I have worn many hats over the last 5 years working in software. I've gained valuable insights from working in financial analytics, data analytics, business analytics, QA analytics and now as a designer. These experiences have given me the expertise to foster effective collaboration between development teams, executive members, marketing and business stakeholders. More importantly, I am able to develop a deep understanding of the user needs and aligning those needs with business goals.
Currently, I design tools and web pages for USAA's Advice Center. These tools and web pages provide USAA's more than 13 million members and their families with help, resources and information to understand and make important life & financial decisions. My design work has contributed to making these resources more easily accessible to USAA's members.
In addition to my design work, I have lead the creation of several animated explainer videos to make complex insurance and financial topics more easily digestible and appealing. Along with this, I designed and created many infographics to illustrate complex data. These infographic designs were used in many advice articles published in USAA's Advice Resource Library.
Prior to becoming a designer, I worked in various analytical fields. The most recent being my role as QA Analyst Lead from 2020-2021 ArganoaMind (aMind Solutions at the time). It was during this time that I developed a deeper understanding for the interconnections between design teams, development teams and stakeholders. I was also able to have a much more substantial impact on the design of a product as I was the one ensuring what was being developed functioned properly, was designed according to user needs, and met stakeholder and business requirements.
From 2017-2020, I worked for Vertafore, Inc., where I fulfilled 3 separate analytics roles. The first being a role as a Billing Analyst (2017-2018). This was the role that gave me a very clear understanding of how much a poorly functioning experience can impact a customer's life. More so, how much improving that experience can influence a positive change to the way a customer views a company/product. My next two roles as a Business Analyst and a QA Analyst (2018-2020) showed me the impacts poor customer experience has on a business financially and functionally. Then I experienced how much a business improves when it implements a better customer experience.
In 2020, I found a love of running. I weighed around 265 pounds at the beginning of 2020, and had just started dieting and attending Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes for exercise. Once COVID hit, I needed a way to still workout but without being around other people. I started running and very quickly found it be a wonderful challenge. After running for 3 months I decided that I would make it my goal to run a marathon before my 30th birthday (August 2021). I trained on and off from around August 2020 to February 2021, but took on a strict running schedule in March 2021 to meet my goal. On August 14, 2020, just a few days before my 30th birthday, I completed my first marathon! Something I never thought I could accomplish. I went from weighing 265 pounds in January of 2020 to 180 pounds on the day of my race. It has been the greatest and most challenging accomplishment of my life.
Other than running, I enjoy working on motion design side projects and courses. I volunteer as a Motion Graphics Designer for TechXtramile, a non-profit that provides impoverished young people with job-ready skills and assets in partnership with Google's Career Certification programs. Their programs help young individuals in both America and Africa. And I enjoy spending time with and going on vacations to Mexico with my amazing and beautiful girlfriend, Caitlin.
My name is Christian, a Product and Motion designer based in North Carolina. I am passionate about enhancing user experiences through human-centered research, strong visual design, and rich storytelling.
I have worn many hats over the last 5 years working in software. I've gained valuable insights from working in financial analytics, data analytics, business analytics, QA analytics and now as a designer. These experiences have given me the expertise to foster effective collaboration between development teams, executive members, marketing and business stakeholders. More importantly, I am able to develop a deep understanding of the user needs and aligning those needs with business goals.
Currently, I design tools and web pages for USAA's Advice Center. These tools and web pages provide USAA's more than 13 million members and their families with help, resources and information to understand and make important life & financial decisions. My design work has contributed to making these resources more easily accessible to USAA's members.
In addition to my design work, I have lead the creation of several animated explainer videos to make complex insurance and financial topics more easily digestible and appealing. Along with this, I designed and created many infographics to illustrate complex data. These infographic designs were used in many advice articles published in USAA's Advice Resource Library.
Prior to becoming a designer, I worked in various analytical fields. The most recent being my role as QA Analyst Lead from 2020-2021 ArganoaMind (aMind Solutions at the time). It was during this time that I developed a deeper understanding for the interconnections between design teams, development teams and stakeholders. I was also able to have a much more substantial impact on the design of a product. I was the one ensuring that what was being developed functioned properly, was designed according to user needs, and met stakeholder and business requirements.
From 2017-2020, I worked for Vertafore, Inc., where I fulfilled 3 separate analytics roles. The first being a role as a Billing Analyst (2017-2018). This was the role that gave me a very clear understanding of how much a poorly functioning experience can impact a customer's life. More so, how much improving that experience can influence a positive change to the way a customer views a company/product. My next two roles as a Business Analyst and a QA Analyst (2018-2020) showed me the impacts poor customer experience has on a business financially and functionally. I experienced how much a business improves when it implements a better customer experience.
In 2020, I found a love of running. I weighed around 265 pounds at the beginning of 2020, and had just started dieting and attending Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes for exercise. Once COVID hit, I needed a way to still workout, but without being around other people. I started running and very quickly found it to be a wonderful challenge. After running for 3 months I decided that I would make it my goal to run a marathon before my 30th birthday (August 2021). I trained on and off from around August 2020 to February 2021, but took on a strict running schedule in March 2021 to meet my goal. On August 14, 2020, just a few days before my 30th birthday, I completed my first marathon! Something I never thought I could accomplish. I went from weighing 265 pounds in January of 2020 to 180 pounds on the day of my race. It has been the greatest and most challenging accomplishment of my life.
Other than running, I enjoy working on motion design side projects and courses. I volunteer as a Motion Graphics Designer for TechXtramile, a non-profit that provides impoverished young people with job-ready skills and assets in partnership with Google's Career Certification programs. Their programs help young individuals in both America and Africa. I also enjoy spending time with and going on vacations to Mexico with my amazing and beautiful girlfriend, Caitlin.
“I had the pleasure of working with Christian supporting our digital education and marketing efforts. Christian proved his ability to adapt and execute in a very fluid environment with many competing demands and barriers. He showed his expertise in design, user experience and decision making to support our work. Christian has been a great team member and has improved our user experience substantially.”
“In working with Christian, he was able to easily bring a vision to life for a video I needed. With only minimal direction, he was able to create an engaging and well thought out storyline to bring the script to life. He took feedback incredibly well and delivered beyond expectations. He was an absolute pleasure to work with and I hope our paths cross again in the future.”
“I was Christian's instructor during his time at DU's intensive UX/UI bootcamp. He was a leader in the classroom, detail oriented, a self starter, and an extremely driven individual. I was continuously impressed by Christian's dedication to growing his skill set and his desire to create user centered solutions. Christian would be an asset to any team and I cannot recommend him enough.”
Get in touch with me and we'll find out how my design expertise can help you.
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