I'm Victor H. Zavala,
a designer based in Orange County, California.
I bring a UX sensibility and an understanding of the UCD process to the role of UI and visual designer. This ability to think beyond the depth of a single skill enhances the work I contribute.
Regardless of the design method or project scope, I first start by understanding the problem within context of the whole.
StrateGy: Design by definition is strategic. It sheds light on the problem and acts as a springboard for planning the desired outcome. This understanding informs how I work to achieve the common, shared goal.
UX Value: The most important “business tool" I leverage is my understanding of UX principles and practices. Through empathy I address the problem to contribute meaningful, effective outcomes.
Applying insights and the IA and into my work means actively looking for opportunities to enhance the experience.
Design: UX and visual design take insights one step further. I look for ways to make the content visually appealing and easier to understand and navigate. By supporting the underlying IA I facilitate conversions.
WORKFLOW: Having a cross-disciplinary understanding enables me to pull varied skills into my workflow — from aesthetics and UX to HMTL/CSS. I can bring a fuller perspective into the design process.
While in the financial sector I delivered user-centered solutions on multiple projects within the roles of UI, visual and interaction designer.
My biggest accomplishment during this period: contributing lead UI design for Chase Bank's website refresh.
Something I’ve learned — starting with the end in mind serves the product vision by acting like a guiding flag for desired outcomes.
But to get there, an intentional process is required to design solutions that can flourish in the market place. The quotes below highlight this notion:
"Everyone designs who devises courses of action aimed at changing existing situations into preferred ones."
"Design is intelligence made visible."
"User experience encompasses all aspects of the end-user’s interaction with the company, its services, and its products."
"If we want users to like our software we should design it to behave like a likable person: respectful, generous and helpful."
"Creativity is the process of having original ideas that have value... It’s a process not an event."
"We're all designers, right?... [Even] your non-design decisions are themselves design decisions."
The best toolkit is a curious, capable mind. And these are the skills I apply:
