User Experience Product Design

Raymond Villares

Sr UX/UI Designer Website Designer Branding Expert

**** **** ****** ******, ** 80010 • 941-***-**** • ****@*****.*** Senior practitioner with strong expertise in user experience strategy, UX/UI design, product design, and branding, focused on leveraging emerging technologies to create truly differentiated and meaningful customer interactions. A creator at heart, with a clear sense of purpose and urgency, honed over a 28+ year career as a successful strategist, designer, entrepreneur, leader of digital-first organizations, author, mentor, public speaker, and active community contributor. Core strengths include:

Subject-Matter Expertise

● Digital Transformation & CX Design Leadership

● Brand Strategy & Development

● Research & User Experience Design

● UX/UI Design

● Content Strategy

Domains

● Websites

● Ecommerce

● B2B

● Mobile / Emerging Technology

● Digital Marketing (Display, Email, Search)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

VSURY Denver, CO

Head of Experience Design / Founder October 2019-Present Founder of a small digital product design studio focused on delivering award-winning work for mid-sized to enterprise organizations.

● Serve as lead user experience researcher, UX/UI designer, and brand strategist on key accounts and initiatives.

● Act as the client relationship owner and primary business strategist.

● Oversee a multidisciplinary partner team of product managers, brand planners, experience designers, visual designers, and content strategists in developing innovative digital ideas and tactics. PROJEKT202 (Previously ORA)Denver, CO

Chief Growth Officer August 2018–October 2019

Continued in a similar role after the acquisition but moved to report to our new CEO in Dallas, Texas. Focus is to assist in driving forward a variety of organization-wide strategic growth initiatives.

● Established our strategic partnership program, including Amdocs (parent company) and related sister companies.

● Led new business efforts in digital transformation across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. ORA INTERACTIVE (Later acquired)Chicago, IL

Chief Growth Officer / Interim Director of User Experience Design June 2017–August 2018 Executive leader and interim head of design for an award-winning digital product studio, specializing in custom native iOS and Android apps, websites, and web-based applications.

● Acted as interim UX design lead, delivering world-class UX/UI and overseeing the practice team and the ongoing development of its offerings.

● Broadened the company’s product offering to include research, user experience, and performance management.

● Improved marketing performance by building a small team and leading the brand strategy and rebranding efforts of the organization.

● Partnered with business development to drive top-line revenue.

● Opened a second product design studio in Denver, Colorado. SYMMETRI MARKETING GROUP Chicago, IL

EVP / Digital Practice / Head of Experience Design April 2015–May 2017 Brought in as an equity partner to oversee the digital services team for the U.S.-based B2B marketing agency. Notable clients included Alpolic, Capsa, Carestream, Dentsply, Focal Point, Quad Graphics, and SGK.

● Served as primary user experience director, executing research, UX design, and content strategy.

● Managed a team of practitioners across user experience, digital marketing, and technology.

● Developed sales enablement materials and support tools, and led all sales efforts alongside the account team.

● Crafted the vision, organizational model, and development plan for the agency’s offerings. HAVAS WORLDWIDE Chicago, IL

Managing Director August 2014–March 2015

Executive relationship owner for one of the agency’s largest client accounts—a 100+ year-old iconic brand generating over $12MM in annual revenue. Additionally, collaborated with the North American team to establish a new agency studio, Annex, aimed at helping aging brands regain cultural relevance with younger target segments.

● Established and grew a team to support all responsibilities of the digital agency of record contract, from tent-pole integrated campaigns to run-the-business tactics across retail/POS, packaging, direct mail, and digital touchpoints.

● Led all new business strategies, focusing on deepening and expanding the account relationship. HAVAS WORLDWIDE Chicago, IL

Executive Consultant January 2014–June 2014

Worked with North American C-level leadership to envision and implement future-state customer and agency experience strategies that drive valuable interactions with constituents and maximize sustainable performance. CRITICAL MASS Chicago, IL

V.P. Client Partner March 2010–June 2013

Responsible for the overall growth, direction, and delivery of services for one of the agency’s largest client accounts—USAA. Held full P&L accountability with a focus on revenue growth and strategic selling.

● Led multidisciplinary teams of account managers, planners, strategists, UX/UI designers, and content strategists in developing breakthrough digital ideas and tactics. Focus areas included digital strategy for .com, mobile, social, tablet, search, and display.

● Successfully defended the relationship through an RFP for Digital Agency of Record (required by USAA procurement every five years), resulting in an $18MM contract.

● Senior strategist on an 8-year long-standing relationship, responsible for aligning brand, technology, and digital strategy.

● Engaged heavily with C-suite client stakeholders across all departments, providing enterprise-wide perspectives, product strategies, future visioning, new segmentation approaches, channel planning, and brand positioning.

● Led new business strategies to deepen and expand the account relationship. HAVAS WORLDWIDE Chicago, IL

Executive Consultant January 2014–June 2014

Worked with North American C-level leadership to envision and implement future-state customer and agency experience strategies that drive valuable interactions with constituents and maximize sustainable performance. SYMMETRI MARKETING GROUP Chicago, IL

V.P. Digital Services / UX Practice Lead May 2009–June 2010 Brought in as an equity partner to establish market strategy, sales rollout, and UX/UI capability development for the U.S.-based B2B marketing agency’s digital services. Accountable for revenue objectives with decision-making authority over product development roadmaps, go-to-market strategies, training, vendor acquisition, and quality assurance.

● Served as primary user experience director, executing research, UX design, and content strategy.

● Crafted the vision, organizational model, and development plan for the agency’s offerings. ACQUITY GROUP Chicago, IL

Digital Design & Implementation: New & Emerging Offerings Director January 2009–May 2009 Responsible for identifying, developing, and bringing to market new service offerings, as well as extending existing lines within digital, media, and creative services. Accountable for revenue and utilization objectives, with decision-making authority over product development roadmaps, go-to-market strategies, training, vendor acquisition, and quality assurance. Areas of focus included websites and mobile apps, enterprise content management systems, and enterprise e-commerce/m-commerce.

● Developed a strategic approach and vision for the New & Emerging Offerings program.

● Led the first round of sales and marketing strategies.

● Grew the sales pipeline for new offerings to several dozen pursuits within four months, including GM, Kohl’s, Sears, QVC, Best Buy, Playboy, Saks Fifth Avenue, Publishers Clearing House, The North Face, Eastern Mountain Sports, and Northern Trust Financial.

● Built rapid-launch solutions for mobile commerce and lightweight commerce product offerings. ACQUITY GROUP Chicago, IL

Interactive Marketing Practice Director June 2006–January 2009 Accountable for revenue and utilization objectives, with decision-making authority over organizational development, delivery and resource management, recruiting, product development, and quality assurance.

● Developed completely new service offerings in user experience design, usability validation, user interface design, channel deployment, front-end development, and measurement/analytics.

● Formulated the practice vision and strategic direction, initiated growth strategies, established all sales and marketing efforts, and helped elevate the organization to a higher level of maturity.

● Worked closely with the sales organization, playing a pivotal role in securing several dozen key accounts and generating over $15 million in revenue within 24 months. Notable clients included AT&T, Ben & Jerry’s, McDonald’s, Motorola, Nokia, Northern Trust, Procter & Gamble, Sears, True Value, and Yamaha. GRAVITYFREE Sarasota, FL

President / UX/UI Practice Lead May 2003–February 2006 Assumed leadership of corporate strategy and full P&L accountability. Maintained decision-making authority in the areas of corporate strategy, product/capabilities design, process engineering, delivery, marketing, human resources, technology, and administrative affairs. Fostered beneficial relationships with regional key contacts, news publications, and organizations through community involvement, leadership, and industry recognition. Notable clients included Disney, Honeywell, Rooms To Go, SeaWorld, and SunTrust.

● Halted a 2-year decline in sales and grew annual revenue by 75%, which—coupled with a debt reduction plan—restored a weak balance sheet to a healthy state.

● Published articles, columns, and whitepapers, and delivered keynote addresses and facilitated workshops both regionally and nationally.

● Awarded “Technology Company of the Year” by the Sarasota County Committee for Economic Development. GRAVITYFREE Sarasota, FL

Managing Director / Lead UX/UI Designer June 2000–May 2003 In addition to my duties as Creative Director, I spearheaded all general operations and new product development, from concept to go-to-market strategies. I was accountable for brand strategy, market research, positioning, marketing, pricing strategies, and quality management. I also developed strategic direction and financial plans to guide the organization through difficult economic conditions during a downturn when many internet companies were failing.

● Structured and implemented a sales and marketing plan that successfully built local brand recognition as a leading service producer in the region.

● Led the company’s rebranding campaign, from brand strategy and logo design to execution across sales and marketing collateral and communication devices.

● Increased revenue by 25% and gained market share by developing and launching the company’s first e-commerce platform—Virtual Merchandiser.

● Awarded “Young Business of the Year” by the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.

● Selected as one of Gulf Coast Business Review’s “40 Under 40” top professionals. GRAVITYFREE Sarasota, FL

Creative Director / Lead UX/UI Designer February 1997–June 2000 Served as head of creative services, supporting multidisciplinary offerings, directing and mentoring digital creative staff, providing creative direction on key accounts, and advancing the company’s understanding of experience and product design. Design projects included websites, intranets/extranets, kiosks, display advertising, email, and browser-based applications.

● Successfully grew the startup to over $1 million in annual revenue.

● Awarded “Entrepreneur of the Year” Runner-Up by Gulf Coast Business Review.

● Received 25 Addy Awards at the local and state levels, including “Best in Show” in both Digital Media and Print for two consecutive years from the American Advertising Federation. COMCAST ONLINE COMMUNICATIONS Sarasota, FL

Web Engineer May 1996–February 1997

Recruited from college for the Comcast @Home pilot team tasked with launching Comcast Online Communications.

● Assisted the leadership team in formulating the product offering strategy, sales tools, and implementation plan for Comcast Online Communications.

● Aided in the product introductions of the organization’s cable modem, web browser, and geo-centric web portal.

● Installed the first Comcast cable modem in the country. EDUCATION

FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY Tallahassee, Florida

Major: Mathematics / Minors: Computer Science, Spanish August 1993-June 1997 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Passionate leader with a demonstrated long-standing commitment to civic leadership and a history of developing impactful programs and influencing large-scale change. Strong believer that good business and community service go hand in hand.

● 2009 – Co-Founder and Organizing Director of the Chicago Mobile Monday Association.

● 2006 – Sarasota County Chamber of Commerce “Chairman’s Cup” recipient. Awarded yearly, this honor is given to an individual who has made an exceptional contribution of service to the community. Past winners include Senator John McCain and Congressman Vern Buchanan.

● 2005/2006 – Vice President of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce. Duties included overseeing all activities and program development for the finance, marketing, and technology committees. Achieved gains of

$400,000 in net revenue within the first term, transforming the organization from a deficit position to one of financial strength and sustained growth by re-engineering programs and launching new initiatives.

● 2005 – Founder and Co-Chairman (alongside Larry Thompson, Dean of the Ringling School of Art & Design) of the Sarasota County Committee for Economic Development’s Creative Cluster Initiative.

● 2004 – Founder and Chairman of Sarasota’s Young Professionals Group. Led the founding committee to acquire more than 250 paying members and achieve net revenue of $40,000 within the first twelve months.

● 2003/2004 – Two-term Chairman of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Small Business Council.

* References available upon request.

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