Day Volunteer @ CarriageWorks (March 2015)