UX Researcher and Designer

​noreenmdurkin_resume.docx
Email: noreenNMD@gmail.com
Phone: (704) 351-8325
​ SKILLS

Adobe Creative Suite, Agile Methodology, After Effects, Autodesk 3DS Max, Autodesk Maya, Axure, C++, C#, Confluence, Excel, Figma, HTML5, InDesign, InVision, Interaction Design, iOS, Java, JIRA, Miro, Mobile Development, PowerPoint, Python, Usability Testing, User Research, User Experience Design, Rapid Prototyping, Salesforce, SCRUM, Sketch, Unity 3D, Windows, Wireframing, Waterfall, ZBrush
 
EXPERIENCE
UX Researcher, CTDS (Contract)                                                                                                                   Nov 2022- May 2023
  • Gathered data on the Department of Education website and services
  • Worked on the Business.ct.gov site to find possible pain points
  • Worked on the Office of Health Services site to find possible pain points
  • Conducted interviews and user tests for all 3 of the sites above
  • Used tools such as Miro to analyze data and locate key insights
  • Organized findings in Power Point as a deliverable to hand over to the designers
  • Presented these findings to the entire CTDS team, including content, design,
 
Freelance UX Researcher and Designer, Remote                                                                                    Feb 2017- Nov 2022
  • Designed high fidelity wireframes for an ERP budgeting system.
  • Built a mobile app to rate in-person user transactions, ensuring safer, smoother buying and selling of goods and services.
  • Used Axure and Adobe XD to rapidly prototype a mobile app and responsive website that would allow a U.S. Citizen to register and vote online.
  • Collaborated with Clients to gather business requirements and turn them into conceptual designs.
  • Conducted user testing and research through Usability hub to gather and analyze data.
  •  Translated concepts and data into user flows, mockups, and storyboards.
  • Presented to clients and incorporated feedback into the design.
  • Designed a UI unique to the client’s brand and created a style guide for them to follow.
 
Lead UX Researcher and Designer, Relias Learning, Cary, NC                                                                Jan 2015- Feb 2017
  • Designed a gamification system to push compliance, competence, and increase use of our products.
  • Created a mobile app prototype that would develop and utilize social learning within our 2 million users.
  • Used DreamWeaver to build a prototype of new drag and drop interaction in JQuery to test with users.
  • Redesigned our LMS UI using Axure to align with Google’s material design guidelines.
  • Established a user research and testing protocol, and increased user testing from 0 to over 10,000.
  • Led, interpreted, and incorporated user feedback, gathered from in-person, navigation, and a/b tests.
  • Presented monthly to the Executive Leadership Team and delivered updates on current project status.
  • Collaborated with the Product Management and Engineering Teams to execute and iterate on designs.
  • Balanced business goals and client goals to design and create features that would bring value to both.
  • Trained Relias employees in basic UX principles, software, and practices such as interaction and UI design.
 
UX Researcher and Designer, Electronic Arts, Redwood City, CA                                                               Aug. – Dec. 2013
  • Worked in a team of 8 to create a naval combat game on the iPad for EA.
  • Worked closely with the R&D department at Electronic Arts and generated client requirements.
  • Led daily SCRUM meetings and facilitated creative collaboration within the team.
  • Drafted the art and design schedule, and administered tasks throughout the team.
  • Used Unity 3D and C# to build game, as well as used After Effects to create ending and opening.
  • Built a server using Amazon Cloud Services and C# to track gamer trends and share data between games.
  • Designed user interactions, level mock-ups, and produced wireframes using Axure and InDesign.
  • Rapidly prototyped builds throughout the semester for testing using agile methodology.
  • Led usability tests, gathered data, and incorporated feedback into future deliverables.
 
 UX Researcher and Designer, CMU, Pittsburgh, PA                                                                                       Jan. – May 2013
  • Worked in a team of 5 to develop a two-player, cooperative, platforming game on the iPad.
  • Redesigned a 12-player game to a 2 player mobile game as to make it available to consumers.
  • Used JIRA to delegate art, programming, and design tasks throughout the team.
  • Built game using Unity 3D and C#, modeled and animated in-game assets using 3DS Max.
  • Used InDesign to build and test mock-ups of levels before implementing in game engine.
  • Conducted user tests, analyzed feedback data, and generated new requirements based on said data.
  • Led user research studies focused on platform and product viability.
  • Tested prototypes weekly and incorporated feedback into each iteration.
UX Researcher and Designer, U.S. Army, Pittsburgh, PA                                                                               Aug. – Dec. 2012
  • Collaborated with the US Army to create a prototype of a medical-training simulation.
  • Designed the interactions and overall experience for a virtual exploration of the bombing of Hiroshima.
  • Created a web-based application in C# using the game engine Unity 3D.
  • Generated an accurate environment by using real topography data mapped to a 3D plane.
  • Modeled and animated over 30 buildings, props, and people using 3DS Max and Maya.
  • Iterated and tested the art direction and visual design to satisfy the client’s needs and usability.
 
UX Researcher, Interaction Designer and Artist, Pearson Foundation, Pittsburgh, PA                   May – Aug. 2012
  • Designed, prototyped, and tested educational games targeted to teach third grade curriculum.
  • Used GameMaker and HTML5 to make 4 web-based games teaching fractions and vocabulary.
  • Created in-game assets and environment art in Photoshop, 3DS Max, and Maya.
  • Presented our work to teachers from the National Education Association in Washington DC.
  • Worked in a tight team of 6 consisting of artists, producers, and developers.
 
ACADEMIC
Building Virtual Worlds Teacher’s Assistant, CMU, Pittsburgh, PA                                                           Jan. – May 2013
  • Helped students design, build, and produce games and interactive applications.
  • Taught the software development pipeline to new graduate students.
  • Assisted Carnegie Mellon Professors with generating assignment requirements and grading students.
Fundamentals of Entertainment Technology Teacher’s Assistant, CMU, Pittsburgh, PA             Aug. – Dec. 2012
  • Guided new graduate students as they learned skills such as presenting, interviewing, and teamwork.
  • Graded student essays on design theory as well as gave feedback on presentations.
 
Introduction to Production Teacher’s Assistant, UNC, Chapel Hill, NC                                                  Jan – May. 2011
  • Taught students film and composition skills, as well as narrative design, lighting, and editing.
  • Held classes and workshops on using Final Cut Pro, and critiqued student’s films.
Media Technologist, UNC, Chapel Hill, NC                                                                                               Aug 2009– May. 2011
  • Managed a Mac lab on campus, kept track of scheduling and equipment for teachers and students.
  • Maintained camera equipment and taught students how to film and edit video and audio.
  • Taught students software such as Final Cut Pro, Unity 3D, 3DS Max, and Photoshop.
 
AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
Student Council Representative, CMU, Pittsburgh, PA                                                                          Jan 2012 – Dec 2013
  • Organized and managed events for the graduate students at Carnegie Mellon.
  • Met every month with all of CMU representatives to talk about policies and student life.
 
Phillips Ambassador Scholar, UNC, Chapel Hill, NC                                                                                                    May 2011
  • Awarded UNC fellowship and traveled to Europe to study and replicate architecture into 3D.
  • Traveled for ten weeks through Ireland, Spain, France, and Italy, modeling architecture in 3DS Max.
 
 EDUCATION
Carnegie Mellon University, CMU, Pittsburgh, PA                                                                                  December 2013
Masters of Entertainment Technology
 
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, UNC, Chapel Hill, NC                                                                      May 2011
Bachelor of Arts, Communications Digital Media