Resume

Summary

  • Dedicated and strategic Design Leader with a proven track record of creating cohesive design systems that harmonize user experience with brand identity.
  • As an adept Figma specialist, I’ve consistently elevated designs to new horizons, ensuring uniformity and consistency across diverse platforms.
  • With a flair for fostering collaboration among multidisciplinary teams, I’m passionate about user-centric designs, and I pride myself on my commitment to design excellence and innovative approaches.
  • Passionate about elevating user experiences through meticulous design, accessibility standards, and creative solutions.
  • International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC)

Experience

Staff UX Designer, Walmart

2024-present

  • Trained UX design team of 15 on the basics of accessible design and annotations.
  • Integrated process for accessible reviews and handoffs in addition to collaborating with engineering teams on implementation.
  • Lead the direction and adoption of one way of working across 3 design teams through a triple diamond process.

Director of Web (ACES) and Lead UI/UX Designer (WIGG), University of Illinois

College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences
2019-2023

  • Championed the standardization of user-friendly experiences by assimilating WCAG standards, ensuring 50+ uniform high-fidelity design assets across various platforms.
  • Mastered Figma to curate a scalable and responsive design system with digital standards, 6 style guides, 20 pattern libraries, and interactive prototypes for 100+ layouts.
  • Spearheaded 4 cross-functional collaborative project teams of 6-12 members, including UX designers, accessibility specialists, and engineers, to ensure cohesive design and documentation decisions that align with user needs and business goals.
  • Communicated design strategies and updates through 14 monthly meetings to stakeholders, driving a 20% rise in web theme adoption across the organization.
  • Boosted usability with the ACES Program Explorer product, reducing decision paralysis by 60% and accommodating an ever-growing array of majors, degrees, and certificates.
  • Employed low to high-fidelity wireframing and rapid prototyping to iterate UI/UX concepts, streamlining project management for the development of the College of ACES’ new web theme and migration of 10 websites averaging 170 pages in 15 months.

Senior UI/UX Designer, University of Illinois

Campus Recreation
2014-2019

  • Conceived and executed content marketing strategies with an emphasis on UI, resulting in a 12% surge in program registrations.
  • Collaborated closely with various teams to foster a unified brand and product experience.
  • Managed the transition of the existing website and staff intranet to a new content management system and visual identity, while adhering to new University branding guidelines.
  • Supervised two full-time staff, a graduate assistant, and nine student interns.

Entrepreneur, Melissa Waller Photography & Design

Photographer, Graphic and Web Designer, Web Developer

2011-2014

  • Researched, designed, and engineered an intuitive online storefront and added a membership component which led to a 35% surge in digital template sales, a 20% boost in tutorial engagement, and an enriched user experience.
  • Planned and implemented targeted marketing campaigns with suggestions for related product sales and customer retention.
  • Scripted and recorded tutorial videos and online classes to teach other photographers how to use photo software and digital templates for printed materials to increase their sales and business offerings.
  • Photographed a wide variety of clients specializing in families, high school seniors, and infants. Proficient in studio and natural lighting with an emphasis on portrait photography.
  • Produced superior editing and photo manipulation through Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom.

Graphic Designer, University of Illinois

Division of Intercollegiate Athletics
2005-2011

  • Devised and delivered visually captivating print materials, including event tickets, large posters, and media books, employing design principles to convey key messages and amplify brand recognition effectively.
  • Managed brand identity, including logos, fonts, and colors on all printed materials.

Education

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design, University of Illinois

Certification

International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC)

Professional Development

Recent LinkedIn Learning courses:

Volunteer Projects