HUNTER WHITNEY

West Coast: (415) 385-8489 • East Coast: (202) 986-1530

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

 

USER EXPERIENCE DESIGNER and CONTENT CREATOR

User Experience Design

 

-        Digital media professional with expertise in the area of user experience design, user interface design, and information architecture for the Web, interactive TV and desktop applications.

-        Core functional specialization includes successfully completing competitive analysis, heuristic evaluations, user profiles, conceptual designs, user feedback testing, project management and final user interface testing.

-        Client list includes AOL, Cisco Systems, Yahoo!, Microsoft, Intel, Sapient, the US Defense Intelligence Agency, WebMD, National Cancer Institute, Monterey Bay Aquarium, as well as other major firms and start-ups.

-        Invited guest speaker and panelist at conferences on Interactive Design and Information Architecture at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and USC Marshall School of Business, Bricks and Clicks, HealthNet, Web Business Managers' Summit, and Health Online.

Content Creation

 

-        Seasoned writer of dozens of articles for major publications such as Time magazine, Los Angeles Times, San Jose Mercury News, Variety, Brandweek, Men's Fitness, Omni, PC Computing, among many others.

-        Specialist in making complex topics accessible to the layman, especially in the areas of science, health and technology. 

-        Diverse range of writing styles, from magazine features to ad copy to technical writing.

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

 

As a User Experience Designer

-        Redesigned the UI for the Monterey Bay Aquarium, making over 40,000 pages of static content more dynamic, resulting in a Webby Award-winning site with a spike in traffic, a 50% increase in depth, and overall deeper user immersion.

-        Delivered design recommendations and user needs analysis for a National Cancer Institute intranet project exploring the possibilities of an international collaboration on a cancer research effort.

-        Consulted with View Farm on projects for LSI Logic to streamline the design of integrated circuits, and a leading cable multiple system operator on the design and development of advanced digital cable TV products.

-        Led major UI design projects for AOL (2004 Election Guide), Yahoo! (major UI and IA overhaul of their Health channel, leading to a significant increasein traffic), Microsoft (interaction design for TV.Net and group leader for setting Ultimate TV UI conventions and standards), Intel (various projects, including networked home media systems, Web-based business applications and multiplayer games), and significant strategic UI/IA projects for Cisco Systems, Freddie Mac, the US Defense Intelligence Agency, Sapient, WebMD, PlanetRX, and MedPool.

-        Staff interaction designer and information architect at firms such as Cooper Interaction Design and Razorfish, engaging clients such as E-Stamp, GetThere.com, Logitech, Quickcam, Ebay and Acer; re-envisioned Acer's e-commerce site, leading to a sevenfold jump in transactions within the first two weeks after launch, and a 300% increase in sales volume within six months.

 

As a Writer/Journalist

-        Wrote the cover story for the March/April 2009 issue of Interactions magazine, published by ACM.  Title: The Counterfeit You 

-        Currently writing a non-fiction book examining cross-cultural medical practices.

-        Presented two topics at the 2008 World Usability Day in Washington, DC : Usability in an Air Traffic Control Tower and Wayfinding Concepts for Transit Facilities. 

-        Published an article in November 2007 for World Usability, Washington, DC: Bringing Usability to the Frontlines of Medicine (reprinted in a Society for Technical Communication newsletter.)

-        Reported numerous stories for Time magazine's Los Angeles bureau on a variety of topics from the second OJ trial to paranormal TV.

-        Served as the American correspondent of a prestigious Japanese medical journal covering emerging research and treatment trends.

 

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

 

 

EDUCATIONAL and PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS

 

 University of California (Santa Cruz, CA) | BA in Biology

 University of California (Los Angeles, CA) | BA in English, cum laude

 University of St. Andrews (Fife, Scotland) | Certificates of Merit in Classics and Philosophy

 

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

 

 Special Interest Group Computer Human Interaction (SIGCHI – Bay Area Chapter)

 Information Systems Security Association (ISSA)

 Interaction Design Association (IDA)

 Washington DC Information Architects (DCIA)