Karim Balaa, Designer in Ottawa, ON, Canada
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Karim Balaa

Verified Expert  in Design

Designer

Location
Ottawa, ON, Canada
Toptal Member Since
October 8, 2015

For the past decade, Karim has been working in the industry and that combined with his innate eye for design means he can bring a lot to the table. His main expertise lies in UI/UX and product/interaction design. Karim likes to think of himself as a problem solver who carefully chooses the best tool to implement the right strategy, design, and interaction for his client.

Product DesignResponsiveWireframingAdobe IllustratorAdobe PhotoshopSketchUser FlowsAdobe DreamweaverAdobe After EffectsWeb DesigneCommerceApp UIWeb UXUX Flows

Portfolio

Work Experience

Freelance UI/UX and Product Designer

2006 - PRESENT
Fresh Contrast
  • Worked with several startups to help them grow while establishing a strong design foundation behind the company.
  • Designed wireframes to help establish what the website/product should do and behave.
  • Worked as a visual and interaction designer to help bring wireframes to full visual designs and any interactive pieces.
  • Created designs as a UI/UX designer with Nokia's digital marketing team.
Technologies: Adobe After Effects, Adobe Illustrator, InVision, Sketch, Adobe Photoshop

Senior Web Designer

2013 - 2015
Halogen Software
  • Redesigned the corporate website and online brand.
  • Designed custom landing pages and ran A/B tests to help figure out what works best for our audience.
  • Designed a series of banner ads.
  • Created social media assets to promote our content.
  • Wireframed and sketched out new ideas for web apps.
Technologies: Adobe Illustrator, Sketch, Adobe Photoshop

Senior Designer

2012 - 2013
bv02
  • Redesigned the corporate website.
  • Fleshed out wireframes to full fidelity visual designs.
  • Designed a web presence for a large museum with several templates and functionality.
  • Created strategies for new clients to help identify areas that we could improve and implement meaningful digital solutions.
  • Worked on a large insurance company's web presence by redesigning the corporate site as well as several microsites.
Technologies: Adobe After Effects, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Sketch

Creative Director

2009 - 2013
Mediavanta
  • Designed several websites for small- to medium-sized businesses and helped identify their personas and goals.
Technologies: Adobe After Effects, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop

Senior Designer

2008 - 2009
Launchfire Interactive
  • Created advertising gaming web campaigns for Fortune 500 companies.
  • Worked with Dell and Microsoft to create a campaign to help create a buzz around their new product by creating a social web-based game.
Technologies: Adobe After Effects, Adobe Photoshop
2004 - 2006

Diploma Degree in Interactive Multimedia

Algonquin College - Ottawa Canada