Case studies from a strategic user experience designer committed to conceptualizing, designing, and prototyping interactive systems that satisfy both business objectives and users' needs through a wide variety of user-centered design activities

1. apv6@cornell.edu
User Experience Designer

2. 2
2Ashley P. Vernon apv6@cornell.edu
(267) 760-2616
For the last 3 years, I have acted as a User Experience
Consultant with CSC’s Technology Consulting organization. I
have familiarity in the ecommerce, finance, healthcare, and
aerospace & defense industries, with a primary focus on the
information architecture and user interface of systems.
In 2010, I graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. in
Information Science, and a B.S in Communication. With a
focus on Human-Centered Systems, I am knowledgeable in
both user interface design, and user research and testing.
I have experience developing and evolving wireframes
during interactive workshops as collaboration between
client, business, and technical teams. I have also created
interaction models that synchronize business requirements
with user needs. I am a hard working and user-focused
consulting professional with strong analytical and
communication skills.
KEY SKILLS
IA, ID, UI, & UX Design
Usability Testing
Requirements Gathering
Time Management
SPECIALIZED TOOLS
iRise ★★★
Axure ★★☆
Morae ★★☆
Omnigraffle ★★☆
Balsamiq ★☆☆
Justinmind ★☆☆
Visio ★☆☆
About Me.

3. 3
3Ashley P. Vernon apv6@cornell.edu
(267) 760-2616
Case Studies.
I have pulled together representative work from a client project and an internal project
that I have worked on recently, in order to demonstrate the quality of my deliverables in
the fields of Interface Design, Interaction Design, Information Architecture, and User
Experience.
Oct 2010 – Oct 2011
Redesign and modernization of a book,
video, and music distributor’s ordering
system.
Good example of wire-framing, interface
design, interaction design, information
architecture, and user experience.
Feb 2012 – Apr 2012
Creation and design of a mobile
application for concurrent use at a
specific conference.
Good example of mobile interface
design, interaction design, and user
experience.
Ecommerce Site TBSC Mobile

4. 4
4Ashley P. Vernon apv6@cornell.edu
(267) 760-2616
Ecommerce Site. PROJECT NAME
*name withheld*
COMPANY
*name withheld*
THE CHALLENGE
As one of the largest
B2B distributors of
books, videos, and music
media, this company
needed a new
ecommerce platform
which would allow
several of their current
systems to be
consolidated into one
unified web ordering
system.
Final Result of Homepage

5. 5
5Ashley P. Vernon apv6@cornell.edu
(267) 760-2616
Ecommerce Site.
In the 12 months that I worked with them, I
was responsible for:
The various features and functionalities for
this project were separated into different
releases. I was the user experience
support for at least 5 releases, and was
responsible for about 150 wireframes. I had
to keep separate wireframes for each
release and update them accordingly.
 Maintaining a robust interaction
model featuring fully navigable
wireframes
 Methodically tracking client requests
and changes to the wireframes
 Creating and maintaining hierarchical
structures of the screen architecture
 Assisting in the guidance provided to
the off-shore development team to
deliver the coded interface
Search Wireframe

6. 6
6Ashley P. Vernon apv6@cornell.edu
(267) 760-2616
Ecommerce Site.
THE PROCESS
My time on the project began with a
meeting to review the existing interaction
model developed in iRise.
For the first month, I worked in conjunction
with a senior UX practitioner, and a
Creative Director. Together we would clean
up the interaction model and make updates
to the pages. Modifications I specifically
made included inserting approved
graphics. I also mocked up several
calendar display concepts.
Search Wireframe
Calendar Wireframe

7. 7
7Ashley P. Vernon apv6@cornell.edu
(267) 760-2616
Ecommerce Site.
THE PROCESS
When we started working on a new major
release, we held workshops with the client;
they would explain the business rules and
requirements for certain features. Because
we were working on different releases with
different features & functionalities, a
separate iRise interaction model had to be
created and updated for each release.
In time, I was able to start independently
designing pages. For example, with very
little direction, I interpreted a lot of detailed
hand-written notes on printed screenshots
to produce a set of pages for a feature.
Publication Wireframe
Catalog Wireframe

8. 8
8Ashley P. Vernon apv6@cornell.edu
(267) 760-2616
Ecommerce Site.
THE PROCESS This was the process for many features. As
the process progressed, I matured the
wireframes to reflect approved creative
vision, advanced understanding of
business design, user parameters, and
navigation. I played a critical role in
supporting business discovery workshops;
the client’s expectation grew to rely on
seeing wireframes that illustrate business
direction, the impact of workflow, and
business rules.
When the new release started moving at a
faster pace, I maintained the wireframe
statuses in a tracking log. The pace also
required me to support multiple, parallel
business work streams. At times I had to
produce and track changes to wireframes
for 4 business analysts.
The project typically followed this pattern:
 Client & Business Analysts jointly
provide business needs &
requirements for a feature
 I mock up new wireframes to
conceptualize the feature
 Wireframe is internally reviewed,
revisions are made as necessary
 Workshop held to review wireframe
with client; revisions are made as
necessary. My screens were paired
with the applicable use case, UML
drawing, functional specifications,
and object model to be handed off
 Specified screens are treated with a
visual design by the Creative Director

9. 9
9Ashley P. Vernon apv6@cornell.edu
(267) 760-2616
Ecommerce Site.
This project also allowed me to attempt
information architecture. I was asked to
create a site map for the new release. But
we soon learned that a site map would not
meet the client’s or developer’s needs. This
site map evolved into several hierarchical
structures of the screens.
The hierarchical structure gave the client
stakeholders a high-level understanding of
the site’s organization and the screen
relationships. The structure gave the
developers a visual of what navigation was
available to the user from certain pages.
The developers also found the hierarchical
structure extremely helpful when
attempting to add in the breadcrumbs.
*The content has been blurred out for confidentiality*
Hierarchical Structure
Hierarchical Structure
Hierarchical Structure

10. 10
10Ashley P. Vernon apv6@cornell.edu
(267) 760-2616
Ecommerce Site. THE RESULT
I had major impact on the
success of a release’s
design deliverables. My
interaction model and
hierarchical structure
were heavily relied upon
by downstream technical,
data, and test teams who
would remain working on
the project long after my
phase was finished.
The result was a new
web ordering system with
increased functionality,
an improved web
experience, and
streamlined business
processes.
Final Result of Search Results

11. 11
11Ashley P. Vernon apv6@cornell.edu
(267) 760-2616
TBSC Mobile – CSC PROJECT NAME
TBSC Mobile
COMPANY
CSC
THE CHALLENGE
Looking to make the
annual Technology and
Business Solutions
Conference (TBSC)
more interactive, CSC’s
Leading Edge Forum
(LEF) desired to create a
mobile application that
would allow conference
participants to view
informational conference
material, rate and leave
comments about
sessions, and connect
with other conference
attendees.

12. 12
12Ashley P. Vernon apv6@cornell.edu
(267) 760-2616
TBSC Mobile – CSC
In the 2 months that I worked on the
project, I:
This project involved designing interfaces
and interactions for conference and
personal agendas, session and exhibitor
details, and activity within the community.
As the sole user experience support, I
created and maintained over 30
wireframes.
 Created and maintained an iRise
interaction model from conception
through implementation
 Worked with stakeholders in an
iterative fashion to develop and refine
the interaction model
Home Wireframe
Agenda Wireframe

13. 13
13Ashley P. Vernon apv6@cornell.edu
(267) 760-2616
THE PROCESS
My time on the project began with a group
meeting, where I was briefed on the
business needs & objectives, and the basic
required functionality of the mobile
application.
Use cases and use diagrams had already
been started, as well as rough sketches of
the potential layout. I was tasked to make
progress on an iRise interaction design,
before the team presented anything to the
stakeholders.
After internally reviewing the use case
narratives and diagrams, examining
Apple’s user interface guidelines, and
researching mobile design examples, I
began creating screens.
TBSC Mobile – CSC
Profile WireframeActivity Wireframe
Interact WireframeDetails Wireframe

14. 14
14Ashley P. Vernon apv6@cornell.edu
(267) 760-2616
THE PROCESS
I reviewed my screens with the team, and
they gave their feedback. They found my
visuals a very productive way to evaluate
the screen elements and the interactions.
In fact, the plan changed from reviewing
the written use cases with the
stakeholders, to instead reviewing just my
wireframes with the stakeholders. The
team thought this route would be more
effective, and improve our ability to collect
feedback and revise the process flows.
TBSC Mobile – CSC
Many iterative meetings were held with the
stakeholders to ask clarifying questions
and verify our assumptions about the
screens. These meetings resulted in
updated design decisions and periodically
new requirements.
I also worked with a visual designer to get
appropriate mobile images, and
conceptualize the branding.
Once the wireframes were agreed upon,
the interaction model and visual designs
were then handed over to the development
team for implementation and testing.

15. 15
15Ashley P. Vernon apv6@cornell.edu
(267) 760-2616
TBSC Mobile – CSC THE RESULT
My wireframes and
interaction design laid
the groundwork for
finalized product.
The result was a
functional mobile
application for
conference participants.
Version 1.0.3 is available
on Apple’s App Store.
“It was incredibly easy to use the TBSC app on my
iPad to see where to go for my next breakout
session…The applications were very rich, very
mature, and easy to navigate.” – A conference attendee
Final AgendaFinal Home

16. 16
16Ashley P. Vernon apv6@cornell.edu
(267) 760-2616
Additional Experience.
FINANCIAL INDUSTRY PUBLIC SECTORUSABILITY TESTING
Created an interactive
prototype in Axure for a
testing solution by
integrating the team’s
business requirements
and input from client
representatives.
Helped assess the
usability of a medication
management system by
helping write a Usability
Test Plan. Also ran pilot
usability tests using Morae,
and presented findings.
Responsible for building
an iRise interaction model
representing a web portal
for obtaining travel
permits. I later assisted
with the quality assurance
of the web solution.
HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY DEFENSE INDUSTRYUSER RESEARCH
Created an iRise
interaction model for an
employee benefits portal.
Worked closely with visual
designer to incorporate
visual design.
While taking several
human-computer
interaction courses, I
gathered users’ attitudes
on interfaces through
surveys, interviews, focus
groups, and usability tests.
As an intern for a leading
defense company, I
developed approximately
15 mockups of
applications.

17. 17
17Ashley P. Vernon apv6@cornell.edu
(267) 760-2616
Currently… LOCATION
Philadelphia, PA
PHONE
(267) 760-2616
EMAIL
apv6@cornell.edu
I am currently continuing my role as a user experience
consultant for CSC by working on user interface designs for
client projects.
Nevertheless, I am looking for permanent work as a mid-
level user experience designer. I am interested in user-
focused companies that provide the opportunity to work with
real end-users, conduct user research, and design user
interfaces through wireframes and interaction models.
I am also eager to work with and learn from more senior
user experience professionals.

18. THANKS
FOR VISITING.
18
18Ashley P. Vernon apv6@cornell.edu
(267) 760-2616