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Resume

As a UI/UX Designer and Researcher at Harvard University, my commitment lies in elevating the user experience and enhancing client profitability by emphasizing digital accessibility as a cornerstone of design.

Work Experience

UI/UX Designer & Researcher

Dec 2022 - Present

Harvard Web Publishing

Harvard Web Publishing is a product team that manages Harvard University's web publishing platforms and services, and in my role, I design user-centric interfaces that significantly enhance usability and engagement across Harvard’s digital landscape. My work involves wireframing, prototyping, accessibility evaluations, and leading user research studies that include user surveys, interviews, usability testing, prototype testing, and evaluative and generative studies, all of which inform evidence-based design decisions tailored to our diverse audience. Additionally, as the Lead Researcher for the HarvardSites design system, I spearhead user research studies and manage the user research repository to guide strategic decisions related to the design system.

UI/UX Designer & Researcher / Information Architect

March 2020 - Present

Independent Consultant

As an independent consultant, I've undertaken projects with clients spanning diverse industries, including higher education, non-profits, and the healthcare sector. My work involves employing a range of research methods to extract valuable insights from users. These insights, in turn, empower my clients in making informed decisions regarding their product's user interface and information architecture.

Repository Services Manager

Feb 2022 - Nov 2022

Washington University in St. Louis

I managed the university's digital repositories within the library's Digital Program Services department. My work included managing digital assets, schema ingest, content curation, and developing technical infrastructure and workflows to ensure open access to publications to be used as educational resources.

Education

Masters: Library Information Science

2019 - 2021

University of Denver

BA: History

2016 - 2018

University of Maryland University College

BS: Art & Design

2006 - 2010

Towson University

Certifications

W3C

2023

Introduction to Web Accessibility

Skills & Competencies

Wireframing | Prototyping | Design Systems | Video Editing | Heuristic Evaluation | Data Analysis & Visualization | A/B Testing | Usability Testing | User Interviews | Team Collaboration | Accessibility Audits | Content Inventory | Surveys | Card Sorting | Tree Studies | Analytics Analysis | WCAG & ADA Compliance | Information Architecture | Design Systems | Product Design

Tools

Figma | Axure RP | InVision | Adobe XD | Balsamiq | Illustrator | Premiere Pro | Photoshop | Siteimprove | Web Developer | WAVE Evaluation Tool | Qualtrics | Miro | Optimal Workshop | Google Analytics | Tableau | Looker Studio | WordPress | CampusPress | OpenScholar | Basecamp | Trello | Confluence | Python (Pandas & Matplotlib) | CSS | HTML | Dovetail | Condens.io | Jira

Publications

2021

"An Intern's Investigation on Decolonizing Archival Descriptions and Legacy Metadata." Bitstreams

2020

"Denver's Historic African-American Community in Photographs." Denver Public Library Blog

"Never Forget the High John Experiment." Library Journal

"Revisiting the Hight John Experiment Through a Contemporary Lens." Journal of Librarianship & Information Science

Presentations

2024

Cress, Laurier, Freeman, Dorian, Horton, Sarah, and Sims, Janell. “Dealing Aces: An Accessible, Communal, Empowering, and Scalable Design System” (presented at Harvard University's 2024 IT Summit)

2021

Bokenkamp, Katie, Callie, Chery, and Cress, Laurier. “The Black Lives Matter Video Project: Building a Digital Collection for the Preservation of Social Justice Materials” (poster presented at the ARCHIVES*RECORDS 2021 Conference)

Bokenkamp, Katie, Callie, Chery, and Cress, Laurier. “The Black Lives Matter Video Project: Building a Digital Collection for the Preservation of Social Justice Materials” (poster presented at the 2021 Texas Conference on Digital Libraries)

Cress, Laurier. “How to Share Your Scholarship: A University of Oregon Research Guide for the Humanities” (presented at the University of Oregon)

2020

Cress, Laurier. "The High John Experiment: An Analysis of Library Outreach in a Historically Marginalized Community" (presented at the University of Denver’s Research Measurements and Library Science Student Conference)

Cress, Laurier. "The High John Experiment: An Analysis of Library Outreach in a Historically Marginalized Community" (presented at the University of Denver's 2020 DU Research & Scholarship Showcase)

Awards

2021

Morgridge College of Education Practitioner Award

American Theological Library Association Diversity Scholarship Award

Medical Library Association Scholarship for Underrepresented Students Award

2020

American Library Association Spectrum Scholarship Award

Community Involvement

Harvard University's UX Community of Practice Group

Mentor to future UX professionals

Part of the Higher Ed Web community

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