Daniel Zinzow's Portfolio

 SKILLS SUMMARY

• Master’s Degree in Human Computer Interaction

• Experience in interacting with users to learn behaviors, decipher needs, and test intuitive interfaces

• Experience in creating and testing interface prototypes

• Effective communication skills developed through presenting research finding, interfaces, and interface documentation to coworkers and clients

• Successful communication and collaboration with designers, programmers, engineers, and client service representatives

• Proficient in using Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Flash, and Microsoft Visio

WORK EXPERIENCE

Human Factors Engineer

Collaborate in creating and improving design features; review design features and applications against human factors principles and guidelines; develop and perform user tests of high risk design features; track and resolve human factors design issues; research potential new technologies to incorporate into human system interface designs; lead a team in conducting human factors task analyses; and lead a team and participate in conducting human factors verification and validation activities of design products.

Westinghouse Electric Company, Pittsburgh, PA, 2009 - Present

User Experience Architect

Discern user needs through focus groups of key stakeholders; assess the competitive landscapes; create website structures and interfaces based on needs and research; collaborate with designers, programmers, and clients to create a website; test new websites with users and make necessary modifications based on results; and assist fellow user architects when needed.

BarkleyREI, Pittsburgh, PA, 2006 – 2009 

Interaction Designer

Applied research to redesign DeltaV process control interface, tested users on new interface, and utilized results to modify DeltaV. As User Research Leader coordinated observation of users at processing plants to figure out behaviors and needs and coordinated user testing of interface prototypes.

Emerson Process Management, Pittsburgh PA, 2006 

Assistant Researcher

Researched literature and conducted user tests on software programs to aid in the creation of an interface that is adaptable to a range of users from novices, experts, and motion impaired.

Human Computer Interaction Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, 2006 

Interaction Designer

Completed extensive research on sleep diagnostics, observed user behaviors and needs, and collaborated with engineers to redesign a sleep diagnostic interface.

Philips Respironics, Pittsburgh, PA, 2005

EDUCATION

Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA

MS in Human-Computer Interaction, Graduated December 2006; GPA: 3.85/4.0 

   Skills Set

• Background Research
• Competitive Analysis
• Heuristic Evaluation
• Contextual Inquiry
• Card Sorting
• Cognitive Walkthrough
• Think Aloud
• Surveys
• Questionnaires
• Focus Group
• Laboratory Studies
• Statistical Analysis
• User Testing

   Design Methods

• Personas
• Scenarios
• Wireframes
• Taskflow
• Task Analysis
• Contextual Design
• Prototypes – Paper, Flash, VB.Net
• Visual Framework
• Iterative Design

   Application Software

• Microsoft Visio
• Adobe Illustrator
• Adobe Photoshop
• Adobe InDesign
• Adobe Flash

   Honors

• Dean's List
• University Honors
• National Honors Society in Psychology
•  National Honors Society in Electrical and Computer Engineering
• National Society of Collegiate Scholars 
• Eagle Scout