Brandi Madar 2024 Headshot

I’m a natural-born leader, problem solver, and strategic thinker with an incredible sense of empathy for people and a passion for human experiences.

I’m all about growth, innovation, and keeping things positive! With a knack for creative problem-solving, I dive into complex challenges with fresh ideas and a focus on efficiency.

I believe that teamwork makes the magic happen, so I love collaborating with diverse teams to build user-centered solutions that not only WOW users but also drive business success.

 

education.

 

2021

Academy of Art University — San Francisco
Bachelor of Science Web Design & New Media
Transfer — Completed 141 / 171 Credits

2016

The Art Institute — Pittsburgh
Associate of Science Web Design & Interactive Media

skills.

 

product design.

market research
competitive analysis
data analysis
business strategy
measurable KPIs
strategic problem solving
cross-functional collaboration
agile development
epics + user stories

ux + ui design.

human-centered interaction design
research + usability testing
wireframes
user flows
low + high fidelity prototyping
user personas + user scenarios
storyboards + journey maps
vr + kiosk + desktop + mobile UI design
design systems

web + graphic design.

art direction
icon design
layout design
print design
branding + logo design
HTML + CSS

design process.

Often, in life, it’s more about the journey than the destination. I believe in design, it’s about both.

The process is important, and it’s something I care about a lot. In both product design and UX design, the process principles are fairly similar. I feel the difference comes down to the “what”. UX design focuses largely on the user’s goals alone , while product design focuses on aligning business goals AND the user’s goals.

 

listen & understand.

 

What are everyone’s goals? What are we trying to communicate? What problem are we trying to solve? What do we know? What do we need to find out?

 

research & analyze.

 

I prefer data-driven design decisions whenever possible. Competitive analysis, user testing, reviewing analytical data—anything to help answer questions about the users.

 

user-centered design.

 

Now that I can better empathize with the user’s and the stakeholder’s needs, it’s time to apply that knowledge to creative designs and innovative solutions.

 

review & iterate.

 

I love presenting and articulating design decisions. Whether I’m testing a paper prototype for a new product or test a fully developed product looking for improvements, user feedback is valuable.

Familiar Apps.png

The right tools get the job done.

Staying up to date.png

Staying current is important.

I’m very committed to growth. I want to be the best leader, designer, and human being I can possibly be, and I’m always looking for new ways to learn.

If you are looking for a good read, I am currently enjoying Tom Greever’s Articulating Design Decisions.

hobbies + personal interests.

Life is beautiful, and I love living my life to the fullest. I always see the glass half-full which allows me to see the possibilities and opportunities in everything.

 

travel + adventure.

I’m fascinated by diversity and long to explore places + cultures. I also have a dream of snowboarding as many resorts in the world as possible. Fun fact, there are 5882 resorts worldwide.

fitness + health.

I’m a huge gym and nutrition nerd. I love cooking nutritious meals and physical activity. Lifting, boxing, snowboarding, and hopefully I can add surfing to this list in the near future. I even started a health blog recently.

creating + inspiring.

I’m an entertainer at heart. Whether it’s to make you laugh or inform you, I long to create and educate using many forms of media, especially cinematography.