I wrote my first HTML tag in 1996. I was in the 11th grade. By the time I finished building my first page, I was hooked. I was fascinated with how the Web and I could respond to each other and change together.
My interest in digital interfaces and how we can improve them has grown from a teenage hobby into a lifelong passion and career. I’m obsessed with the user experience: how we feel about the systems we interact with. I’m on a mission to understand how all kinds of interfaces can best serve the people who use them.
I’ve had amazing opportunities to work for a wide variety of clients. You’re looking at a small collection of some of my favorite projects. I hope you enjoy glancing over these accomplishments as much as I enjoyed the work.
User research
samples
Research-driven design
Direct Energy
2009
My Client
Direct Energy — the largest energy and home services retailer in North America.My Challenge
Determine the needs of Direct Energy employees for a new social microsite. Design a user interface layout that harmonizes user needs with business goals.My Solution
I collaborated with the project team to gather information about the company’s employees and their online habits. I challenged my client to think critically about how they wanted users to interact with the microsite. I researched similar employee-focused microsites and social networking sites to establish interface design and usability best practices specific to my client’s needs.Remarks
The wireframes show exactly what we need. You nailed it!
Tools
- Axure RP Pro
- Adobe InDesign
Mental models
SabreSonic Web
2010 – 2011
My Client
Sabre Airline Solutions — the world leader in software solutions for airlines.My Challenge
Uncover the needs of web appliaction users in interviews and focus groups. Map end user mental models to potential solutions. Communicate findings to a diverse group of internal and external stakeholders.My Solution
I intially requested input from users via email surveys, but found it necessary to go deeper with extensive one-on-one interviews and focus groups at customer conferences. I organized responses with affinity groupings and constructed mind maps and mental model diagrams to represent users’ thought processes and felt needs. I then aligned software solution components with user needs.Remarks
I had never seen mental models before, but I am sure we will do this again on our next product redesign. You helped us understand how our customers think.
Tools
- Email survey tools
- Personal interviews
- Adobe Fireworks
- Adobe Acrobat Pro
User needs analysis
TAKS-Guide
2008 – 2010
My Client
Strozeski Enterprises, an independent consultancy helping Texas school districts interpret educational assessment data and improve instruction.My Challenge
Provide one interactive tool explaining state school test results to a variety of user types, including: parents, teachers, school administrators, and journalists.My Solution
I worked with my client to define user roles and gain insight into how different sets of people who would use the product. We validated our ideas with sample users throughout the rapid design phase. The needs I uncovered by analyzing the audience helped to ensure my design would work well for all users.Remarks
You did a fantastic job on TAKS-Guide! It looks great and it’s easy to use.
Tools
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Flash
- Adobe Dreamweaver
- XHTML, CSS, JS
Personas
Sabre Airline Solutions
2010 – 2011
My Client
Sabre Airline Solutions — the world leader in software solutions for airlines.My Challenge
Develop research-driven personas for eleven different user groups. Conduct user research with nine airline customers in three continents.My Solution
I interviewed thirty-six users, asking up to twenty-two questions tailored to uncover specific needs relevant to each user group. I gathere additional data by sending email surveys to another eight-one users. I analyzed the responses looking for themes and common responses. I created persona sheets that gave faces, names, and useful details to surrogate users. These personas became the basis of user stories that drove functional and interface design decisions.Remarks
It’s so helpful to ask, ‘what would Sam want to do?’ The personas helped the development team focus on building software for real people instead of ourselves.
Tools
- Email survey tools
- Personal interviews
- Microsoft Word
- Adobe Acrobat Pro
- Adobe Photoshop
Use cases
HP ROI Calculator
2009
My Client
Hewlett-Packard — the world’s largest technology company; #9 on the Fortune 500 list.My Challenge
Convert a user-unfriendly Excel-based accounting calculator spreadsheet into a very user-friendly, Web-based tool for server sales reps.My Solution
I investigated HP’s sales staff used the existing spreadsheet as a field tool for calculating the return on investment of their clients purchasing a new line of servers. My findings led to numerous enhancements to the design of the Web-based calculator.Usability
samples
Web form design
Internal Revenue Service
2009 – 2010
My Client
The Internal Revenue Service — the revenue service of the United States federal government.My Challenge
Optimize the user experience of EFTPS.gov, a free service offered by the IRS and the U.S. Treasury. Help business and individual taxpayers conveniently pay all their federal taxes electronically.My Solution
I applied best practices in the design of Web forms to achieve my client’s highest priority: making the enrollment and payment processes faster and easier to use. I reduced a thirteen page enrollment form down to just three simple pages, without reducing the amount of data captured.Tools
- Axure RP Pro
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
Web application usability testing
SabreSonic Web
2011
My Client
Sabre Airline Solutions — the world leader in software solutions for airlines.My Challenge
Plan and conduct labratory-based usability testing for an online air travel shopping and booking platform.My Solution
I coordinated the recruitment of a dozen usability test participants with the help of a third party recuiting firm. I helped the product team develop the test plan and identify key user tasks and success measures. We secures the services of a usability testing lab. After a week of observing users and analyzing their feedback, we were able to identify opportunities for improving the usability of the software. This led to targeted interface design improvements that gave users a better experience in the shopping and booking process.Remarks
This team should be very proud of the work. Overall, the site tested really well.
Tools
- TechSmith Morae
- Fully equipped observation lab
Online application form
RoadLoans.com
2009
My Client
RoadLoans.com — a new and used vehicle loan provider for customers with less than perfect credit.My Challenge
Redesign an online loan application form to reduce time to completion and improve the overall user experience.My Solution
I helped my client reduce the loan appliation form to less than half of its previous size. Informal testing showed my new layout resulted in a more than 300% efficiency gain in form completion time. Among the many improvements I designed and coded were: better label positioning, smart option defaults, and enhanced error messaging.Remarks
Your design has taken some clutter out of the way and helped us to see some other issues with how we’re grouping and labeling data.
Tools
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Dreamweaver
- XHTML, CSS, JS
Information architecture
samples
Online marketing campaigns
Bank of America
2009 – 2010
My Client
Bank of America — the largest bank holding company in the United States; #11 on the Fortune 500 list.My Challenge
Provide information architecture and user experience expertise for email campaigns and landing pages supporting national marketing efforts.My Solution
I created customer experience maps and annotated wireframes for multiple campaigns aimed at discreet consumer market segments.Remarks
The user experience is great, thanks!
Tools
- Axure RP Pro
- Adobe InDesign
Electronic tax payment system
Internal Revenue Service
2009 – 2010
My Client
United States Department of the Treasury — the executive department of the U.S. government that manages revenue.My Challenge
Optimize the user experience of EFTPS.gov, a free service offered by the Treasury to help business and individual taxpayers conveniently pay all their federal taxes electronically.My Solution
I created wireframes, flow diagrams, and other IA deliverables for the redesign of EFTPS. I focused special attention on the design of complex Web forms for enrollment and tax payment submissions.Tools
- Axure RP Pro
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
E-commerce platform design
SuperValu
2009 – 2010
My Client
SuperValu — the third-largest food retailing company in the United States; #51 on the Fortune 500 list.My Challenge
Create site maps, wireframes, and other IA deliverables for a whitelabeled e-commerce platform serving over a dozen retail banners (including Albertsons, Jewel and Save-A-Lot) and thousands of individual grocery retail stores.My Solution
I worked in parallel with business analysts and stakeholders drafting technical requirements in an iterative pre-design process as I created wireframes, site maps and process diagrams.Remarks
Looks good, man!
Tools
- Adobe Fireworks
- Adobe InDesign
Marketing microsite
Direct Energy
2009
My Client
Direct Energy — the largest energy and home services retailer in North America.My Challenge
Provide IA leadership in designing a new market entry microsite.My Solution
I created a site map and wireframes for this campaign of great strategic importance to my client.Tools
- Axure RP Pro
- Adobe InDesign
Social networking site
tangle.com
2008 – 2009
My Client
tangle — an online community where members connect, share, and grow together in faith and life.My Challenge
tangle needed information architecture deliverables that defined site navigation, taxonomy, and findability.My Solution
I created wireframes, flow diagrams, and other IA deliverables, making tangle the most popular faith-based social networking site on the Internet.Remarks
Ben Judy is an information architecture ninja!
Tools
- Axure RP Pro
- Adobe Dreamweaver
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- XHTML, CSS, JS
- PHP
E-commerce information architecture & design
Costume Hell
2009
My Client
Costume Hell, a Web store offering costumes, accessories, gifts and event tickets.My Challenge
Help a startup e-commerce site implement a successful design process. Quickly produce design and documentation to guide development.My Solution
My client approached me simply asking for design mockups. I immediately assessed the need for prerequisite deliverables, including documented business goals, functional requirements, site maps, and wireframes. I delivered above and beyond my client’s expectations, and the site launched on schedule.Remarks
Thank you for your perfect work. This is thrilling! Infinite gratitude.
Tools
- Axure RP Pro
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe InDesign
- Microsoft Visio
Interface design
samples
Corporate travel booking platform
GetThere
2008
My Client
GetThere — a corporate travel reservation system; owned by Sabre Holdings.My Challenge
Design interfaces for a complex, whitelabeled travel booking application.My Solution
As one of a small team of interaction designers, I created high-fidelity mockups and prototypes for complex travel booking Web application. My projects often involved interpreting usability test findings and other human factors data to improve product design. I also coordinated user experience design efforts with developers, product managers and other stakeholders.Remarks
Ben has a strong Web design and development skill set.
Tools
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Dreamweaver
- XHTML, CSS, JS
- PHP
Small business web site
Culligan of Lubbock
2009
My Client
A family-owned franchise in Lubbock, Texas, offering water filtration and treatment solutions for local homes and businesses.My Challenge
My client approached me with an existing Web site and said: “Take my ideas and make them work. Our marketing materials should be thought through very carefully. Therefore, I will be concerned with every detail including design, content, wording, layout, spacing, colors, etc.”My Solution
I took my client’s ideas and designed a clean, elegant interface that supported the brand image and marketing strategy. I provided the site with a layout that seamlessly merged static and dynamic content while maintaining a cohesive look and feel.Tools
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Flash
- Adobe Dreamweaver
- XHTML, CSS, JS
- PHP
Interactive report analysis webapp
TAKS-Guide
2008 – 2010
My Client
Strozeski Enterprises, an independent consultancy helping Texas school districts interpret educational assessment data and improve instruction.My Challenge
Help my client make a huge leap forward in services, from providing a simple PowerPoint presentation to delivering a fully interactive tool for explaining state test results to anyone — parents, teachers, school administrators, and newspaper reporters.My Solution
I worked with my client to gain insight into business needs and user goals. I then designed and developed TAKS-Guide, a Web application that allows users to view the state assessment reports and interactively determine what each part of each report means.Tools
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Flash
- Adobe Dreamweaver
- XHTML, CSS, JS
Prototyping
samples
High-fidelity prototype
Best Buy
2010
My Client
Best Buy — consumer electronic retailer with over 1,150 stores worldwide.My Challenge
Create a high-fidelity, click-through prototype of a custom retail marketing Web application… in less than three days!My Solution
I worked closely with a project team to rapidly generate dozens of pixel-perfect mockups of a Web-based marketing workflow and asset management tool. I created clickable hotspots on the mockups and collaborated with a member of the sales team who would demonstrate the prototype to the client.Remarks
This is really good work done on a very short timeline. The entire team appreciates your dedication and ‘can-do’ attitude.
Tools
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Dreamweaver
- XHTML, CSS
Clickable wireframe prototype
U.S. Treasury
2009 – 2010
My Client
United States Department of the Treasury — the executive department of the U.S. government that manages revenue.My Challenge
Create a clickable, low-fidelity prototype of a user experience optimized layout for a tax payment system enrollment form.My Solution
After creating an initial round of static wirefames, I used Axure’s rapid prototyping tool set to generate a browser-based, interactive prototype. I used my prototype to demo the new interface to my client via remote desktop sharing. My client loved it — seeing the design “in action” helped them better understand how my interaction design enhancements would lead to a vastly improved user experience.Remarks
I love you Ben Judy! I like the way your mind works.
Tools
- Axure RP Pro
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
UI code
samples
Global markup and CSS standards
Travelocity
2005 – 2008
My Client
Travelocity — a leading provider of consumer-direct travel services for leisure and business.My Challenge
Enforce coding standards for a diverse team of HTML and CSS developers. Maintain the Travelocity global CSS architecture.My Solution
As a member of the design team at Travelocity, my skill and passion for clean, semantic, standards-compliant UI code caught the attention of my managers. I was quickly promoted to the position of User Interface Technologist, where I took the initiative to document new standards for markup and styles for all of Travelocity’s Web properties. My code reviews became well known for thoroughness and for objectively demonstrating the value of well-written code.Remarks
Ben has been very instrumental in helping the design team focus on a process. His documentation has been useful and very clear.
Tools
- Adobe Dreamweaver
- Adobe Photoshop
- XHTML, CSS, JS
- Tidy W3C Validator
- Microsoft Word
HTML, CSS & JS
Santander Consumer USA
2009
My Client
Santander Consumer USA Inc. — one of the fastest-growing companies in the automotive finance sector.My Challenge
Write cross-browser compatible, UI-layer code for an interactive vehicle make and type selector to be integrated into a car review video search tool.My Solution
I took my client’s design layout and quickly determined how the vehicle selector should function. I hand-coded W3C valid XHTML and CSS, and leveraged the jQuery javascript library to handle UI functionality. I returned perfect code to my client ahead of schedule and within budget.Remarks
This is perfect! Thanks so much for the quick turnaround, Ben.
Tools
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Dreamweaver
- XHTML, CSS, JS
SEO optimized marketing
Best Technical Resources
2009
My Client
Mike Hanes — IT staffing consultant and founder of ProVisionTech.My Challenge
Rapidly design, develop and launch a working “squeeze page” to generate contacts and potential sales leads.My Solution
I interviewed my client to assess his business goals. I helped him evaluate online tactics and select an approach to building his business that worked with his budget and timeline. I then hand-coded an SEO-optimized, fully functional contact capture form.Tools
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Dreamweaver
- XHTML, CSS, JS
Design process
samples
User experience education
RAPPux.com
2009 – 2010
My Client
RAPP — a traditional, offline marketing agency trying to reinvent itself as a leader in the digital arena.My Challenge
Introduce the agency to a new way of working. Explain basic Web design & development processes and integrate them into the existing agency ecosystem.My Solution
I quickly designed and launched RAPPux.com, an internal site detailing the activities, roles, and deliverables necessary for optimal digital design process.Remarks
Great job! Clearly your expertise shined through.
Tools
- WordPress
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Dreamweaver
- XHTML, CSS, JS
- PHP
Presentation” “User Experience and Information Architecture”
RAPP
2009
My Client
RAPP — a traditional, offline marketing agency trying to reinvent itself as a leader in the digital arena.My Challenge
An informative, fun presentation introducing key UX and IA concepts to the uninformed.My Solution
I wrote and delivered a 22 minute overview of user experience design as a discipline. I addressed key aspects of UX, cleared up some misconceptions about IA, and stressed the importance of an efficient, user-centered design process. Watch on Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/6236289Remarks
It’s looking awesome! Nice work.
Tools
- Adobe Photoshop
- Microsoft PowerPoint
Digital design process
rethink books
2009 – 2010
My Client
rethink books — a startup company aiming to revolutionize the publishing industry and change the way people write, read and share books.My Challenge
A comprehensive digital design process uniquely tailored to the goals of the startup company and the business environment of the book publishing industry.My Solution
I created a series of deliverables that defined the activities, roles and deliverables needed to build the rethink books system.Tools
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe InDesign
Requirements documentation
rethink books
2009 – 2010
My Client
rethink books — a startup company aiming to revolutionize the publishing industry and change the way people write, read and share books.My Challenge
Requirements documentation to define business goals and site functionality.My Solution
I began writing a business requirements document by inteviewing key stakeholders and organizing the information in an easy to read BRD format. I wrote user stories and functional requirements that supported the business goals.Tools
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe InDesign
- Google Docs