toptal.com
Contact us: +1.888.867.7001
Al Blanco, Designer in New York, NY, United States
Al Blanco

Designer in New York, NY, United States

Member since May 3, 2021
Al hits the ground running, uncovering insights, solving big challenges through IP-worthy innovation, applying rigorous UX methodologies and human-centered design principles. Blanco is hands-on; no prima donna here. Whether inventing new digital products, tackling automated process improvement, or finding clever ways to increase engagement through award-winning experiences, he can deliver world-class websites, mobile and tablet apps, as well as industrial and consumer software with true ROI.
Al is now available for hire
Hire Al

Portfolio

Digital Design
Digital Design
Load more...

Employment

  • Digital Strategy Director

    2017 - 2020
    Accenture
    • Delivered digital transformation of the customer travel experience for HMSHost brands, including Burger King, Starbucks, and over 2,000 other top food and beverage brands.
    • Developed the next-generation suite of cloud hyper computing applications for one of the largest oil and gas services companies in the world.
    • Transformed the end-to-end customer experience from mostly paper to mostly digital for the world's largest memorialization company.
    • Led the development of an innovation lab for a Fortune 500 company. Worked with C-level to recruit and staff UX teams.
    • Led design and implementation of reimagined POS kiosks, mobile apps, and integrated digital menu signage for HMSHost brands.
    Technologies: InVision App, Adobe Experience Design (XD), Sketch, Unity, Adobe Experience Manager, Digital Strategy, Product Strategy, UX Strategy, Digital Product Design, Digital Marketing, Intuitive UX Design, UX Research, User Journey Maps, Business Cases, Requirements & Specifications, Heuristic Analysis, Use Case Analysis, User Personas, User Research, Ethnographic Studies, Lean UX, Agile UX, Ad Campaigns, Figma, Axure RP Pro, UXPin, Adobe InDesign, Sitecore, Adobe Photoshop, Unity3D, HTML5, CSS, Web UX, Competitive Strategy, Digital Kiosks, Facebook Open Graph API, Web App UX, Information Architecture (IA), Proprietary CMS, Functional Mapping, Wireframe to Product, Concepting, Wireframing, Animated Prototypes, Art Direction, User Experience (UX), User Journeys, Product Roadmaps, Product Design, Cryptocurrency, Blockchain, Annotated Wireframes, UX Design, User Flows, Responsive Design, Customer Journeys, Mobile Design, Process Mapping, Mobile UX, Web Design, Information Design, Functional Design, Graphic Design, B2C, B2B, High-fidelity Mockups, Mobile App UI, MVP Design, Human-centered Design (HCD), Competitor Analysis & Profiling, Mobile App Design, UI Design, InVision Studio, Adobe Illustrator, HTML, Redesign, Web App UI, Website Redesign, User Interviews, Responsive Web Apps, Responsive Web Design (RWD), Web App Design, User Interface (UI), Scheduling, Android, iOS, Presentation Design, Marketing Design, Digital Marketing Design, Dashboard Design, Data Visualization, High-fidelity Prototypes, Cross-platform UX, Cross-platform, Prototyping, Visual Design, Illustration, Motion Design, Animation, Social Media Apps, Social Media Platforms, Enterprise Application Design, Mobile Apps, Software as a Service (SaaS), Windows App Design, Dashboards, Component Libraries, Websites, Personas, Mobile-first Design, Leadership, System Design, Automotive, Usability Testing, UX Review, Blockchain Platforms, Banking & Finance, 3D, Interviewing, Interviews, Customer Interviews, Research, UI Research, Educational Platform Design, Education Technology (Edtech), Edtech, Content Management Systems (CMS), Webflow, Webflow CMS, UX Audits, Design Sprints, Discovery Workshops, Ideation, Ideation Workshops, Design Thinking, Design Workshops, UX Workshops, Framer Prototyping, UX Flows, Web Portals, Restaurants & Dining, Portal Websites, SaaS Design, eCommerce, Sales Funnel, Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO), CRO, Conversion Rate, Order Management, Funnel Analysis, Funnel Optimization, Progressive Web Applications (PWA), Online Ordering, Conversion, Design Systems, Branding, Rapid Prototyping, User Testing, SaaS, Accessibility, DEI (Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion), UX Leadership, Thought Leadership, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Strategy, Enterprise, Accounting Systems, Data Virtualization, DataViz, Task Flows, Interaction Design (IxD), Industrial Design

  • Principal Digital Strategist

    2010 - 2017
    Infusion
    • Developed high-impact apps and digital marketing programs for the American Idol show that delivered 10X audience conversions.
    • Designed the largest architectural research website and supporting CMS designed to stringent scholarly use cases from MIT and Harvard.
    • Led the establishment of professional UX practice from infancy to maturity in a few years for Infusion.
    • Responsible for over $50 million in UX project revenue through a hands-on, in the trenches, approach where I drove the lion's share of the output and outcomes.
    • Developed internal UX practices and human-centered design methodologies and established internal processes.
    Technologies: Adobe Muse, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Flash, Adobe Illustrator, Digital Strategy, Product Strategy, UX Strategy, Digital Product Design, Digital Marketing, Intuitive UX Design, UX Research, User Journey Maps, Business Cases, Requirements & Specifications, Heuristic Analysis, Use Case Analysis, User Personas, User Research, Ethnographic Studies, Lean UX, Agile UX, Ad Campaigns, Automation, Figma, InVision App, UXPin, Adobe InDesign, Sitecore, Unity3D, HTML5, CSS, Content Strategy, Web UX, Competitive Strategy, Digital Kiosks, Facebook Open Graph API, Web App UX, Information Architecture (IA), Proprietary CMS, Functional Mapping, Wireframe to Product, Concepting, Wireframing, Animated Prototypes, Art Direction, User Experience (UX), User Journeys, Product Roadmaps, Product Design, Annotated Wireframes, UX Design, User Flows, Responsive Design, Customer Journeys, Mobile Design, Process Mapping, Mobile UX, Web Design, Information Design, Functional Design, Graphic Design, B2C, B2B, High-fidelity Mockups, Mobile App UI, MVP Design, Human-centered Design (HCD), Competitor Analysis & Profiling, Mobile App Design, UI Design, InVision Studio, HTML, Redesign, Web App UI, Website Redesign, User Interviews, Responsive Web Apps, Responsive Web Design (RWD), Web App Design, User Interface (UI), Scheduling, Android, iOS, Presentation Design, Marketing Design, Digital Marketing Design, Dashboard Design, Data Visualization, High-fidelity Prototypes, Cross-platform UX, Cross-platform, Prototyping, Visual Design, Illustration, Motion Design, Animation, Social Media Apps, Social Media Platforms, Enterprise Application Design, Mobile Apps, Software as a Service (SaaS), Windows App Design, Dashboards, Component Libraries, Websites, Personas, Mobile-first Design, Leadership, System Design, Automotive, Usability Testing, UX Review, Blockchain Platforms, Gaming Platforms, Banking & Finance, 3D, Interviewing, Interviews, Customer Interviews, Research, UI Research, Educational Platform Design, Education Technology (Edtech), Edtech, Content Management Systems (CMS), Webflow CMS, Webflow, UX Audits, Design Sprints, Discovery Workshops, Ideation, Ideation Workshops, Design Thinking, Design Workshops, UX Workshops, Framer Prototyping, UX Flows, Web Portals, Restaurants & Dining, Portal Websites, SaaS Design, eCommerce, Sales Funnel, Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO), CRO, Conversion Rate, Order Management, Funnel Analysis, Funnel Optimization, Progressive Web Applications (PWA), Online Ordering, Conversion, Design Systems, Branding, Rapid Prototyping, User Testing, SaaS, Accessibility, DEI (Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion), UX Leadership, Thought Leadership, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Strategy, Enterprise, Accounting Systems, Data Virtualization, DataViz, Task Flows, Interaction Design (IxD), Industrial Design
Load more...

Education

  • Bachelor's Degree in Advertising and Marketing
    1978 - 1982
    University of Miami - Miami, Florida, USA
  • Associate's Degree in Art & Design
    1976 - 1978
    Miami Dade College - Miami, Florida, USA

Certifications

  • Patent Number: 7384667
    JUNE 2008 - PRESENT
    U.S. Patent Office

Experience

Location

New York, NY, United States

To view more profiles

Join Toptal
Share it with others
Hire the top 3% of freelance designers TM