contact me@colinochel.com
Lead UX Strategist / Architect / Design Consultant
Dynamic hands-on leader with knowledge of all aspects of Product leadership and User Experience providing compelling interactions to improve your KPIs. 25+ years of success optimizing user engagement for brands such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Adobe, IBM, AT&T, New York Life, EY, PwC, JPMorgan, Citi, Bank of America, American Express, WSJ, FT, BBC, Johnson & Johnson, and Abbott
Designer’s Toolbox
User Flows
Usability Protocols
Web Site Analytics
Prototyping
Persona Creation
Information Architecture (IA)
A/B, Card Sort, User Testing
Animation / Motion Graphics
Affinity Diagramming
Requirements Definition
Sketch / Figma / XD
Abstract / Storybook
CSS / jQuery / Python
Invision / Principle
Power BI / Tableau / Looker
Notable Work Experience
NASDAQ
Lead UX / UI / AI Strategist / Architect / Design Consultant, Jul 23 – Apr 24
Lead UX Designer tasked to redesign Nasdaq Dorsey Wright’s website with the new Global Design System. As part of the core Global Design System Team, I designed several unique components which have been leveraged across all of NASDAQ’s properties.
New York Life (NYL)
Lead UX / UI Architect / Design Consultant, Jan 23 – Jul 23 / Jun 19 – Dec 19
2019: Crafted a custom Salesforce-powered Application to guide NYL’s agents through their client meetings. 2023: Based on agent feedback, designed enhancements to provide customized experiences for agent’s individual clients. Designed a Portal for NYL clients to manage their “Life”.
As a Lead UX / UI Strategist & Product Design Consultant, Aug 22 – Jan 23
Focused on designing interfaces to incorporate AI into workflows. Consulted a Start-up and a Google Cloud Premier Partner on various projects.
Ernst & Young (EY)
Lead UX / UI Strategist / Architect / Design Consultant, Dec 19 – Jul 22
After auditing over 10 applications, created a Design System Library (DSL) in Storybook and Abstract to be leveraged for EY’s Global Tax Platform’s UX and Development Teams to build out their applications with one unified design and interaction system. Conceptualized several future applications and services.
International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF)
Lead UX / UI Architect | Design Consultant, Dec 17 – May 19
Created a Design System Library for IFF's internal SaaS applications, including user flows, high-fidelity wireframes, user testing, and quality assurance. Collaborated with the C-suite to design dashboards to ensure successful operation of IFF.
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC)
Lead UX / UI Product Design Consultant,Jul 17 – Dec 17
Architected and Designed UPMC’s Patient Portal. The full-service portal is accessible through a responsive website and iOS / Android Apps.
IBM
Lead UX Product Design Consultant, Mar 16 – Dec 16
Designed a platform leveraging Watson where IBM employees were assisted in identifying the relevant topics for their role, allowing employees to express their thoughts and enhance their learning through social interaction.
Audible.com (Division of Amazon.com)
Lead UX / UI Product Design Consultant
2014-15: Designed Audible’s new service, AudibleUnlimited, to the new marketplace of Japan. 2012 -13: Redesigned Audible.com. Received US Patent 9,471,203 Presenting Animated Visual Content.
In the UX field we talk about "unicorns" designers with a rare combination of talents, who are creative, have strong skills in visual design, interaction design, interactive prototyping and don't require a lot of direction. Colin is a unicorn; a rare talent and you will be lucky to have him.
I've been privileged to work with some of the best product design/UX teams on the planet. They are filled with extraordinarily talented, capable, creative and technically skilled people.
Colin is all of those things, without the drama, ego, and nastiness that sometimes goes with working at that level.
I've been extremely happy to have Colin on my team for the last year. I have high standards for quality, and I expect the best from the people I work with. Colin has never disappointed me.
My experience managing Colin has been fantastic. He is a great collaborator and can be trusted to get to the right solution quickly and with very little oversight.
He takes critique like a pro, and will push back on solutions he believes in, but picks his battles carefully and intelligently. He's usually right, and the results show in the work.
I would not hesitate to hire Colin again in the future, especially in a role that requires a hybrid design skill set. Colin's commitment to craft, work ethic, personal integrity and easy-going, good-natured attitude make him a pleasure to work with.
I've been privileged to work with some of the best product design/UX teams on the planet. They are filled with extraordinarily talented, capable, creative and technically skilled people.
Colin is all of those things, without the drama, ego, and nastiness that sometimes goes with working at that level.
I've been extremely happy to have Colin on my team for the last year. I have high standards for quality, and I expect the best from the people I work with. Colin has never disappointed me.
My experience managing Colin has been fantastic. He is a great collaborator and can be trusted to get to the right solution quickly and with very little oversight.
He takes critique like a pro, and will push back on solutions he believes in, but picks his battles carefully and intelligently. He's usually right, and the results show in the work.
I would not hesitate to hire Colin again in the future, especially in a role that requires a hybrid design skill set. Colin's commitment to craft, work ethic, personal integrity and easy-going, good-natured attitude make him a pleasure to work with.
Colin Ochel is a creative, fast, reliable, and solution oriented professional. I've used him for many projects and he always over-delivers. Initially, we leveraged Colin to help create demos for user testing, but very quickly we started leveraging his expertise for much more, including concept and product design, more advanced demos and product explorations, in addition to core product design.
Especially important – Colin grasps ideas and understands goals quickly then moves to execute with speed and accuracy. This is especially important as we tend to move very quickly, have rapid feedback and short timeframes. Colin also brings passion and commitment to every design project – I feel as though he is a member of the team. He’s never short on ideas and he helps take our projects to the next level.
Colin Ochel conceives, grasps & advances creative concepts quickly & richly. He understands business objectives (as well as limitations), takes direction exceptionally well, and is able to generate new ideas on time and on strategy. He hits his deadlines, comes to the table with quality thinking & sound creative, and is true to his word. And the creative work he produces elegant, well-crafted and always, always thoughtful.
Plus Colin’s old-school interactive: having been in the industry since its infancy, he thinks in digital media and innately understands how creative messaging “works” in interactive. He’s able to transition smoothly from conceptual thinking to pragmatic implementation, providing the same high-level thinking and detail-orientation to production & design work as he does to his concept work. And once in a while, he’s even funny.
It’s always my pleasure to be partnering with Colin on a creative challenge.
Plus Colin’s old-school interactive: having been in the industry since its infancy, he thinks in digital media and innately understands how creative messaging “works” in interactive. He’s able to transition smoothly from conceptual thinking to pragmatic implementation, providing the same high-level thinking and detail-orientation to production & design work as he does to his concept work. And once in a while, he’s even funny.
It’s always my pleasure to be partnering with Colin on a creative challenge.
So, yeah, I’d recommend him.
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In 2007, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Page Crush.
It gives you some insight on how I got started back in 1996.
You can read it at pagecrush.com/reviews/colin-anton-ochel
