Leigh Stewardson

UXUI Designer and Developer

Ashburn, VA, USA
Leigh Lawhon has over 15 years experience as a product manager, designer, illustrator, educator and UXUI professional and developer. During her career, Leigh has worked in many mediums including, 3D, video, animation and motion graphics, but her true passion is information graphics, web and application UI design, and print/digital publications.

Her client list is broad and has worked and consulted for companies, both large and small, in the fields of architecture, realty, engineering, video networks, as well as many organizations in the non-profit community.

Leigh attends and has presented at the InDesign User's Group on creating XML templates in InDesign. She is a member of AIGA, UX Professionals Association, and the Information Architecture Institute. She is a is the co-founder of the AngularJS Meetup Group and regularly attends the Wordpress, Lean Startup, and jQuery Meetup Group events. Additionally, Leigh is an Adobe Certified Instructor, Print Specialist, and is certified to teach Acrobat, InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop and has experience teaching HTML, CSS, Sharepoint and Flash with ActionScript.

Work Experience

Learning Objects

UI Developer

Developed and designed client products and eduction solutions:

* Engaged with clients and lead creative sessions to capture product requirements
* Planned user experience interviews and surveys
* Developed user stories, user goals, and lead task analysis sessions
* Designed high-fidelity product mockups and supporting graphics
* Assisted in developing iPad app using AngularJS, CSS3 and HTML5

Worked with team members to broden skills advocate for design and coding standars standards:

* Participated in agile tasks and activities
* Guided team members in design and structure for presentations and interfaces
* Established the company as venue for tech meetups by founding the AngularJS DC meetup and scouting for other groups which created a channel for recruiting
May 2013 - September 2012 Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Omni Studio

Senior Web Designer and Project Manager

Planned, designed and developed Wordpress sites and digital solutions for clients:

* Worked with client to assess needs and pain pints
* Developed wireframes, technical specifications, and functionality reports
* Created initial design concepts, managed designers, and implemented approved design
* Assisted in developing WordPress sites using PHP, CSS, and Javascript libraries
* Deployed Drupal and WordPress sites

Planned and presented client meeting to establish new and continuing business:

* Worked with owner and independently to prepare materials and prototypes for client meeting
* Consulted with clients on building WordPress and Drupal solutions

Established key relationships for the company with SalsaLabs:

* Evaluated member and donation management products for client
* Worked with SalsaLabs to customize a solution for the client
* Customized the SalsaLabs Platform to meet the clients needs
* Assisted developer in integrating SalsaLabs API into their Wordpress site.

Established key relationships and new products for the company with Mag+:

* Created and asses ePublishing solutions for the company and its clients
* Created prototypes publications using the Mag+ product
* Helped fellow coworkers understand how their transition from print publishing and InDesign skills to digital media by using products like Mag+
November 2011 - October 2012 Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Grab Media

Media Manager, Web Editor and Designer, and Lite Applications Development

Designed and developed an interactive catalog of the companies video channels and playlists

* Created Django templates
* Designed and developed user interaction with and JavaScript libraries
* Worked with the systems architect to Python and company APIs
* Created original artwork and assets for the UI using both images and CSS

Designed and maintained sites, demos, and blogs to showcase products, new features and highlighted content

* Design, developed, and maintained two custom Wordpress blogs
* Created original ads for to drive viewers to content
* Wrote original blog articles on celebrity gossip and woman's life style to highlight videos.
* Created 100+ working mockups of products which showed how our video players could be integrated into clients sites
* Created a javascript widget that helped clients then add the player the product on their site

Modified and restructured company site

* Transfered design to Django templates
* Restructure site to better support clients thee audiences
* Created animated slide shows and flip boards to showcase the companies products

Designed UI and developed company widgets

* Created JavaScript widget that modified an ad once the product was approved and presented a popup allowing clients to grab the scripts
* Designed and developed prototypes of new products
* Configured and researched additional players
January 2011 - November 2011 Virginia, United States

New Horizons Computer Learning Centers

Lead Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, and Sharepoint classes

* Delivered course material
* Assessed student needs
* Recommended followup courses and resources

Prepared custom content and lessons

* Modified existing generic content to meet client's custom needs
* Created custom lesson with original material
* Consulted on, and delivered large multi-topic, multi-level classes for HUD
June 2010 - December 2010 McLean, Virginia, United States

Scitor Corporation

Visual Information Specialist

Scitor Corporation
December 2007 – March 2010 (2 years 4 months)Herndon, VA
Created print material, artwork and logos for the Communications and Learning team, HR, and senior management:

* Assessed and design original logos for teams based on there goal, skills and culture
* Planned, designed and preflighted newsletters, annual HR material, and event announcements and on-site materials
* Created large scale signage in support of presentations
* Designed and managed vendors for branded merchandise

Created video content for senior management and the Communications and Learning Team:

* Modeled and animated 3D character and gyroscope
* Edited video content and created automated templates for video clips using Photoshop, AfterEffects and Adobe scripting
* Created original and modified existing AfterEffects assets and motion graphics
* Edited, wrote, planned, and directed, event videos

Created presentations for the Communications Team, HR, senior leadership, and individual employees:

* Created custom graphics and animations
* Consulted on design and presentation techniques
* Managed and directed large events with multiple presentations
Organized, planned and c

Created the Communication and Learning Teams SharePoint site:

* Assessed team's needs and structured information
* Designed style and custom graphics
* Developed Sharepoint site and custom javascript widgets

Assisted in planning and developing materials for the:

* 20-100 person quarterly Orientation and Team building programs
* 200+ person annual Tools, Technology, and Techniques meeting
* 1500+ annual person Kickoff meeting
December 2007 - March 2010 Reston, Virginia, United States

Self-Employed

Adobe Certified Instructor, freelance

Lead Adobe Creative Suite courses

* Delivered course material
* Assessed student needs
* Recommended followup courses and resources

Prepared custom content and lessons

* Modified existing generic content to meet client's custom needs
* Created custom lesson with original material

Consulted for students and created custom templates

* Developed XML templates for John R Wood Realty, resulting in streamlining and speeding up the production of his Home Buyers Guide
* Created custom scripts and templates for Hord Coplan Macht, Inc. to streamline their proposal process
* Created custom scripts and templates for Impression printing for the proofing process
September 2004 - December 2007 Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Self-Employed

Freelance Graphic Designer

* Designed and prepared print products
* Designed Web sites and maintained existing sites
* Created PDF forms to be used in a form distribution workflow
* Created custom illustrations and information graphics
* Worked with clients to develop brands and identities
* Worked directly with vendors and clients to obtain estimates and manage production within an established budget
September 2004 - December 2007 Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Corporate Executive Board

Senior Graphic Design Specialist

* Designed and prepared Financial Services franchise best practices material
* Created custom artwork and information graphics
* Trained and mentored new employees
* Provided process innovation and supervised an initiative task force
May 2003 - September 2004 Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Cutting Edge Design

Graphic Designer

* Designed and prepared print products
* Designed Web sites and maintained existing sites
* Created Illustration, photo color correcting retouching
* Photo research
* Electronic and sample archive system creation and maintenance
January 2001 - January 2004 Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Bussolati Associates

Graphic Designer

* Designed and produced monthly magazines and Newsletters such as __Office Pro, Industrial Launderer,__ and __Quorum Magazine__
* Produced conference material and brochure layout
* Created an electronic and sample archive system
January 1999 - January 2001 Washington, District of Columbia, United States

5AM Solutions

UI Team Lead

In this role, I partnered with company leadership to design Agile UX/UI collaboration processes and tools. I wrote UX/UI blog posts for company website, monitored work of contractors, and consulted on design and UX/UI best practices. A few accomplishments include:
• Teamed with clients to establish information architecture, user goals, and business goals.
• Conducted usability tests and interviews with clients.
• Issued usability reports and designed wireframes for applications and website templates.
• Created high-fidelity designs and graphics and developed prototypes in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
July 2013 - May 2014

Education

Savannah College Of Art And Design (SCAD)

Bachelor of Fine Arts, Art History

Graduated magna cum laude
January 1993 - May 1997 Savannah, Georgia, United States

Savannah College Of Art And Design (SCAD)

Bachelor of Fine Arts, painting

graduated magna cum laude
January 1993 - May 1997 Savannah, Georgia, United States

Singapore American School

High School Diploma

Award with Artist of the Year, and represented my school at IASAS for art two ears in a row.
September 1989 - May 1991 Singapore

Skills

Accessibility, Adobe, Blogging, Brochures, Creative, CSS, Design, Dreamweaver, Editing, Flash, Graphic Design, Graphics, HTML5, Illustration, Illustrator, Image, Indesign, Infographics, JavaScript, Jquery, Layout, Magazines, Manipulation, Mockups, Motion, Photoshop, Presentations, Suite, Testing, Usability, User Experience, User Interface Design, Video, Web, Wireframes, WordPress,