Contact
sheamichals@gmail.com
Work Experience
Led end-to-end UX and interaction design for web, mobile, and software products — spanning user research, information architecture, journey mapping, wireframing, mockups, prototyping, and responsive UI — delivering user-friendly, user experience design solutions for 9+ clients including Keysight, The Carlyle Group, and Puffco.
Partnered collaboratively with cross-functional product and engineering teams using an iterative lean UX approach; conducted heuristic evaluations and usability testing to continuously refine interaction design, information architecture, and UX patterns — delivering cost-effective solutions across engagements.
Championed WCAG 2.2 accessibility standards and built scalable design systems aligned to both user needs and business goals, ensuring consistent UX and interaction design quality across 9+ concurrent client engagements.
Client List: Carlyle, Uber Drive, Taco Bell UK, Puffco, Keysight, ZO Skin Health, Chime, Lovet website & mobile app, SRS Acquiom
Joined as the first full-time UX designer; independently executed end-to-end interaction design for a complex web application — user flows, wireframes, mockups, prototypes, usability testing, and QA — delivering a launch-ready product within 12 months.
Built a component library and design system from scratch, establishing consistent UI standards and information architecture; conducted competitive analysis, user research, and developed personas, journey maps, and storyboards to ground UX decisions in user needs.
Designed interactive UX and interaction design solutions for enterprise digital signage clients through collaborative Agile sprints; promoted to Senior in 2019 to oversee brand design systems, conduct usability reviews, and mentor a team of 4 junior designers.
Designed across 20 in-house brands spanning web, mobile, packaging, and marketing; led a research-informed retail initiative that drove a 55% year-over-year sales increase.
Managed a team of 3 designers and oversaw a 7-person client services team, directing design execution, project management, budget, and creative quality across multiple brand accounts.
Oversight of corporate rebranding for all enterprise collateral, including, photography, videography, email, website (desktop and mobile), catalog design, training materials, trade shows, infographics, and packaging design. Managed external freelancers, photography vendors, printers, and mentored Junior Graphic Designer and Marketing Intern positions.
Worked on a team of 3 designers supporting 20+ international brands. Design focus: packaging, marketing, website (desktop and mobile), illustration, photography, and infographic design.
The first in-house designer in 40 years of business. Design focus: brand guidelines, monthly marketing campaigns (email, direct mail, print, retail, trade shows, and internal templates), and all design materials across its five distinct product lines.
Education
Columbia College Chicago
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design
2011 | Chicago, IL