Kyle Strash

Summary

Creative and versatile designer with a focus on delightful user experiences that fulfill a brand’s mission. Enjoys working in a collaborative, team-driven environment and thrives taking on leadership responsibilities. Effectively communicates with peers and stakeholders to ensure projects run smoothly from start to finish.

Work Experience

UX Designer

SportsEngine, Minneapolis, Minnesota
January 2020–Present

• Design lead for the Sales Channel team, focused on connecting integration partners to users
• Conduct research and identify user journeys to understand customer needs and opportunities
• Collaborate with product managers and engineers to define product strategy
• Design UI that presents partner offers in various workflows and contexts
• Championed an experience vision that identifies future product opportunities

Visual Brand Manager, Principal Brand Designer

SportsEngine, Minneapolis, Minnesota
March 2019–January 2020

• Oversaw evolution of SportsEngine brand to represent multiple sub-brands and relationship to the broader NBC Sports group
• Led update of SportsEngine websites to Drupal platform, including site requirements, content strategy, and creation of a scalable design system
• Trained team in UX principles, introducing user-centric and outcomes-based approaches for solving design problems
• Served on creative leadership team, overseeing design processes, identifying opportunities and efficiencies within a fast-paced environment
• Facilitated weekly design critiques, ensuring high level concept and execution in campaign deliverables across the SportsEngine brand
• Presented campaign and design concepts to gain buy-in from department and company leadership

Senior Designer

SportsEngine, Minneapolis, Minnesota
August 2016–March 2019

• Designed and developed landing pages, emails, and other marketing communications that drove new prospects to sales team
• Led design on Gameplan onboarding experience resulting in faster activations for new customers to the SportsEngine platform
• Created company’s first ecommerce-enabled site, communicating value of SportsEngine platform and driving direct sales via online checkout
• Collaborated with UX team as lead visual designer on first version of SportEengine.com youth sports web directory
• Coordinated internal team design conference with other senior designers, led workshop on typography for web design
• Managed and mentored junior designers to help them advance in their careers and sharpen design skills

Web Designer

SportsEngine, Minneapolis, Minnesota
March 2015–August 2016

• Conducted client interviews, research, and collaborated with project managers to understand various project
• Designed custom websites for national and local youth sports organizations
• Led design effort on responsive themes for proprietary CMS platform
• Worked with front-end developers to implement mobile responsive best practices with design team

Web Design & Development

RESCO, Hudson, Wisconsin
April 2010–March 2015

• Designed and developed concepts for websites, built with industry best practices
• Collaborated with account managers and design team to deliver projects on time and on budget
• Completed small projects for local clients and large-scale projects for national clients, including Dole and Jennie-O
• Coordinated with BLITZ Agency to redesign the DoleFoodservice.com website
• Led design and development on Dole Culinary Collection Recipe database, designed to work as a CD-ROM or web-based application

Freelance Designer

Kyle Strash Design, Saint Paul, Minnesota
January 2009–Present

• Developed concepts for websites, packaging and other promotional materials
• Created branding and identity systems for various small businesses
• Designed and implemented WordPress, Drupal and Shopify themes
• Researched industry best practices and trends to ensure works stays at the forefront of technology and design

Graphic Designer

Circle 1 Network, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
February 2008–November 2008

• Designed interactive Flash interfaces for a children’s gaming site (KidsCom.com)
• Collaborated with creative team members to come up with game concepts
• Built out HTML web pages to meet various website needs
• Created print promotional materials that reflected KidsCom.com design standards

Creative Production Assistant

National Business Furniture, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
May 2003–July 2008

• Oversaw a group of temporary employees to lead a web redesign project
• Led department’s Scene7 project to increase customer interactivity and options at website
• Utilized software skills to complete web and catalog projects
• Collaborated with Art Director to develop new catalog page layouts
• Organized data to complete various web redesign projects

Skills

• Design: User Experience, User Interface Design, Creative Strategy, Art Direction, Branding, Design Thinking Strategies, Typography, Web Design, Wireframing, Prototyping, Information Architecture, Creative Presentation/Pitching Concepts, Digital Marketing, Content Strategy, Copywriting, Web Development, User Research
• Leadership: Mentoring Designers, Facilitating/Providing Design Feedback,  Defining Design Processes, Collaborating with Peers
• Software/Tools: Mac and PC proficient, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Sketch, Invision, Abstract
• Web Technologies: HTML, CSS/SaSS, JavaScript/jQuery, WordPress, Drupal, Shopify, Email Marketing

Education

• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM)
• September 2002–December 2007
• Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts, emphasis in Graphic Design
• Certificate in Digital Arts and Culture
• Completed three semesters of Architectural Studies

Additional Activities

• Serves on team for company software philanthropy initiative
• Event Coordinator for AIGA–UWM Chapter (2007)
• Collaborated with peers to organize AIGA–UWM’s 2007 “Driven” design conference

References

Available upon request.