Thanks for stopping by!
I’m Amy Simmonds.
I’m a US-based, principal-level product designer and UX strategist with graduate-level training and over 15 years of experience working in technology and education.
My philosophy
Open, honest communication.
Much of what I do is evaluated subjectively, and by many people. I value feedback and thrive in environments where an open exchange of ideas can happen among teams. Transparency about our challenges and goals allows me to contribute and help align our decisions with the bigger picture.
Perpetual motion.
I’m always learning and looking for ways to be more efficient to increase the impact I can have on an organization. I own mistakes and use them as opportunities to streamline preventative solutions that can provide benefits to the group as a whole.
Entrepreneurial curiosity.
After eight years of running a freelance business, my brain is always looking at business solutions that could solve some of life’s problems. If I’ve applied to or assisted your company before, it’s likely I’ve already had some cooking!
My background
I have a graduate-level education in product design principles and over 15 years of experience designing for the web.
Skills
A/B Test Design
Accessibility Compliance
AP Style
Competitive Analysis
Design Thinking
Heuristic Analysis
Persona Creation
Rapid Prototyping
User Journeys
User Testing
Tools
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe InDesign
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe XD
Blender
Cinema4D
CSS
Figma
HTML
InVision
Sketch
WordPress
My feedback
Amy is very easy to work with. She adheres to the schedule and often drives the project to stay on schedule. She responds very quickly and her costs were competitive for the expertise and work quality. Amy went the “extra mile” to ensure that my files were sent to my printer and made herself available to answer any design questions on print day.
Amy is probably the easiest designer I’ve ever gotten the pleasure to work with. She handles quick changes with grace and I’ve rarely, if ever, seen her crack under pressure. She is also quick to jump in and help someone with less experience learn the ropes of what is a very demanding job. I’ve always been entertained by her wit, and am impressed with her page designs.
Amy and I worked together to create 3 [regionalized] versions of a 140-page workbook in a very short timeline. She was a pleasure to work with on this project. Amy hits her deadlines, communicates clearly and frequently, and stays on top of details. She often brought issues to my attention I may have otherwise missed, which is just the kind of partner you need on a large scale project like this where there are 1000s of details.
Amy has strong skills as a communicator, team player, and website manager … Amy played a key role in managing all aspects of the ISU Foundation’s website, electronic communications, online giving and online event management.
Amy worked with a number of different staff members to complete projects and manage deadlines. She has a strong work ethic and is able to manage multiple projects and priorities. She is a fast learner, and takes initiative to learn new technologies and skills as part of her daily work.
