Michael T Pullen

Do your solutions have world-class user experiences? Designing the user experience requires the ability to influence an organization to balance utility, usability and aesthetics of products and services. I have been designing for over 16 years and understand the challenges to creating a world-class user experience. I am a collaborator, a person who brings eclectic groups of people together to solve problems or design products. I enjoy working with large, complicated applications that require synthesizing vast amounts of information into a clear vision as well as understanding the limits of technology, time and resources to come up with exceptional design solutions. I am a natural leader who leads using enthusiasm, knowledge, vision, and respect. Additionally, I have strong interests in the challenges to innovation and the idea of design as part of business strategy.

Vision & Architecture

Formulate user experience strategy
Define vision and design direction
Design effective information architecture
Diagram overarching application interaction models
Document and direct user interface guidelines across the suite of products
Design of user interface components for reuse and consistency

User Research & Analysis

(case studies)

Perform knowledge elicitation and knowledge engineering of complex human systems
Protocol analysis, interviewing, observation, teachback, sorting, repertory grid
Create task, usage and use case scenarios
Identify business and user requirements
Market research
Identify and verify personas/ user profiles and workflows

High and Midlevel Designs

Document product requirements
Design user and activity-centric interaction
Prototype user experience
Design prototype applications
Document and communicate design of complex design applications

Detailed Story Designs

Create user interface specification documents
Communicate design across cross functional groups
Translate the business analyst and product manager requirements into tangible designs for user interface developers

User Acceptance

Perform user acceptance tests
Observe user interactions with high and low fidelity prototypes
Conduct usability tests and analysis

Leadership

Led visual and interaction redesign of large software suite of products
Led UX design and agile release and iteration planning sessions
Coordinate and encourage interaction designers, user interface architects and developers to strive for a singular user experience across the suite
Elicit requirements; use case and business processes from subject matter experts
Manage user interface design process across multiple product teams and multiple input devices
Manage stakeholders’ expectations of product designs

Communication Skills

Self-starter with the ability to influence business stakeholders
Strong ability to synthesize large quantities of information and define and communicate the essence in a concise information architecture
Ability to balance the user experience needs of utility, usability and aesthetics with business and development timelines
Ability to make and communicate decisions
Excellent oral and written communication skills

Consulting

Built consulting services to review, critique and consult on Web architecture, interaction design and content development and delivery to leading online financial services and retail internet companies
Led an 8-person analysis and design team to collaboratively create a new health benefit management system for a 6 million-member national health insurer
Led a 6-person analysis and design team to create a customer service system for a national home health care company

Project management

Led diverse analysis and design teams
Managed client relationships

Managed release to combine individual products into a suite
Developed and enhanced effective business processes
Managed schedule and resources for timely delivery
Facilitated productive meetings

Projects

Led design of a new Order and Execution Managment System (OEMS)

Led design of the next generation EMS for institutional and hedge traders

Led design of integrated IOIs

Led redesigns of the visual language for 2 companies and 2 suites of applications
Designed information architecture and many modules in a suite of Workforce Management products including compensation, performance reviews, activity tracking, and schedule template creation
Designed a customer experience measurement tool suite for professionals to perform competitive analysis in the e-commerce space
Created information architecture and navigation for a new health benefit management system for a 6 million-member national health insurer
Created a customer service system for a national home health care company
Designed an Intelligent Tutoring System with intelligent agents
Designed a pilot error monitoring demonstration

Domains

Institutional Brokerages and Hedge Funds

Database Security
HR, Payroll, Employee Scheduling and Timekeeping
Online Discount Brokerages, Banks, Insurance and E-commerce
Health Insurance (Benefit Products)
Home Health Care Delivery

Work Experience

(Work experience details and Portfolio)

Charles River Development
Principal Interaction Designer
June 2010 - present
Charles River Development provides software, hosting and data services to automate front and middle office investment operations for buy-side firms.

Investment Technology Group, Inc.
Principal Interaction Designer
August 2007 - June 2010
Investment Technology Group, Inc., is a specialized agency brokerage and technology firm.

Application Security Inc.
User Experience Product Manager
July 2006 – August 2007
Application Security Inc is the leading provider of database security solutions.

Kronos
Manager/ Senior Interaction Designer
February 2001 – June 2006
Kronos improves the performance of business and people through HR/Payroll and Labor Management solutions.

Gómez
Senior Interaction Designer
July 1999 – February 2001
Gómez is an e-commerce customer experience measurement company that provides consumer and professional services through Gómez.com and Gómezpro.com.

Symmetrix/Nextera Enterprises
Consultant
September 1996 – July 1999
Symmetrix/Nextera Enterprises designs innovative information technology applications that support individual and team performance in conducting knowledge-intensive work.

Charles River Analytics
Human Factors Engineer
May 1995 – September 1996
Charles River Analytics develops custom solutions for intelligent interactive systems for government and commercial customers.