Rick Rodriguez

Senior UX Designer, Interactive Design

RickRodriguez

New York, NY

To provide expertise within the graphic design arena for a creatively progressive company that will allow me to infuse my unique blend of proven experience & innovative passion for design.

Work History

  • Senior UX Designer
    Jersey City, NJ
    Sep 2011 - Present
    Quidsi, Inc.
  • Interactive Designer
    Las Vegas, NV
    Mar 2011 - Sep 2011
    SK+G Advertising

    • Designs intuitive website user inteface (UI) solutions for clients within the national Resort & Leisure industry namely ARIA Resort & Casino, MGM Resorts International, Tropicana Hotel, City Center & Pinnacle Properties.

    • Creates in-depth user experience (UX) and information architecture (IA) documents for development team implementation

    • Executes designed graphics per client style guide for targeted email communications, static banner & rich media ad space

  • Interactive Media Designer / Co-Founder
    Los Angeles, CA
    Dec 2002 - Present
    Soulfire Interactive Media Group

    • Directs all project branding & marketing strategies based on design requirements and established style guide.

    • Creates user interface design graphics based on brand style guide requirements, optimizing files for online use.

    • Plans information architecture (IA) and User Experience (UX) strategies for interactive projects based on client requests.

    • Proficient in developing initial design proofs and page prototypes in CSS and XHTML for online review

    • Works with web developers to maintain graphic consistency from approved designs to front-end development pages.

    • Skilled in W3C standards compliance (CSS/XHTML, Accessibility), Search Engine Optimization (Meta data, Keywords, Friendly URL's, Targeted Content) & Content Management (CMS) use.

    • Serves as primary client liaison leading presentations & team discussions through project life-cycle.

  • Instructor, Part-Time
    Santa Monica, CA
    Jan 2006 - Dec 2008
    The Art Institute of California, Los Angeles

    • Provided instruction in the Career Development course specifically for the Interactive Media Design department as program specific professional instructor.

    • Instructed classes of 15-25 students during 11 week college quarters as part of the required program course.

    • Prepared & presented lesson plans in accordance with educational, grading and student reporting requirements.

    • Presented students with industry professionals in the field of web design & development for open class discussions. Also, integrated real-world industry lessons and information for the basis of course materials being taught.

  • Lead Interactive Designer
    Hollywood, CA
    Oct 2001 - Nov 2002
    Iventa Corp

    • Designed website graphics & video content for major music record labels such as Atlantic & Immortal Records and recording artists to include Metallica, Kid Rock & The Bangles.

    • Conceptualized & led design of web projects for national promotional campaigns such as TOMY Coproration, Metallica and Pam Anderson.

    • Managed and oversaw a creative group of 3 web designers & developers in daily project tasks and duties towards website projects in HTML and Flash.


Education

Qualifications


  • Web Skills

    Proficient practical knowledge of software technologies to include:
    Adobe Creative Suite
    • Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Flash (Advanced)
    • InDesign, Premiere, AfterEffects (Basic)

    Microsoft Office
    • Word, Excel, Powerpoint (Advanced)

    Apple iWork
    • Keynote, Pages, Numbers

    Operating Systems
    • Mac OSX (Preferred)
    • Windows 7

    Proficient working knowledge of web technologies to include:
    • XHTML, CSS (Intermediate)
    • PHP, MySQL, XML, Javascript (Basic)

    Highly experienced & involved participant of social media technologies for business & online marketing purposes to include:
    • Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn

    Knowledge & application of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Online Marketing techniques for organic search result growth on major engines (Google, Yahoo, etc.)


  • Experience

    8+ years of independent contract experience executing the responsibilities of business ownership & employee management.

    8+ years of focused application of skills in creative direction, user interface design, content creation & project management

    Highly effective client relation, presentation and public speaking capability

    Highly proficient in print design & pre-press file preparation for large run print products to include, but not limited to:
    Business Cards, Brochures, Postcards, Envelopes, Presentation Folders, Manuals, Outdoor Banners & Advertisement Products.

Accomplishments


  • • Selected member of the AICLA Interactive Media Design Department Professional Advisory Council (PAC) for curriculum review

    • 2007 AICLA Alumni of the Year Award recipient for contributions towards the Interactive Media Design program

    • 6 time recipient of "Best of Quarter Award" at the Art Institute of California, Los Angeles for excellence in quarterly project work.

    • Honorable Military Service - 4-time recipient of the US Air Force Achievement Medal for service & duty performance

    • Successfully completed the 25th Los Angeles Marathon on 3/21/2010