Michael Hairston
User Interface Design

mhairston@gmail.com - http://snowofbutterflies.com


Summary
A skilled UI Designer able to create dynamic web based interfaces for applications and sites that are as engaging and usable as they are maintainable and scalable.

Mine is a unique blend of skills that spans interaction design and usability heuristics to visual design, HTML, CSS and Javascript. I am adept at working within an Agile software development approach valuing team work, iteration and collaboration. I am a self starter who provides unique value to a team by functioning as a bridge between engineering and design, and getting my hands dirty tweaking actual code.

I am looking for challenging opportunities to practice my full range of skills while building great products.


Experience

+ Sermo - User Interface Designer, Cambridge, MA - 2006-2009
Helped design and development the largest online physician community in the world. Regularly tackled a wide variety of tasks, including ideation, user interface design, usability, visual design, HTML, CSS, Javascript, working in both Ruby on Rails and Java environments in an Agile methodology. Developed prototypes as well as researched, evaluated and implemented a new CSS Framework for a major platform rewrite. Founded and curated a UI component library, and mentored developers and designers on best front-end practices.


+ OATSystems - user interface designer, Waltham, MA - 2003-2006
Developed interaction designs, look-and-feel, and client-side behavior for leading RFID supply chain web applications. Refined requirements, outlined behavior, improved usability.  Designed and implemented dynamic AJAX UIs for realtime device and process monitoring.  Gathered user feedback and planned and executed improvements. Information graphics for multiple internal clients.


+ WebCT - User Interface Designer, Lynnfield, MA - 1999-2003
Worked on all aspects of interface design, visual design and HTML for leading e-learning application and associated web sites. Designed navigation systems, forms and page templates. Focused on usability and accessibility of product.  Created interaction designs and prototypes. Also performed image editing, graphics optimization, UI-related bug fixing.


+ Advanced Medical Graphics - Graphic Illustrator, Boston, MA - 1994-1999
Produced artwork and information design for clients in medical  research, including illustrations, graphs, schematics, paste-up, and photography. 


Education
University of Massachusetts, Boston - BA in Art, 1998


Skills
User Interface Design - Wireframing - Prototyping - Accessibility - Information Graphics - Sound Design
HTML/XHTML (hand-coded) - CSS - Javascript - Photoshop - Illustrator - OmniGraffle - svn - bash


References and recent visual samples will be provided upon request.