Hello, and thank you for stopping by!

My name is Zach, and I’m a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) product designer based in Ohio; I also have experience in both educational and industrial technologies.

My journey into UX began during my undergraduate career in psychology. The more I learned about the human mind, the more fascinated I became with the expanding influence that technology has on our memories, our decision-making, our judgements, and our thought processes. Eager to learn more, I ventured into the digital sciences, and I’m more excited than ever to lead the way in designing a better world for our brains.

1. Start with the basics. Design for me always begins with a strong foundation in UX principles supported by psychology — understanding how we make decisions and solve problems is essential when building a user product.
2. Step by step. Iteration is the key to success. Well-designed products are often built steadily with careful consideration, review, and feedback at each iteration.
3. Bring the user in. The user is a key component to any worthwhile design. Make sure to include users where possible, even in small but meaningful ways like one-on-one meetings or brief surveys.
4. Innovate with what you have. Thinking outside the box is a definite benefit, but even in projects with significant limitations, there are opportunities for creative ideas. Look at your constraints and find the path less traveled!
5. Learn from every setback. Every design contains important lessons for improvement. Take everything in stride and always be open to feedback.

• Usability Principles
• Adobe Photoshop / Adobe Illustrator / Adobe XD
• HTML & CSS
• Project Management
• Agile Development
• Wireframing & Prototyping
• Content Strategy
• User Research
• Responsive Web Design

Junior Product Designer, Top Echelon Software

2020 — Present

• Creating mock interfaces for upcoming features
• Developing and coding front-end interfaces
• Providing user perspective on present and upcoming features

Graduate Assistant, Kent State University School of Information

2018–2020

• Moderated user interviews as part of a small team studying use of library search systems
• Transcribed/analyzed study results including quantitative/qualitative data
• Developed user surveys evaluating the Student Advising Center in the School of Information
• Reimagined/redesigned content hierarchy and navigation for Student Advising Center

Computer Build Technician, MicroPoise Measurement Systems

2018–2019

• Installed and configured machine controller hardware and software
• Evaluated human-computer interfaces for existing machinery based on design thinking/principles
• Developed and presented a series of recommendations to company engineers for consideration

Have questions or want to get to know me? Reach out on LinkedIn!

Thank you for visiting!