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
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Organization - Creating order from non-order
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Clarity - Making things clear (Notice I did not say ‘simple' as the world is complex)
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People - I believe in human-centric approach to technology and to the people who make technology
And my work has of 3 practice areas
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Information Architecture - Structuring information to drive experiences, particularly wayfinding through web navigation and search
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Research - Both generative and evaluative methods with a focus on continuous learning
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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.
Obsessions
Colorblindness
aka Color Vision Deficiency
Color Accessibility Workflows by Geri Coady
The Island of the Colorblind by Oliver Sacks
Teaching Research
Measuring the User Experience by Bill Albert and Tom Tullis
Observing the User Experience by Goodman, Kuniavsky, and Moed
Just Enough Research by Erika Hall
Contextual Design by Karen Holtzblatt and Hugh Beyer
Practical Ethnography by Sam Ladner
It's Our Research by Tomer Sharon
Continuous Discovery Habits by Teresa Torres
Mental Models by Indi Young
How Customers Think by Gerald Zaltman
Designing Better Teams
Meeting Design by Kevin Hoffman
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni
Death by Meeting by Patrick Lencioni
Radical Candor by Kim Scott
Information Science
Information and the Information Professions: Selected Works of Marcia J. Bates, Vol. I by Marcia J. Bates
Information Searching Theory and Practice: Selected Works of Marcia J. Bates, Volume II by Marcia J. Bates
Information Users and Information System Design: Selected Works of Marcia J. Bates, Volume III by Marcia J. Bates
Museums
Spotify Pop Playlists
Guardians of the Galaxy Most Awesome Mix
New Wave (New Wave playlist 1)
Post Punk (New Wave playlist 2)
Synth Pop (New Wave playlist 3)