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SUMMARY

Creative, design strategist who promotes and utilizes design processes as an integrated component of business development. Professional experience in online media and consumer products. Motivated by a deep commitment to human-centered design and a desire to create value that drives growth and positive change.

SKILLS
  • User-centered design methodologies including field observation, interviewing and prototyping.
  • Well-organized manager of time and resources, taking on leadership roles to co-ordinate team members in meeting deadlines and delivering high quality work.
  • Strong communication skills and builds trust with team and clients. Committed to teamwork, performance, and a positive attitude.
  • Detail oriented with strong conceptual skills.
  • Graphics, word-processing, presentation programs, and online multi-media including audio, video, Flash, dynamic HTML, CSS, Adobe Creative Suite.
  • Digital & 35 mm photography.
EDUCATION

2010 MBA in Design Strategy
California College of the Arts (CCA) San Francisco, CA

2003 BFA: Communication Design,
Business Management Minor
School of Design, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Dean's List every semester

1999 Choate Rosemary Hall
Wallingford, CT

SPECIAL RECOGNITION
  • May 2003 University and College Honors, CMU
  • May 2001 Communication Design Merit Award
    School of Design, CMU
  • 1999–2003 Varsity Intercollegiate Women's Swimming, Captain (2002–2003), CMU
  • 1999–2003 Presidential Merit Scholarship, CMU
  • 1999–2002 Individual Honorable Mention Academic All American, CMU Swimming
AFFILIATIONS MORE INFORMATION

References available upon request.

EXPERIENCE

MBA in Design Strategy, California College of the Arts (CCA), San Francisco, CA
  • Integrated user-centered design methodologies with business practices to identify new market and brand opportunities and to create new products, services, business models and innovation strategies.
  • Conducted qualitative research such as ethnographies and expert interviews; analyzed competitive landscapes and trends; synthesized research into user and market insights; prototyped product and service concepts; modeled financial predictions; collaborated on inter-disciplinary teams.
Interactive Designer, The Wall Street Journal Online, CareerJournal.com, RealEstateJournal.com, San Francisco, CA/New York, NY
June 2006–present
Projects and Accomplishments: econTracker, WSJ "Pressure on the Presses", Automobile "Crossing Crossovers: A Matching Game", WSJ.com News Graphics Wiki
  • Collaborate with producers and editors to identify new opportunities for website product offerings, features, and functionality that reach the changing needs of the Journal audience.
  • Coach printside staff on website capabilities that enhance editorial content via interactive graphics.
  • Define and develop design team repository of data and processes for maintenance of WSJ online content.
  • Design and develop online interactives from high-level concepts to production. Create sketches, workflows, wire frame diagrams, and prototypes in support of new and ongoing projects. Work in concert with developers and project managers.
  • Ensure design solutions match brand and user expectations, are innovative, standards-based, and on time.

Interactive Production Artist, The Wall Street Journal Online, New York, NY
August 2003–June 2006
Projects and Accomplishments: Series Logo, Federal Reserve Monitor Page Re-design

  • Created and coordinated visual graphics that illustrate news stories and other editorial matter for use in daily news, breaking-news and long-term enterprise projects. Integral in the development of high-profile interactives on topics ranging from avian flu to the battleground polls.
  • Designed and developed WSJ.com chart styles and templates
  • Improved efficiency of evening production

Intern/USPS Domestic Mail Manual Project, CMU School of Design, Pittsburgh, PA
June 2002–June 2003
Project employed a user-centered design approach and an interdisciplinary team to improve the efficiency and clarity of a key USPS operational manual.

  • Intimately involved with development of early prototypes for "A Guide to Mailing for Businesses and Nonprofit Organizations". Researched and assessed customer needs; developed information architecture; created artwork, typography and page design.
  • Contributed art work and development of visualizations for representation of physical requirements for mail pieces (meters, stamps, permit imprints) and complex concepts like "sortation". Prior to the manual re-design, USPS used text only and not a visual display.

Explanatoids/Family Communications Inc., CMU School of Design, Pittsburgh, PA
January 2003–May 2003
Project objective was to help young people, particularly girls, explore math and science through real world questions.

  • Created 30-second video clip, "Curveball Kitty" that illustrates the science behind a curveball and demonstrates that science can be fun. This video was shown on the PNC Park Jumbotron before each Pittsburgh Pirates' home game.

New Balance Advanced Fit Studio Project, CMU School of Design, Pittsburgh, PA
August 2002–December 2002

  • Identified product opportunities for New Balance Advanced Fit System.
  • Developed and implemented promotional concepts for a new product, including communication system, point of purchase and packaging.

Images & Work © 2010 Mei Lan Ho-Walker. All rights reserved.