Michael Signal
Verified Expert in Design
Designer
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Toptal member since May 13, 2017
Michael is an experienced creative director with over 20 years of industry experience in all aspects of the design process. He's gained his experience by founding a web design agency as well as working for a larger global telco organization as their creative digital lead. Michael has an acute sense of visual design aesthetics and strives for continuous improvement outcomes—this experience has led to his own startup initiatives.
Experience
- Web Design - 20 years
- Creative Direction - 16 years
- Branding - 15 years
- User Experience (UX) - 15 years
- User Interface (UI) - 15 years
- iOS - 10 years
- Visual Design Language - 5 years
Portfolio
Singtel Digital Visual Design Language
Red Rooster Mobile Delivery
Human Ecology Life Brand
Work Experience
Creative Director
ebPearls
- Created functional and beautiful user experiences for web and mobile applications; he bridges user needs and business goals to deliver the most creative and strategic UX and design solutions.
- Served as the creative brains of the company and led the UX and UI team at EB Pearls. Experienced in interaction design (15+ years) and has designed digital products for 1,200+ companies all over the world.
- Made significant changes to the team's morale and quality output in a time of change for the organization.
Founder | Director
Artichoke
- Founded his own interactive agency called Artichoke Design, which has proven to be a successful business for over 16 years.
- Created and led a team that has launched over 300 live sites, countless publications, brands, and mobile applications for innovative businesses.
- Crafted successful visual designs that enhance a user's experience by delivering a unified experience that answers the "why" question.
- Focused his passion on creating new ways people interact with technology. thanks to his ever-growing knowledge within the startup industry.
eCommerce Designer
SHORE SET
- Designed a Shopify store for a holistic surf brand, focusing on creating a visually engaging and user-friendly experience that embodies their brand philosophy.
- Designed a Shopify store for a holistic surf brand, using the results of strategic brand workshops to create a cohesive and impactful online experience.
- Designed a user experience for the website that was deeply rooted in the outcomes of collaborative brand workshops.
Digital Design Director
Geronimo
- Brought digital experiences to life on behalf of DMG. The role covers all touch points from apps, websites, brand, and most importantly the end user experience.
- Helped transform the user experiences of the following clients including Amex, Fox Sports, Red Rooster, Spacenow, Zip, and Sports Where I am.
- Led the growth of the business—becoming the leading new digital agency in Sydney.
Creative Director | Senior Manager of Design and User Experience
Singtel Optus
- Crafted the visual design language of the digital products across Singtel/Optus Digital.
- Encouraged the design team to follow the best engagement practices for the optimum value and return.
- Established the touch points of the organization with a focus on mobile and web.
- Worked remotely with a smaller team in Sydney while I was based in Singapore.
- Built trust and instilled a good design process. Delivering consistently high-quality applications and sites. Worked across multiple large teams for the digital group whilst meeting deadlines.
Senior Designer
Optus
- Crafted the visual design of Klink—a cloud storage file system.
- Mentored and led the design team of GDL on various web and mobile applications.
- Bridged the gap between marketing, UX, product, design, and development.
- Implemented a significant change in the team's morale and quality output.
Digital Cartographer
Lonely Planet
- Digitized analog maps to digital maps for the web.
- Curated slideshows for the web. Designed a website that won numerous awards for its time when the web was evolving.
- Created beautifully designed, easy-to-use mobile apps put the breadth and depth of Lonely Planet's travel content in the palm of your hand.
Education
Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology (Cartography)
RMIT University - Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Skills
Tools
Adobe, Atlassian
Languages
Visual Design Language
Platforms
Mobile, iOS, Figma, Shopify, Android
Other
Visual Design, Information Architecture (IA), Style Guides, Mobile UX, Mobile Web, Apps, UI Style Guides, Creative Direction, Startups, Lean UX, Responsive Web Design (RWD), User Interface (UI), Visual Identity, Interaction Design (IxD), Digital Branding, Graphic Design, Web Design, Design Thinking, User Experience (UX), Ideation, Branding, Digital Design, Web App Design, Web App UI, Web App UX, UX Design, UI Design, User Flows, Prototyping, Design Leadership, Fintech, Social Media Design, Responsive Web Apps, Wireframing, Product Design, SaaS, User Journeys, Ideation Workshops, Adaptive Design, Teams, Customer Experience, OS Design, Experience Design
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