Alan Spears, Designer in Charleston, SC, United States
Alan is available for hire
Hire Alan

Alan Spears

Verified Expert  in Design

Designer

Location
Charleston, SC, United States
Toptal Member Since
September 10, 2019

Since 2012, Alan has been working with companies and clients to design well-executed brands, websites, and applications. He's tested conversion rates and agonized over typography, hierarchy, and accessibility. Alan also has experience in building small, passionate teams that have achieved some incredible results along the way.

UI DesignWeb DesignVisual DesignUX DesignBrandingProduct DesignInVisionSketchPhotoshop CCIllustrator CCAdobe Experience Design (XD)InVision StudioPrincipleiOSMobile ApplicationsVet Web

Portfolio

Work Experience

Product Designer

2018 - 2019
Camping World
  • Created a cross-platform design system for the core brand, including a library of elements and interactions, plus a central repository of design and prototyping styles.
  • Audited the current design management system to make the revision and asset-management processes more efficient and effective—including requirement defining, prototyping, and internal testing.
  • Oversaw the redesign of core web elements including search results, product inventory cards, user account, and single-sign-on.
  • Designed and prototyped two Camping World native applications.
Technologies: GitHub, Jira, Slack, Hotjar, Optimizely, Principle, InVision, Abstracts, InVision Studio, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Sketch

Art Director

2016 - 2019
SOUTH
  • Demolished silos to build a culture of camaraderie by building and managing cross-functional teams on both client-based projects and internal products.
  • Directed the creative vision and design of projects and products, including the management of in-house and freelance designers, illustrators, and photographers.
  • Led the creative discovery process, strategy development, conceptual exploration, and client presentations.
  • Put forth an initiative of an internal design critique, convening designers and stakeholders in an intermittent feedback loop and implemented new design process tools, including asset management and revision history control.
  • Coordinated with the other senior team in project scope development, budget, timelines, and technology development, as well as the acquisition, onboarding, growth, and retention of the creative team and contractors.
Technologies: GitHub, Slack, Trello, Jira, Abstracts, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, InVision Studio, InVision, Sketch

Product Designer

2013 - 2015
SOUTH
  • Blended science and function with form and led the user experience, visual design and functional prototyping for internal and client-based web applications, websites, and products.
  • Partnered with internal account strategy and conversion teams to design, test, and revise products to increase user engagement and conversion.
  • Incorporated user research, brand strategy, visual design, prototyping, testing, and development coordination into a design—always with an eye toward the full product development lifecycle.
  • Facilitated the design and development of product-specific experience language, style guides for both designers and engineers.
Technologies: Google Optimize, Google Tag Manager, Google Analytics, GitHub, Jira, Basecamp, Trello, Slack, Crazy Egg, Usertesting.com, Hotjar, Optimizely, Principle, InVision, Abstracts, InVision Studio, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Sketch

Product Designer

2012 - 2014
CodeLynx
  • Led the user experience and visual design of software products for external clients.
Technologies: VersionOne, Visual Studio, GitHub, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop
2011 - 2013

Master of Arts Degree in Interactive Media

Elon University - Elon, NC, USA

2007 - 2011

Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business, Leadership

University of North Carolina Wilmington - Wilmington, NC, USA

Collaboration That Works

How to Work with Toptal

Toptal matches you directly with global industry experts from our network in hours—not weeks or months.

1

Share your needs

Discuss your requirements and refine your scope in a call with a Toptal domain expert.
2

Choose your talent

Get a short list of expertly matched talent within 24 hours to review, interview, and choose from.
3

Start your risk-free talent trial

Work with your chosen talent on a trial basis for up to two weeks. Pay only if you decide to hire them.

Top talent is in high demand.

Start hiring