A decade as an educator prepared me for UX. Here’s how.
About
Teachers, particularly Early Years teachers, are masters at creative thinking. Give us a looming deadline, a screaming child, a worried parent and a classroom full of kids and we will still deliver the goods, with glitter on it.
From digital lesson aids, to physical displays, learning resources to online activities, Visual Design is engrained in education. A teacher, like a designer, aims to make things visually pleasing and easy to use.
Working with students across the globe, with varying needs, I took pride in basing my pedagogy on psychology based research.
My passion for understanding human behaviour is what drove me to retrain in UX Design, a career steeped in human interactions and understanding.
Education is driven by data, to maintain progress and success, a skill that translates across industries.
Teaching is all about collaboration. Working within diverse teams, across fields and talents, collaborating together to create the best outcomes for our clients (the students).
My design process benefits from a decade of training in accessibility needs.
I spent a decade looking after young minds and I cared deeply for those whose development was in my hands.
Having taught in 3 continents I believe my empathy and ability to relate to a diverse group of people is one of my biggest assets on a design team and its reflected in my work ethic and attention to detail.
As an educator we taught active listening skills and appropriate responses. As a UX Researcher we use these to deliver human centred, research-backed design.
I love telling stories. Whether in the classroom or after conducting user interviews.
With the correct storytelling you can captivate and excite the listener’s (user’s) interest, compelling them to take action - picking up a pencil to tell their own story (in the case of young writers) or using your product (in the case of UX).
Even the best laid lesson plans can go awry. UX Design and Education are cyclical, ever-changing and full of problems waiting to be solved.
My interest in art started at a young age as each year for my birthday, my dad would take us to the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition in London.
The Golden Buddha in Bangkok, where I lived for 7 years.
I love exploring new cultures and landscapes, but mostly after 10 years of living in the heat, I love an excuse to wear a big coat.
UX Skills
“Emma is an extremely dedicated designer with a unique ability to engage with users and produce remarkable experiences. She always performs the due diligence needed to develop a deep understanding of the problem and creates intuitive, user-friendly solutions. I have no doubt she will continue to significantly impact her future projects and excel as a UX professional.”
Figma
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Interviewing
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Prototyping
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Storyboards
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User Persona
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Collaboration
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Figma \ Interviewing \ Prototyping \ Storyboards \ User Persona \ Collaboration \
Guerilla Testing
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Responsive Web Design
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Information Architecture
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Style Guides
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HTML + CSS
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Presentation
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Guerilla Testing \ Responsive Web Design \ Information Architecture \ Style Guides \ HTML + CSS \ Presentation /
Projects
My Tennis Wall
September 2024 - PRESENTIn my current role at My Tennis Wall, a new small business in Houston, Texas, I work within a team of owners and stakeholders to develop the company’s client list and the brand’s vision and placing within the fitness and tennis market.
Sole graphic designer and UI designer for our website, booking systems and marketing campaigns.
UX/UI DESIGNER
Eco Kids Adventure, Game and App Developer
July 2024UX RESEARCHER AND UI DESIGNER, GROUP PROJECT
Successfully pitched teams chosen project based on my years teaching and advocating for sustainable practices.
Led adult and child interviews to analyse wants and needs of potential users.
Lead developed of proto persona, presenting to the team.
Worked within a team to sketch and iterate 4 rounds of wireframes and prototyping.
Tested prototype on adult and child users.
Tony’s Place, Website Redesign
May 2024UX RESEARCHER AND UI DESIGNER, GROUP PROJECT
Introduced my team to the chosen Non-Profit.
Communicated with the stakeholders and hosted an interview with Communications Director.
Created and analysed a country wide survey to gain insight into users.
Worked within a team to storyboard, wireframe and build a full redesign of the website.
Write Minded, App Development
April 2024UX RESEARCHER AND UI DESIGNER, GROUP PROJECT
Pitched idea for a social app that connects book lovers to like minded people and events.
Created user flow based on competitor analysis and market research.
Designed the user interface for an number of features including onboarding, making a profiles, event search engine, maps, messaging, and calendar.
Independently worked to develop a high-fidelity mockup.
Eco-School platform launch for Nord Anglia Education’s Global Campus
October 2021- January 2024CONTENT CREATOR AND EDUCATION FACILITATOR
Collaborated with colleagues across the globe as part of an eco-team.
Created curriculum based content on sustainability for online platform accessed by 80,000+ students globally.
Delivered presentations of content and promoted online participation.
Chaired Zoom calls with students and company directors and stakeholders to analyse strategic plans.
‘Story Sack’ Webpages for Nord Anglia Education’s Global Campus
September - December 2020CONTENT CREATOR AND EDUCATION FACILITATOR
Initiated market research of users and competitors and analysed success points.
Recorded content and created resources and planning documents accessed by 84+ schools around the world.
Experience
UX/UI Designer
My Tennis Wall, Houston, Texas
September 2024 - Present
Helped with the launch of new business September 2024
Chief UI designer for website updates and development
Design all promotional material
Develop company voice through promotional campaigns
Drive revenue and memberships through targeted ads
Design booking system for customers online accessibility
Educator
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Pre K Through Grade 12 teacher
August 2021 - July 2024Co-chaired Equality, Diversity and Inclusion board for 1000+ school population
Established an eco-club for students, hosting monthly events for 500+ students
Created 180 reports and conducted quarterly meetings with stakeholders
Mentored trainee teachers with 100% success rate.
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Pre K- Grade 2
August 2018 - July 2021Created curriculum content for the company's online teaching platform reaching 84 schools worldwide with a 70% completion rate.
Worked within a multidisciplinary team of specialists to create individualised education plans for neurodiverse students.
Hosted workshops and presentations for stakeholders on company curriculum and early childhood development.
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Pre K- Grade 5 teacher
August 2014 - July 2018Organised televised event, installing a community fridge on school grounds to combat food waste.
Co-chaired rigorous evaluation for the Council of International Schools accreditation with 100% pass rate.
Implemented and trained staff on new data and assessment schemes for a school of 300.