Chris Mardelli, Designer in Los Angeles, CA, United States
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Chris Mardelli

Verified Expert  in Design

Product Designer

Location
Los Angeles, CA, United States
Toptal Member Since
October 15, 2019

Chris is a designer who's been designing for over a decade (longer if you count the sketches he got yelled at for making in class). Having started in advertising—at the core of his design work—there has always been the understanding that businesses have goals, strategies, and the need for growth. Chris has a breadth of experience in industries that is hard to rival and continues to learn and grow every day.

Portfolio

Work Experience

Head of Design | Advisor

2022 - PRESENT
Compensa
  • Delivered comprehensive design, strategy, and advisory services to a workers' compensation startup.
  • Guided its product definition process and prepared the groundwork for successful fundraising or acquisition.
  • Advised on strategic partnerships, acquisition, and roadmap.
Technologies: Figma

Design Lead (UX, Product, and Team)

2007 - PRESENT
Freelance & Design Consulting
  • Worked with clients to design better products and experiences. Industries and applications include digital consumer products, social media, eCommerce, fintech, human resources and development, B2B/B2C, cryptocurrency, and more.
  • Led design thinking and leadership within organizations and teams.
  • Built cohesive and integrated design teams and companies for growth.
  • Implemented holistic strategic business design and design thinking within companies.
Technologies: Pencil & Paper, Figma, InVision, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite

Design Lead

2021 - 2022
BCG Digital Ventures
  • Worked for a large cap lending company (NDA), directing the design strategy for validating a startup embedded within a major lending corp. Managed designers, researchers, and the broader team, developing a strategic roadmap and a robust prototype.
  • Played a pivotal role in design leadership and execution at Spruce by H&R Block. Collaborated with cross-functional teams to create H&R Block's new neobank product and had a successful launch with 160,000+ users acquired in the first year.
  • Collaborated synergistically with designers and integrated teams at Prudential to build an innovative financial and retirement planning product.
Technologies: Figma

Design Lead

2020 - 2020
BCG Gamma
  • Collaborated closely with the head of product to define and design a roadmap based on user research.
  • Helped design and implement features and functionality that significantly increased product efficacy and usage.
  • Oversaw user research initiatives, one-on-ones, consolidation, surfacing, and actionable use of research.
Technologies: Trello, Airtable, InVision, Sketch, Figma, Pencil & Paper

UX Design Lead

2018 - 2018
Tone It Up (Deutsch)
  • Worked on the app landing pages designed to convert users into paid subscribers within the TIU ecosystem.
  • Designed the experience for both mobile and desktop landing pages.
  • Created the experience for an administrative portal for managing subscriptions, support tickets, and discount codes.
  • Developed user flows and worked directly with the client pitching the overall execution of the sites.
  • Worked with a visual designer to implement wireframes and finalize the designs.
  • Provided annotated wireframes for the team and client.
Technologies: Adobe Experience Design (XD), InVision, Sketch

Design Lead (Product and UX Design)

2018 - 2018
Fleurish
  • Served as the lead designer which entailed involvement with a fair amount of the business: branding, logo, website, marketing, sales collateral, and primarily product design, and research.
  • Worked with the team to understand user research and create a roadmap of features and functionality.
  • Designed user flows and screens, taken from sketches to final assets for handoff to the developers.
  • Managed the design feedback from all stakeholders and team members (product management, engineering, etc) in an Agile environment.
  • Implemented the first version of the product with the team, designed the core functionality, user flows, and worked on the feature roadmap and priorities.
  • Conducted user research, solicited feedback, provided support/customer service, and analyzed the data collected.
  • Took initial concepts to more concrete functionality and from low- to high-fidelity assets.
  • Worked closely with the development team to provide finished assets and annotations to seamlessly integrate with their workflow.
  • Created and designed the logo, branding, and began the foundations of a design and brand system.
  • Designed marketing and sales presentations, graphics, and collateral.
Technologies: Pencil & Paper, InVision, Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch

Design Consultant

2017 - 2017
Zen
  • Consulted on the design and experience for a consumer social media platform built within a blockchain ecosystem.
  • Designed infographics, marketing collateral, and imagery for a fundraising campaign.
  • Reviewed and recommended an application of design and design thinking to the product, systems, and fundraising.
  • Designed a campaign landing page layout.
  • Wrote and edited copy from a user experience perspective.
Technologies: HTML, CSS, Microsoft PowerPoint, Pencil & Paper, Sketch, Adobe Illustrator

Design Lead

2016 - 2016
Awedio
  • Designed the experience and interface for an app showcasing robust technology in applying soundtracks to videos.
  • Created sketches, wireframes, and high-fidelity mockups of the interface and user experience.
  • Designed unique and easy to use controls and user interface elements. Dynamic enough for prosumers but simple enough for consumers.
  • Designed user flows and worked on user research with each iteration.
Technologies: Pencil & Paper, Adobe Illustrator, InVision, Sketch

Head of UX and Design

2015 - 2015
Rally
  • Oversaw user experience design and design implementation within the product and across company touch-points.
  • Designed user flows, journeys, sketches, wireframes, and mockups.
  • Conducted user research and design feedback with stakeholders (marketing, communications, engineering).
  • Worked with visual designer to create finalized assets and annotated user experience and screens for handoff to developers.
Technologies: Pencil & Paper, Adobe Creative Suite, InVision, Adobe Illustrator
2009 - 2012

Juris Doctor Degree in Law and Entrepreneurship

Pepperdine School of Law - Los Angeles, CA, USA

2002 - 2006

Bachelor of Science Degree in Business and Advertising, Minor Cinema

USC | University of Southern California - Los Angeles, CA, USA

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