Katy Neale
designer, artist, mom and wife
With well over 15 years of visual design experience, I am a UX/UI Designer with a background in fine art, graphic /web design, and illustration. User-centered design is a growing passion of mine. I strive to create intuitive user experiences through digital products that focus on research and user feedback. Currently, I am a generalist, but looking to position myself as a specialist in taking product ideas and business requirements, and transforming them into user experiences with design and functionality.
My unique background in multi-media contemporary art practice has given me the confidence and skill set to tackle any creative challenge with an innovative approach. I relish the brainstorming and ideation process and my graphic design background has given me the foundation to take the creative process and ground it in practical solutions that improve people’s lives and businesses.
With well over 15 years experience in visual design, I understand the capabilities of a complex web-based platform and design easy to use, highly intuitive interfaces to support a businesses’ brand message and increase usability. As an empath, it is natural for me to feel and connect with the needs and goals of others. An immersive user-centered design experience is my passion.
My soul is an artist but I am a designer by trade. With any creative project, I thrive on a process-oriented approach where iteration is a natural and efficient collaborative effort. I relish working independently but also enjoy working in a team environment where constructive feedback is appreciated. My background in small business has encouraged many different approaches to solve a problem, learning a variety of skill sets, as well as consistently striving to communicate to team members clearly and efficiently.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Created a Customer Journey Map for the Major and other high ranking AMC military officials, ensuring General and other stakeholders understood the value drivers of our new application verses prior iterations and previous applications. This diagram graphically illustrated how new application user flow will save the US Air Force, estimated $3.1 million per year when CAMPS Inc. 1 is rolled out to the users in summer of 2022.
One of only eight ADEV personnel responsible for providing input to all 8 teams on two different contracts with the 618th AOC at Scott Air Force Base, IL.
Support 7 teams comprised of PO’s, Scrum Masters and Developers coordinating with Leadership and Solution Architects with all UX/UI issues and concerns for 5 different lines of business.
Developed high level flow charts to ensure all team members understand the overall process for each line of business, while furthering design thinking methodology and coding within the overall project framework.
Analyzed legacy project design perviously implemented and recommended numerous design standard changes (such as a 12-column grid, navigational menu, standardized buttons, shared components, and style guide documentation, etc.) to meet Material UI Design industry standards.
Redesigned the CAMPS Inc. 1 logo for the application that is seen and recognized by users worldwide, and gained a thorough understanding of military, USTC and 618th AOC operations in just over 6 months time.
SKILLS
User-Centered Design
Emotional and Visual Design
Competitive Analysis
Generative & Evaluative Research
Wireframing & Prototyping
Usability & Preference Testing
Design Documentation & Presentation
User Personas & Business Requirements
Mobile First & Responsive Design
Information Architecture & User Flows
Solid Understanding of Typography
Layout & Color Theory
Solid Understanding of Responsive Design
Data Visualization & Interaction Design
Experience in A/B Testing
TECHNICAL
Adobe Creative Suite
Invision
Sketch
Balsamiq
Figma
Working knowledge of motion & animation programs
Working knowledge of HTML, CSS, & Javascript
Experience with Content Management Systems (CMS)
Additional Skillsets
Service Design and Business Architecture:
Has broad understanding of solutions, best practices, multiple business processes, technology designs across multiple product/technology families to analyze customer business needs
Works reciprocally with business partners and Subject Matter Experts across business and technology teams in order to accurately and completely document processes and service journeys, both current and future states
Confident in using virtual white-boarding tools (such as FigJam) as well as in-person white-boarding responsible for engaging with strategic customers/stakeholders to access and design
Key member of a team with technical background and competencies in development, integration, design and solution architecture.
Conduct discovery workshops, assess cultural, structural, and business functions while translating these findings for a solution build for scale and flexibility
Research and document business rules, applications, data use and risks
Develop service blueprints, workflows, wireframes, prototypes, and other design deliverables
Mentor and coach others on Service Design capabilities (train Jr. UX Designer currently) and how it translates into business results and outcomes
User Experience:
Understand and document the lifecycle of a client request from initiation to completion by conducting interviews, observing operations and service representatives, collecting and analyzing operational and customer data, and assessing current state process documentation
Find opportunities to improve processes and reduce or remove difficult points and automation blockers
Work with business partners, PO’s and SME’s to define current state by creating and compiling current state fact base including process maps, difficult points, manual requirements/interventions (dependencies for automation), cross-platform initiatives and operational data
Identify and prioritize process improvement opportunities aligned to program levels (automation, digitization, efficiency) and facilitating prioritization among partner team by expected impact and level of effort.
Excellent problem solving skills to find reciprocal solutions that solve root causes
Super communication skills, both written and verbal, as well as the ability to develop concise and effective communications tailored to specific audiences
Process Transformation:
Use Design Thinking and Agile/Scrum methodologies with our SME’s/Technology Partners to clearly define the problem and then collectively build a “future state” solution
Rethink and reimagine a holistic experience for the User by driving detailed solutions (partnering with Solutions Architects) focusing on redesign for automation and straight-through processing while delivering measuable value for our clients and advisors.
Ensuring that the “future state” aligns to Key Performance Indicator’s that deliver on the broader strategic goals (coordination with Leadership)
Production/Deliverables:
Produce various strategic roadmaps that align future state features that deliver measurable value for each business
Current State Process maps to define the current state and align partners on key frustrations, friction points and problem identification and points of integration.
Create Empathy and Journey maps to identify frustrations/friction points of the users, support exchanged views of end-to-end process and drive client journey in the overall experience design
Plan and help manage design research (through User Experience Feedback Sessions & Testing Sessions) collaboratively wit the entire team
Skills & Responsibilities:
Plan and execute system mapping, customer journeys, scenarios and service specifications
Analyze research data identifying and generating meaningful insights and behavioral patterns
Work closely with PO’s, Leadership, Architects, SME’s and users to improve the quality of the design
Create presentations and design strategy documentations
Collaborate with Product Owners and Leadership to drive product strategy and development roadmap requirements
Instrumental in shaping the “end state” design of the application for entire team
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