Hello.

My name is Dave. I am a user researcher and Information Architect based in Austin, Texas.

I have worked in technology since 1999, first as a full-stack programmer and then as an Information Architect. I believe in the power of information to improve people’s lives, which is the motivation behind my work.

My approach to design is based upon advanced degrees in both social science and information science. Today, I continue evolving my practice by teaching user research and design methods to both junior designers and non-designers in the enterprise setting.

My Practice

My design practice has 3 focuses

Organization - Creating order from non-order
Clarity - Making things clear (Notice I did not say ‘simple' as the world is complex)
People - I believe in human-centric approach to technology and to the people who make technology

And my work has of 3 practice areas

Information Architecture - Structuring information to drive experiences, particularly wayfinding through web navigation and search
Research - Both generative and evaluative methods with a focus on continuous learning
Collaboration - Aligning teams to create compelling experiences across channels

Previously

I’ve held both Information Architect and User Experience Lead job titles. In each role I have performed the essential user-centric activities needed for building great user experiences: primary user research to inform design strategy, Information Architecture to organize content for use, and usability studies to vet designs.

Having been a front-end developer (XHTML/CSS/.NET) and database architect before getting into UX, I speak “engineer” and enjoy collaborating directly with developers.

And having an advanced degree in social sciences, I look for bridges between theory and practice, the academic and the professional.

I have had the good fortune of working with companies like Charles Schwab, Elsevier, Quicken Loans, Ace Hardware, Anthropologie, Toys ‘R Us, Bath & Body Works, Dick’s Sporting Goods, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and David’s Bridal.

You can learn more about me on professional profile on LinkedIn.

Beyond the Office

My work in user experience extends outside the workplace and into community organizing and professional organizations. Much of what I have learned about experience design has come from peers, so it has only been natural to spend time giving back to the community.

At the global level, I have been involved in organizing the Information Architecture Summit for more than a decade. I had the honor of co-chairing the 2017 IA Summit in Vancouver, Canada, a 5-day conference with more than 500 attendees. (The IA Summit is now the IA Conference.) At the local level, I have served multiple times as President of PhillyCHI (ACM SIGCHI), Philadelphia’s interest group for human-computer interaction.