Aaron is available for hire
Hire AaronAaron Shepard
Verified Expert in Design
Designer
Location
San Diego, CA, United States
Toptal Member Since
January 9, 2019
As a designer with 20+ years of experience, Aaron has consistently created value and produced measurable results in UX and product design. He reduced costs by $70 million at Anthem.ai, increased adoption by 600% at Deloitte, and enhanced productivity at Caterpillar. Aaron tackles complex challenges by taking a holistic approach that involves collaborating with stakeholders, aligning design with business strategy, and effectively identifying user needs to enhance the overall customer experience.
Portfolio
Work Experience
Product Design and Strategy Consultant
2018 - PRESENT
Freelance
- Acted as a product design and strategy consultant, I served as a design leader, helping organizations discover and solve complex problems. Focused on value creation and capture, synthesizing design with business strategy to amplify the customer experience.
- Created and built data-driven dashboards for Deloitte to enable B2B marketing professionals to inform, manage, and optimize their marketing activations and campaigns. Through research, UX, and strategy increased usage and adoption by 600%.
- Acted as the product design lead at Anthem.ai, building an AI-driven insight optimization tool and a comparative treatment efficacy system that reduced care costs by 70 million annually and helped clinicians improve patient health outcomes.
- Facilitated research, UI, and design sprints at Caterpillar for product databases within the innovation division of Caterpillar to reduce waste and man-hours while improving efficiencies and productivity on a global scale.
- Worked as the product design lead at Compass for authorization, authentication, and role-based access control (RBAC) permissions concepts, including diagramming and modeling, implicit and explicit sharing, and an interactive educational tool.
Technologies: Ethnio, Adobe Creative Suite, Google Drive, Zoom, Lookback, Zeplin, Sketch, Product Design, UX Design, UI Design, SaaS, User-centered Design (UCD), Dashboard Design, Mobile, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), B2B, Design Systems, Design Strategy, Responsive Web Apps, Design Leadership, Figma, Interactive Prototypes, User Flows, Enterprise SaaS, Complex Application User Interfaces (UI), Software as a Service (SaaS), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Web, Information Technology, SaaS Design, Journey Mapping, Marketing Tools, UX Research, DataViz, Qualitative Research, Usability, Quantitative Research, User Empathy, B2C, Mobile Apps, Workshops, Mobile App Design, eCommerce, Stakeholder Engagement, UI Guidelines, Communication, Stakeholder Management, iOS, Web Applications, iOS App Design, Leadership, Responsive Web Design (RWD), User Journeys, Mobile UX, Customer Journeys, Web App Design, Complex Web Systems, User Workflows
Senior UX Designer
2018 - 2018
Walmart Labs
- Led design for continuous integration, functional and performance testing portal in collaboration with engineering team.
- Designed customer experience strategies and presentations for suite of performance based developer tools.
Technologies: Confluence, Jira, Microsoft PowerPoint, Adobe Creative Suite, InVision, Sketch, Product Design, UX Design, UI Design, SaaS, User-centered Design (UCD), Dashboard Design, Mobile, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), Design Systems, Design Strategy, Figma, Interactive Prototypes, User Flows, Enterprise SaaS, Complex Application User Interfaces (UI), Software as a Service (SaaS), Web, Information Technology, SaaS Design, Journey Mapping, UX Research, DataViz, Usability, B2C, Mobile Apps, Mobile App Design, eCommerce, Communication, iOS, Web Applications, iOS App Design, Responsive Web Design (RWD), User Journeys, Mobile UX, Customer Journeys, Web App Design, Complex Web Systems, User Workflows
Product Designer
2017 - 2018
Becton Dickinson
- Created information architecture for tablet-based healthcare app, including user flows, wireframes, high and low fidelity prototypes, guided journey map and personas supported by qualitative research interviews.
- Led first user task and functionality test, compiled a better understanding of user behaviors, determined if the product met expectations and validated proposed features.
Technologies: Zeplin, Adobe Creative Suite, InVision, Sketch, Product Design, UX Design, UI Design, SaaS, User-centered Design (UCD), Dashboard Design, Interactive Prototypes, User Flows, Software as a Service (SaaS), Web, Information Technology, SaaS Design, Journey Mapping, UX Research, Qualitative Research, B2C, Mobile Apps, Mobile App Design, Stakeholder Engagement, Communication, User Journeys, Mobile UX, Customer Journeys, User Workflows
Associate Design Director, Product Marketing
2015 - 2017
Renovate America
- Established an authentic, consumer-focused brand and identity for Renovate America, a $1 billion financing company providing businesses and homeowners with financial support for energy efficiency programs and projects.
- Selected to spearhead digital platform re-launch from concept to completion, improving customer eligibility process, reducing bounce rate, and increasing leads by 44%.
- Developed a design system and designed and tested user flows, wireframes, and prototypes based on research.
- Managed a team of 12 and an external agency, providing guidance to ensure compliance with brand standards and meeting strict deadlines.
Technologies: Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Litmus, Adobe Creative Suite, InVision, Sketch, Mobile, B2B, Design Systems, Design Strategy, Responsive Web Apps, Design Leadership, Interactive Prototypes, Web, B2C, Mobile Apps, Stakeholder Engagement, Communication, Web Applications, Leadership, Responsive Web Design (RWD), User Workflows
Art Director, Digital Design
2013 - 2015
Beachbody
- Defined and executed design strategy and art direction for the launch of the digital streaming platform, Beachbody On Demand, generating a significant portion of Beachbody's $1+ billion annual revenue.
- Directed digital art strategy and visual design for multichannel initiatives, including display advertising, social media, affiliate marketing, Amazon marketplace, and broadcast media campaigns across a portfolio of 30+ brands.
- Managed a team of designers, mentoring them to enhance their skill levels and boost their confidence when working with stakeholders.
Technologies: Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Trello, Adobe Creative Suite, InVision, Responsive Web Apps, Design Leadership, Interactive Prototypes, Web, B2C, eCommerce, Communication, Web Applications, Leadership, Responsive Web Design (RWD)
Creative Director, Principal
2008 - 2013
Mineral
- Designed award-winning integrated digital solutions, multi-channel marketing initiatives for Fortune 500 and eCommerce clients at a full-service creative agency.
- Leveraged extensive professional network to expand client list, enabling company to become profitable for the first time in eight years and achieve record revenue.
- Acted as principal, refined brand identity, restructured pricing model, and set long-term business objectives that boosted value and competitiveness.
- Cultivated a sterling reputation among clients for delivering work that exceeded expectations, resulting in high-volume referrals from renowned companies across tech, entertainment, auto, and energy industries.
- Worked with various clients, including Toyota, GE, Disney, Gibson, Fender, and Interactions Magazine.
Technologies: Zeplin, Microsoft PowerPoint, Adobe Creative Suite, Responsive Web Apps, Design Leadership, Interactive Prototypes, Web, B2C, eCommerce, Communication, Web Applications, Leadership, Responsive Web Design (RWD)
Creative Lead, Web Analyst
2004 - 2008
ValueClick
- Increased conversions, development of an eCommerce ecosystem through building, delivering and managing creative initiatives, user experiences, promotions and all aspects of site re-design.
- Obtained critical insights, measured customer lifecycles, focusing on reach, acquisition, conversion, retention, and A/B test analysis.
- Decreased annual marketing spend by 600,000, and managed 11 eCommerce properties with annual sales of $28 million.
Technologies: Omniture, Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Microsoft Excel, Adobe Creative Suite, B2C, Web Applications
Director of Advertising
2003 - 2004
One America Wireless
- Integrated advertising strategy, insights, and creative development to deliver successful advertising programs aligning with brand and marketing initiatives.
Technologies: Microsoft Excel, Flash, Adobe Creative Suite
Freelance Art Director
1995 - 2004
Vita Innovations
- Provided art direction at multi-disciplinary design firm serving clients across auto, tech, hospitality, and marketing industries with clients including Ford Motor Company and Squaw Valley Ski Resorts.
Technologies: CSS, Omniture, Google Analytics, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, HTML, Flash, Adobe Creative Suite
Multimedia Designer
2000 - 2002
Digital Business Products
- Created interactive CD-ROM marketing and sales tools, advertising campaigns, and branded design solutions for HomeStore.com, Realtor.com, Coldwell Banker, 21st Century, Prudential, and RE/MAX.
Technologies: HTML, Flash, Adobe Creative Suite
Web Designer
1999 - 2000
Digital Imagination
- Developed user interface designs for small to large-scale projects; clients included: Universal Studios, Proctor & Gamble, Morey Body Boards, and Mayfair Capital Group.
Technologies: HTML, Flash, Adobe Creative Suite
Art Director
1998 - 1999
DotTV Productions
- Delivered innovative and engaging media concepts for clients including Bissell Cleaning Appliances and Coleman Outdoor Products.
Technologies: HTML, Flash, Adobe Creative Suite
Education
1992 - 1996
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Applied Design with an emphasis in Graphic Design, Marketing, and Economics
San Diego State University - San Diego, California
Certifications
MARCH 2019 - PRESENT
Design Strategy: Design Thinking for Business Strategy and Entrepreneurship
University of Sydney
AUGUST 2018 - PRESENT
Entrepreneurship Bootcamp
MIT
JANUARY 1998 - PRESENT
Web Development and Design
Learning Tree University
Experience
Collaboration That Works
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