Miscellaneous Experience
Here are some examples of my early career work that were relevant at the time but may not be as pertinent now. However, they provided a solid foundation for my career moving forward.
Brick & Mortar Search Engine
My first corporate job out of college was as a graphic designer for a small startup called Evincii. At that time, Google was just emerging, and smartphones were non-existent, but web technology was on the rise, making information more accessible. Evincii aimed to capitalize on this trend by developing a product that offered search engine capabilities within brick-and-mortar stores. Our flagship product, PharmAssist, was an in-store kiosk that provided search results specifically for over-the-counter medicine.
We went through numerous iterations of the kiosk, interface, and screen flow. After joining the company, I contributed to designing the next version of our mascot and enhancing the visual design of the interface.
As a relatively inexperienced designer, I relied heavily on the experience and feedback from colleagues and leadership. With many voices in the mix, the design direction often varied. However, when we developed the kiosk concept for Safeway, we shifted towards a more modern UI concept that I believed would be more appealing and efficient for the general public. It was during the process of designing the flows for these various screen “designs” that I began to focus more on the user experience rather than just the look and feel.
Beginning of Mobile
The release of the iPhone and the advent of smartphones revolutionized modern user experience design. This was a boon for designers, but it rendered the concept of a search engine kiosk obsolete, as people could now search for information directly on their phones. In a last-ditch effort to stay afloat, the company pivoted to developing a mobile app. Although the company didn’t last much longer after this effort, this experience provided me with initial exposure to mobile design and allowed me to take on some freelance mobile projects.
Websites & Logos
With the rapid emergence of SaaS and e-commerce sites, I had the opportunity to work on various website and logo designs during and after my time with my first startup company.
