Experience 

 
 

A seasoned product design leader with a proven ability to create impactful user experiences and drive business growth through strategic, user-centered design solutions. I lead cross-functional teams to deliver innovative products that align with customer needs and business goals. Passionate about solving complex problems, I develop flexible design frameworks and foster collaboration in fast-paced environments. I thrive at the intersection of user experience, business strategy, and creative execution, turning insights into actionable designs that enhance engagement and drive growth.

 

Principle product Designer, Product experience Merchandising
coursera, Aug 2019 - Current

As a Principal Product Designer at Coursera, I lead design efforts focused on Merchandising, shaping the user experience across some of Coursera's most critical consumer-facing surfaces. My team is responsible for key discovery pages, including the logged-out homepage, course description pages (DPs), professional certificates, degrees, and hub pages like Career Academy and the Generative AI hub.

In this role, I define ambiguous problem spaces, leveraging learner and business insights to drive a clear strategic vision across the organization. I ensure cross-functional alignment, lead roadmap planning, and gather stakeholder buy-in through storytelling and design thinking. I focus on simplifying complex systems, scaling design culture, and promoting collaboration across teams. By integrating research and data insights, I influence product strategy and drive design innovation.

 

Staff Product Designer, Discovery
coursera, March 2021 - 2022

As a Staff Product Designer at Coursera, I drove clarity and strategic vision across multiple initiatives on the Discovery pod. I led the redesign and unification of Description pages (DPs), and spearheaded a key test for Google Professional Certificates (GWG DPs), optimizing the page for improved conversions.

These enhancements resulted in an estimated $1.87M annual revenue increase, with the simplification of the page’s top section contributing to more high-intent learners. Overall, the project delivered nearly $1M in annualized impact.

In addition to these initiatives, I leveraged user-centered design principles and strategic storytelling to lead the team in crafting cohesive, high-impact design solutions. I fostered a strong culture of continuous feedback and cross-functional collaboration, ensuring alignment between product, design, and engineering teams to deliver results efficiently and at scale.

 

Sr. Product Designer, Growth Acquisition
coursera, Aug 2019 - March 2021

As a Senior Product Designer at Coursera, I focused on Acquisition and Growth, driving key initiatives like the SEO Articles project, which became one of Coursera’s fastest-growing TOF products, generating +1.5M UVs/month and over 10% of sitewide new traffic.

I also led the PMF design for Career Academy, achieving a +2% lift in paid enrollments and paving the way for the Enterprise Career Academy. Additionally, I redesigned the login and sign-up experience, resulting in +$3M/year in credit card captures, a +12% boost in registrations, and a +2% increase in LTV.

 

Creative Director
Vera Security, July 2017 - Aug 2019

Led brand development, strategy, and creative projects from concept through production. Collaborated with sales, research, and marketing to create targeted content for various audiences, including executives and customers. Developed social media and brand architecture strategies. Directed the design and management of Vera’s public website.

 

Lead Product Designer (UI/UX)
Vera Security, Nov 2014 - Jul 2017

Designed and delivered elegant UX solutions for Vera’s enterprise applications, creating wireframes, prototypes, and specifications. Led user experience strategies across the company, optimizing customer interactions based on metrics and feedback. Collaborated closely with engineering and customer success teams to enhance product usability through user testing, surveys, and interviews.

 

Lead Product Designer (UI/UX), Product Manager
Imageshack, Apr 2012 - Nov 2014

Led the development of a new brand identity across all products. Produced and iterated on UI/UX wireframes, navigation maps, and design guidelines for both web and mobile platforms. Managed product features, ensuring a seamless user experience, and oversaw UI for online and mobile environments.

 

Art Director
Acropolis, Nov 2007 - Mar 2012

Developed branding and identity for clients like Hilton, Disney, and Sea World. Led all aspects of campaigns, from strategy and concept to digital and print design. Directed user experience, interaction, and design for web and mobile projects, ensuring cohesive design execution across platforms.

 

Graphic Designer
Houghton Mifflin Harcort, Jun 2005 - Nov 2007

Designed and directed the visual aesthetic for nationally-distributed Social Studies textbooks. Developed style guides and visual specifications, commissioned artwork, and directed photo shoots. Worked closely with third-party vendors to ensure high-quality production and distribution.

 

Graphic Designer
Ringling Design Center, Sep 2004 - May 2005

As a selected Candidate For Ringling Design Center I Collaborated with designers, illustrators, and photographers to create marketing solutions for clients like Sarasota Circus and the Women’s Resource Center. Delivered innovative design solutions that met clients’ marketing goals.

 

Education

Ringling College of Design
BFA, Graphic and Interactive Communication
Sarasota, Florida
Aug 2001 - May 2005

Skills

Design Leadership

  • -Strategic design that aligns with both business objectives and user needs

  • Cross-functional collaboration with product, engineering, and key stakeholders

  • Mentoring and leading large-scale, cross-functional initiatives

  • Building scalable, modular design systems to ensure consistency and efficiency

User Experience (UX)

  • User-centered design and user research

  • Creating user journeys, personas, and wireframes

  • Usability testing, feedback analysis, and testing frameworks (A/B testing, multivariate testing)

  • Rapid prototyping and interaction design

  • Iterative design based on testing insights and user feedback

User Interface (UI)

  • Designing intuitive and visually engaging interfaces

  • Responsive web design across devices

  • Maintaining cohesive design systems

AI & Design Tools

  • Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD

  • InVision, Axure, Framer

  • AI tools: MidJourney, ChatGPT, and generative design platforms

  • Jira, Asana, Trello, Slack

Features & Awards

  • Silver ADDY Recipient - Holiday Cheer 100

  • Bronze Recipient - Palmer House Sales Kit

  • Gold ADDY Recipient - Palmer House Sales Kit

  • Best Art Direction ADDY - Palmer House Sales Kit

  • Gold ADDY Recipient - Circus Sarasota

  • Silver ADDY Recipient - Esbelt Stationery Package,

  • Featured work in Typographic Systems by Kimberly Elam