Dirk Rowe

Product Designer

Durham, NC, USA
Throughout the years - art, music, and technology have been the spine that binds the story of my life. Creating art has always been something that interests me. Incorporating it into a business solutions with an ever-changing strategy has been the greatest challenge. As my experiences began to expand into the digital realm, technology continued to rapidly advance, intertwining the passion of creativity and how we communicate through devices.

Simplifying complex visual relationships. Making things that help people adapt to a multitude of new technologies in the market. Generating a new art form of technological efficiency, embracing challenging endeavors fusing them into simple experiences. The relationship between humans and technology increases everyday, just as the way we perceive the world around us.

Work Experience

WeezLabs, Inc

User Interface, Brand Identity Specialist, Illustration, Interaction, Prototyping, Animation

January 2015 - June 2016 California, United States

Summa Technologies

Ux/Ui Designer

Duties and responsibilities consist of creating a business relationship of continuity through utilizing my skills and knowledge to formulate creative briefs, conducting user research and workshops that develop an agile build strategy for our clients. Our focus is business to business software based for large corporations that are in need of hi-tech software solutions.

My primary affiliation was with PPG OEM, where I worked with our technical leads to construct an data oriented application that collects coating data from every aspect of the automotive manufacturing plants for Toyota, Chevy, and BMW. Another project that we had worked on together was fully responsive donation tool for UnitedWay, where I had formulated user research, created a user friendly experience with wireframes, and designed hi-fi screens for mobile scope of work. This application was SalesForce driven through Andar.
August 2014 - February 2015 Pennsylvania, United States

ChopDawg Studios

Ux/Ui Designer

Wire framing and architecting user experiences that adapt to a multitude of digital devices. Working with this brilliant team and exclusive clients has been a wonderful collaborative effort in establishing brands, maintaining user friendly experiences, implementing innovative functionality, and making aesthetically pleasing apps come to life.

• Utilize IOS7 + Responsive Web Design knowledge and skills for optimal development guidelines while providing a well thought out - quality product - that establishes user friendly interaction across multiple web platforms + browsers.

•Concept Development: Extensive product research to meet the consumers needs. Establish pros and cons of competitors. Creating an authenticity that differentiates one from others.

• Information Architecture: Wire framing responsive applications aligned to 3 Breaks; Mobile, Tablet, and Desktop. Conceptualizing functionality and transition flows.

•Design Lead for User Experience: Establishing the goals of their users while meeting the demand for an intuitive flow of complex visual processes, simplifying the vision.

•Client Relations: Working directly with clients on a weekly basis, maintaining a tightly bonded relationship through goal oriented communication analyzing every detail of their product - how to improve, how to innovate, and formulating experimental solutions - quoted by clients as "A refreshing Experience of Creative Design Genius when collaborating, especially with an eye when it comes to detail."
September 2013 - July 2014 Pennsylvania, United States

DevBridge Group

Ux/Ui, Interactive Design

While working for DevBridge Group, I've had the opportunity to architect and design experiences for a range of clients such as Microsoft and Monotype. Although Information Architecture wasn't my strongest point throughout the projects, it has always struck me with interest. It was made apparent that when it comes to less complex systems, wire frames and the architecture of a digital solution is more practical.

As for user interface, I've grown with my design sense in apt to utilize whitespace and CSS3 conscious elements. Keeping things subtle, to the point and harnessing simplicity into a conglomerate of consistent design language.
October 2012 - April 2013 Illinois, United States

VividMinds

Branding

Series of projects I worked on with the team, while in my undergrad. Hooper Cornell, Mount Bachelor, Circuit of the Americas, etc.
February 2012 - June 2012 Encinitas, California, United States

Pixel Turbine

Ux/Ui, Web Design, Branding

Within the Pharmacy affiliates, several companies had gone through a brand image transformation. In this shift, we re-imagined the brands and websites for each company, including evil lizard, brand stitch, medfast, national sign, pittsburgh brick, pharmacy gpo, and pharmacy podcast. This kick start to my career had helped tremendously in research and execution of experimental design that lead to a better understanding of industry standards.
March 2012 - October 2012 Pennsylvania, United States

The Pub At Tonidale

Branding

Rebrand for the pub that worked out beautifully with a wondrous learning experience combining typography and monogram execution.
May 2012 - May 2012 Oakdale, Pennsylvania, United States

Industry Public House

Graphic Designer, Branding

March 2012 - April 2012 Pennsylvania, United States

Wild Coast

Graphic Designer, Illustrator

April 2008 - September 2008 Richards Bay, South Africa

Phyn

Visual Designer


Design at Phyn has consisted of levels of learning, experimentation, and pushing to find ways we can better communicate through our brand and products by human centered design. I’ve been given the opportunity to create an enterprise scale design ecosystem for a global market, successfully designing digital products for both iOS and Android, as well as, a complete design system for our marketing website and ecommerce experience plus localization. I’ve helped art direct who Phyn is today as a brand. We've been able to build the brand, and the product, with the highest quality possible in such a short period of time from the ground. My intent has been and always will be, to better the brand, the product, and help guide the people who believe, use, and trust our products, to better their lives, and help the world be a part of something bigger, together.


Product:
React Native iOS and Android User Interface Design + Art Direction, Typography, Illustration, Iconography, Animation/ MicroInteraction, Page Transitions, Lottie Animations, VFX Animation / Trapcode Particular / MIR

Hardware:
Providing artwork and working with mechanical engineers/industrial designer

Marketing:
Product retail launch kits; Home Depot, Costco, Amazon, Web UXUI Design, Art Direction, Design System Language, Product/Lifestyle Photography, Illustration, Packaging, Brochures, Salesforce Emails, Marketing Email Templates and social ad campaigns/video


Conferences/Booth Design:
CES 2018/2020 Booth Design (Awarded) + UI Design, Gitex Booth Design and UI Design, Shanghai 360 Booth Design and UI Design, ISH UI German Translations

Tools:
Sketch, Figma, Abstract, Zeplin, Invision, Lottie, Keyshot Pro, Blender, Premier, Aftereffects, Illustrator, Photoshop, Indesign, Principal, JIRA, Workfront DAM Asset Management
March 2017 - May 2021 Torrance, California, United States

Facebook

Visual Designer

May 2021 - New York, New York, United States

Education

The Art Institute Of Pittsburgh

Graphic Design Bachelors

August 2008 - March 2012 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Languages

English (Native),

Awards

Red Dot Design Award

Red Dot Design Award 2019

2019

AIGA - The Professional Association For Design

Archive 13 - Responsive Web Award

2012

CES

Innovation Award Honoree

2021

CES

Innovation Award Smart home iOT

2020

CES

Innovation Award honoree Smart Home iOT

2018

CES

Innovation Award Honoree Tech For A Better World

2018

Green Product Award

Green Product Award iOT

2020

DESIGN PLUS POWERED BY ISH

Design Plus 2019 powered by ISH

2019

Skills

CSS, IA, User-experience Design, Adobe Illustrator CS5, Branding, Corporate Identity, Digital Illustration, Front-End Development, Graphic Design, HTML, Information Architecture, Interface Design, Print Production, Product Design, Screenprinting, Typography, UI, User Experience, User Interface, Ux, Web Design, Wireframing,