I’m Maria

I’m interested in universal design and using research and data to improve user experience and accessibility. I find joy collaborating with others and using UX methods and tools in every phase of a digital project.

When I’m not working I love playing ice hockey, camping, hiking, yoga, and generally just being outside.

I believe in creating designs that everyone can use.

You’ll find my education, work history, and other engagements below. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. I hope we’ll get to collaborate soon!

Skills

  • User research and audience development
  • User experience design strategy
  • Wireframes / Prototypes
  • Usability testing
  • Website metrics with Google Analytics
  • Project management

Experience

User Experience & User Interface Designer / Digital Accessibility Consultant, LSA Technology Services, University of Michigan — Ann Arbor, 2020-Present

Continually improving LSA digital projects by advocating for the user and integrating stakeholder and user feedback into the development process.

Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to:

  • Establish user research strategy
  • Develop a strategic understanding of project goals and objectives
  • Design innovative, accessible, and creative solutions
  • Provide design assets and support to developers for implementing design

Conduct user research, create personas, identify required tasks and information flows for given systems. This has been crucial for creating common vocabulary in digital humanities projects and understanding audiences of public-facing sites.

Create relevant design artifacts, including, but not limited to, information architecture, requirements, personas designs, wireframes, high resolution mockups and data flows.

Leverage and provide insight using website metrics and analysis.

Oversee compliance with federal standards for web accessibility, focusing on WCAG AA standards.

Understand and integrate ArcGIS Mapping and StoryMaps into various platforms.

Web Designer, LSA Technology Services, University of Michigan — Ann Arbor, 2014-2020

Developed wireframes, mockups, and visual enhancements for use with Adobe Experience Management (AEM) site templates.

Prepared reports and trained unit staff to utilize insight from Google Analytics and SEO to make informed marketing decisions.

Established and maintained communication with over 450 users using Mailchimp.

Oversaw compliance with federal standards for web accessibility, maintaining WCAG AA standards.

Digital Manager, Waste & Recycling News, Crain Communication — Detroit, 2013
Web Coordinator | 2011-2013

Managed national publication’s website and evaluated it with respect to SEO and user experience.

Increased digital revenue by creating new ad space and social media presence by expanding reach on Twitter and Facebook.

Contributed editorially by blogging and creating graphics for print publication and anchoring and editing weekly newscast.

Achievements

  • HighEdWeb Conference
    Red Stapler Award:
    Best in Track
    UX Methods for Digital Humanities Projects
    2021
  • Adobe
    AEM Developer Training
    2018
  • Higher Ed Experts
    Certificate: Advanced Web Analytics for Higher Ed
    2016
  • Higher Ed Experts
    Certificate: Web Analytics for Higher Ed
    2014
  • American Business Media Neal Award
    Winner for Weekly Newscast
    2011

Tools

  • User Experience:
    Research & Design
    Surveys, Interviews, Focus Groups, Personas, User Flows, User Stories, User Journeys, Usability Tests, Card Sorts, Prioritization, Heuristic Evaluation, Task Analysis, Low & High Fidelity Prototyping
  • Favorite Tools
    Figma
    Miro
    Adobe Creative Suite
    Flowmapp
  • CMS Platforms
    WordPress
    Adobe Experience Manager
    Omeka

Education

  • Northwestern University — June 2021
    M.S. Information & Design Strategy
  • General Assembly — October 2019
    User Experience Design: 10-week Bootcamp
  • Wayne State University — July 2005
    B.A. Journalism

Committees

U-M Library Anti-Racist Digital Research Institute
Member; Planning Committee
(2023-Present)

U-M Library Digital Scholarship Advisory Group
Member; Communications Subcommittee
2022-Present

U-M LSA Digital Accessibility Advisory Team
Co-Chair
2022-2023

U-M LSA Technology Services Newsletter
Editor/Writer
2019-2023

Conference Presentations

Critical Digital Humanities Initiative
Panelist: DIY Anti-Racist DH Initiatives: How to Get Started at Your Institution
October 2022

HighEdWeb Conference
Poster Presentation: UX Methods for Digital Humanities Projects
October 2021