thakkarpinky@gmail.com email

Objective: A full-time position within an organization that focuses on the consumer and applies  user-centered design techniques to create products that inform, inspire and entertain.
Qualifications:  User Experience Design & Direction — Over a decade of design experience in web and software applications. UI designer, user experience researcher and Usability Engineer  who test several websites. Hands-on experience with all stages of a user-centered design process from user research, concepting, interaction design, and visual design to                  prototyping, production and usability testing. Familiar with Macintosh and Windows OS, hand-coded HTML, JavaScript and software including Visio, Dreamweaver CS3, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe ImageReady, and Acrobat.
Design Management — Experience managing consultant, and in-house design groups for small and large companies. Able to build a cohesive team of user experience designers and researchers who collaborate and communicate effectively with engineers, project managers and business stakeholders.

Technical Expertise:  Operating Systems - MS Windows 2000, MS Windows NT 4.0, MS Windows 95/98/2000/XP, Mac
Desktop Publishing - MS Word, MS PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat, Macromedia  Dreamweaver 4/MX/MX 2004/CS3, Microsoft Visio
Other Applications - Rational Rose Enterprise Version, MS FrontPage, MS Excel, MS Access, MS Word, WS FTP Pro, Telnet, Macromedia Director, RAD, Information Builders (IBI)., J2EE, Portal technology.
Programming - HTML, ASP, SHTML, JavaScript, CSS, Cold Fusion, Visual Studio, JSP
Platforms - PC, UNIX, Macintosh
Graphics - Adobe Photoshop 9.0 CS2, Adobe Illustrator, Macromedia Fireworks, Visio, Macromedia Flash, Macromedia Robo Demo 5, Macromedia Captivate
Browsers - Internet Explorer, Netscape, Fire fox, Safari
Database Applications - Oracle 8i, SQL Server, MS Access
Usability Testing Applications - Morae Manager, Morae Recorder, Morae Remote Viewer, Morae Player

Achievements & Awards: Certified Usability Analyst of the Month (May) – HumFactors International.

Education:  Certified Usability Analyst (CUA) – Human Factors International.
Bachelors in Computer Science, Madras University, Chennai
Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Applications, Madurai Kamaraj University, Distance Education, Chennai
Certificate in Usability Testing – Ohio University

Professional Experience   

 Cognizant Technology Solutions US Corporation
Assistant Manger - Projects
August, 2008 – till date

• Designed wire frames using Fireworks.
• Synchronized design matching User Interface Standards.
• Act as a liaison between business and team.
• Conducted multiple rounds of Usability Test with participants.
• Designed Cross Merchandise, Up sell Coupon pages.
• Created View Item Pages in Classic and New Style.
• Created Feedback Design.
• Created Customer Support portal which gives the flexibility for customers to interact and as well as contact customer service.

Physicians Mutual Insurance Company –Omaha, NE
Sr. User Interface Engineer
October, 2005 – August, 2008

• Designed interface and navigational system for CSR’s.
• Proof help review for online help to in-corporate with the website.
• Design wire frames using Visio.
• Create UX Models for the screens created using “Rational Rose”
• Synchronized design matching User Interface Standards.
• Interact with clients to incorporate the changes and update requests.
• Design live customer screens.
• Create scenarios for Voice Recognition Unit.
• Help System requirement analyst in updating use case.
• Identify data elements for UI screen designs
• Design web application for “Integrated Marketing Platform”.
• Designed front end “On Demand View” for reporting using “Web Focus” tool.
• Act as a liaison between business and team.
• Conduct multiple Usability Testing with “prospect customers”.
• Created User Profiles, Task Scenarios, and Test Screening for participants.
• Generate a Test report from the survey form filled by the participants during the test.
• Conduct presentation on “Usability Engineering Method” for management and project team.

                                 
CGN & Associates Inc.
Sr. User Interactive Designer
September, 2004- October, 2005

• Designed interface and navigational system for intranet application.
• Create Online Help using Robo Help X5 to in-corporate with the website.
• Design wire frames, prototypes.
• Synchronized design matching User Interface Standards.
• Interact with clients to incorporate the changes and update requests.
• Coordinated client prototype change requests and incorporated changes into prototype
• Conduct “Usability Testing” with the real users of the system.
• Created Usability Test Results, Feedback
• Conduct Heuristic review
• Prepare User Specification Documents
• Designed desktop applications.
• Developed working SHTML prototype w/ JavaScript for client approval
• Designed interface and navigational system for tool
• Creating Story Board
• Created online Help Tutorial using Macromedia Captivate
• Re-designed interface and navigational system for internet application
• Conduct usability test with the users of the application.

Satyam Computer Services
Sr. Human Interface Analyst
December 2001 – November 2004

• Designed and usability tested GUI (Graphical) and WUI (Web) applications across multiple platforms.
• Served as mentor to software user interface design specialists.
• Worked with software development project teams.
• Communicated and sold human factors and user interface design principles.
• Conducted and interpreted HCI research to produce corporate design standards.
• Developed and maintained corporate user centered design methodology.
• Conducted front-end analysis; interviewing, focus groups, requirements gathering, and requirements validation.
• Designed and developed usability tests, and provided recommendations based on test results.
• Evaluated usability test results and applied findings to corporate UI design style guides.
• Determined when a usability evaluation was needed: led planning, preparation, and follow-up, so that each design iteration was evaluated effectively and at the correct time.
• Designed and maintained client’s website using SHTML, JavaScript, HTML, CSS.
• Responsible of the Internet/ Intranet /Extranet updates of the clients website.
• Offsite coordination with the team in building the website.
• Maintained clients database using Lotus Domino.

Silverline Technologies
Interface Designer, Content Developer, Onsite Project Leader
October 1999 – August 2001

• Performed need assessment, recruited users, designed test plan, conducted tests on site, analyzed data and delivered a report with recommendations for redesign
• Created DFD’s, flowcharts, and interactive mockups to tailor website information to both user and office needs
• Balanced user feedback with clients office website requirements to design website that placed equal emphasis on accessibility and usability
• Programmed new website and uploaded it to the server for client’s use
• Employed various techniques such as field studies, usability testing, card sorting, and heuristic evaluations.
• Led software development to transfer web based information to multiple software platforms, including Windows CE and Palm OS devices.
• Participated in software testing and development of assistive devices to gauge functionality of web based information services.
• Developed software system architecture to seamlessly integrate new student information updates into existing student informational databases.
• Website design using HTML, ASP,  JavaScript, Cascading Style Sheets, SHTML, Cold Fusion, FrontPage
• Managed companies intranet database
• Coordinated transition from manual to technology based data management
• Provided interaction services on a project basis
• Led design of look and feel of companies and clients website
• Prototyped low, medium, and hi-fidelity user interfaces
• Determined user needs then designed, implemented and supported all software and computer systems.
• Participated in initial Software Testing implementation

Firstar Communications
Web Designer/Developer
April 1997 – September 1999

• Researched most common video store transactions.
• Designed functional database prototype of a video store using Visual Basic and Microsoft Access 2000.
• Created an interactive websites for clients.
• Course construction included the implementation of an online database of graduate theses, the creation of Hyper News group, and online signup sheet for experimenter projects using HTML and Java on UNIX system.
• Interacted with client to determine their needs while designing and implementing websites.

References available upon request.