Publication
Understanding Design Systems and Patterns
https://www.toptal.com/designers/ux/design-system
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Darcie G. Fitzpatrick
Verified Expert in Design
Designer
Seattle, WA, United States
Toptal member since May 15, 2018
Bio
Darcie is a design director supporting innovative teams, creative organizations, and human-centric founders with hands-on service design, brand and visual identity, strategic product direction, and facilitative leadership. She brings 15+ years of experience across research, UX, product strategy, and digital delivery, and is available for fractional and contract engagements.
Portfolio
VO|CO | Rebranding and Collateral Development
Visual DesignArt DirectionBrandingBrainstormingMood BoardsLeadership
Jenn | User Journey and UI Development
UX StrategyUX FlowsVisual DesignWorkshop FacilitationPersonasLeadership
Experience
- Leadership - 12 years
- User Research - 12 years
- User Experience (UX) - 12 years
- Product Strategy - 12 years
- InVision - 7 years
- Sketch - 7 years
- Minimum Viable Product (MVP) - 7 years
- Persona Development - 7 years
Tools
- Sketch
- InVision
Work Experience
User Experience Practice Lead
2018 - 2020
Red Hat, Open Innovation Labs
- Led remote and traveling teams for public sector engagements with a focus on DevOps culture, agile methodologies, and cloud-native processes.
- Drove user experience design of software applications plus various internal and external design initiatives including conferences.
- Worked directly with customers for enablement on software development best practices with a focus on open culture and open technology.
Technologies: Agile Transformation, Product Design, UX Leadership, Open Source, Design Thinking, Agile
Principal Designer
2016 - 2018
Self-employed | Consulting
- Worked with tech companies and startups to help validate and define user experience strategy, interface design, and branding plus marketing needs, guiding collaboration, research, strategy, and full-stack product design execution.
- Led projects plus managed resourcing and scheduling, workshop facilitation, design thinking, creative strategy, user research, digital marketing, UX design, prototyping and usability testing, print collateral, brand development, and web design.
- Collaborated with clients including Byton, Roofus App, Bixel Exchange, The MLS, Humanity Studio, Aaron Brumer & Associates, FOX Broadcasting, VO|CO drink, and more.
Technologies: Google Docs, Slack, CSS, HTML, Axure, InVision, Sketch
Senior Product Designer
2015 - 2016
Pivotal Labs
- Spearheaded design projects embedded in customer engagement teams for proprietary software application development.
- Focused on agile iterative process and extreme programming for growth and innovation of enterprise business solutions.
- Worked alongside cross-functional teams to modernize software development processes through cloud technology, TDD, and CI/CD.
Technologies: Slack, Zeplin, Axure, InVision, Sketch
Lead User Interface Designer
2013 - 2015
Contract | Consulting
- Embedded in UX design and special project teams for product and business development of Edmunds.com online and mobile platforms.
- Pitched and led a project for developing the branding, website, and marketing collateral for ReplyToSome software for Outlook users.
- Collaborated directly with founders during the early stages of product development to establish a Beta user experience and branding for the online education platform, HotshotLegal.com.
- Worked directly with the founder in the startup phases of business to establish branding, website, and collateral for a land-use consulting firm.
- Collaborated with the digital production design team at Fox Broadcasting for support of TV show launches and cross-channel seasonal media buys.
- Guided various design thinking workshops through business development of real estate crowdfunding platform AssetAvenue.com.
Technologies: Google Docs, Apple Keynote, CSS, HTML, Slack, Jira, Axure, InVision, Sketch
Workshop Facilitator
2014 - 2014
General Assembly
- Pitched, developed and instructed design workshop for General Assembly students.
- Featured traditional graphic design principles for the web designer as a topic for the session.
- Expanded participants' knowledge to untapped areas of influence.
Technologies: Google Docs, Apple Keynote, CSS, HTML
Design Director
2012 - 2013
Something Massive
- Joined the company during early-stage growth to streamline and implement the design process including hiring the team and liaising with clients.
- Provided cross-channel, online, and mobile user experiences and campaigns for entertainment + CPG clients as well as social community management with exclusive daily content.
- Managed a team and provided project resourcing and hiring, process design, digital marketing, client pitching, workshop facilitation, campaign strategy, creative direction, UX design, visual design, web design, social media, and brand development.
Technologies: Apple Keynote, CSS, HTML, Flash
Senior Art Director
2011 - 2012
POSSIBLE
- Contributed to Mitsubishi Cars North America, a cross-channel winter digital campaign for online and mobile as well as social outreach and content.
- Led projects and provided digital marketing, workshop facilitation, campaign strategy, concept development, creative direction, photography production, UX design, visual design, web design, social media, and brand development.
- Partnered the campaign launch with Weather Underground, leading to an increase in sales on AWD vehicles.
Technologies: Apple Keynote, CSS, HTML, Flash
Design Manager
2008 - 2011
Mirum Shopper (formerly Lunchbox)
- Joined during a period of rapid growth when the company was named Lunchbox, focused on exclusive marketing products offered through partnerships with Walmart.com.
- Provided customer engagement and user experiences for award-winning, 360° online, mobile, and in-store CPG campaigns and eCommerce platforms including media buys, social outreach, and exclusive video content.
- Managed a team (four reports, freelancers) and provided project leadership.
Technologies: Apple Keynote, CSS, HTML, Flash
Art Director and Web Designer
2004 - 2009
Publishing & Entertainment Consultant
- Provided a range of services for clients including Robb Report, Loyalty Creative, E! Networks, ZAJI, Good Housekeeping, and US Weekly.
- Designed advertising and digital marketing.
- Led projects and provided creative direction.
- Designed identity and branding.
- Concepted and designed websites, page layouts, and print design.
- Pitched ideas to clients.
- Produced videos and photo shoots.
Technologies: HTML, Flash
Other Experience
Education
2006 - 2007
Coursework in Production of Film & TV, Screenwriting, Motion Design
UCLA Extenstion - Los Angeles, CA
2005 - 2006
Certificate in Acting Technique & Scene Study
American Academy of Dramatic Arts - New York, NY
1995 - 2001
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications (Advertising and Graphic Design)
Washington State University - Pullman, WA
Skills
Tools
Adobe Creative Suite, InVision App, Sketch, InVision, Flash, Apple Keynote, Google Docs, Jira, Slack, Zeplin, Figma Make, Claude
Platforms
Axure, Figma, Mobile
Languages
HTML, CSS
Other
Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Visual Design, UX Design, User Flows, Lean UX, Responsive UI, Art Direction, Web Applications, Web App Design, UI Design, B2B, Enterprise Software, eCommerce Design, Leadership, Discovery Workshops, Ethnographic Interviews, Qualitative Research, User-centered Design (UCD), User Interviews, UX Research, Research, Task Flows, Stakeholder Interviews, Branding, Product Design, Usability Testing, Graphic Design, Persona Development, Prototyping, Responsive Design, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), User Research, Product Strategy, Web Design, Responsive Layout, Product Management, Pair Programming, DevOps, Agile Delivery, Machine Learning, Brainstorming, Mobile First, UX Strategy, UX Flows, Workshop Facilitation, Mood Boards, Logo Design, System Design, Prepress, Personas, Agile, Design Thinking, Open Source, UX Leadership, Agile Transformation, ChatGPT, MVP Design, Design Direction
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