About
Hello. My name is Johnny Cash Chris McQueen. Born as a child, I have made it to the grand age of 28. Along the way of course – I’ve picked up many skills, including -but not limited to- how to iron a shirt (properly), how to speak French after several pints of Guinness (not properly), and how to turn a good idea into a questionable endeavour.
I am a User Experience Designer who (coincidentally) runs a small User Experience Design consultancy called User Solutions. Firstly, that means I’m interested in all things interactive… people, technology, and a combination of the two. Secondly, it means I like it when people and technology work together… really really well!
Why? Well -and please correct me if I’m wrong- but quite often the ‘peoples’ and the ‘technologies’ don’t get on very well. Complex systems are designed by complex people, complex businesses or business processes, or -worst of all- the lowest bidder! Most real users just want something simple, straightforward, and easy to use but this is often the last thing to be considered in the design process. Over the last 5 years, my aim has been to try -in any small way I can- to try and solve this problem through well considered and user-focused design, simplicity and the application of common sense.
Background
Throughout my career to date, I have focused upon the effective integration of user-focused systems and services including mobile devices, kiosk services, and rich internet applications. I am often involved with all aspects of project work from project scoping to design and implementation.
At University I studied Ergonomics and focused heavily on UCD, HCI, cognitive psychology and human behaviour. My HCI and accessibility focused project dissertation; ‘An Indoor/Outdoor Navigation System for Blind Pedestrians’ proposed how blind pedestrians can benefit from advancing navigational technologies through auditory and tactile user interfaces.
My work often relies upon the effective liaison between visually orientated designers and more analytically adept software developers, whilst considering management and marketing objectives. A recent project involved the design of enterprise level web-based applications to enhance the collaboration of teams based in Shanghai and the US throughout the development of touch-screen user interfaces.
Skills and Experience
6 years professional experience working within User Experience (UX) and Human Factors (HF) teams, from both client and consultancy standpoints.
Agile working experience throughout an iterative design, rapid prototyping and testing of Rich Internet Applications (RIAs).
Skilled in writing client reports, presenting data and facilitating meetings.
Significant experience gathering user requirements through task analysis, heuristics, and ethnographic research. Conducted user testing with disabled and non-disabled participants. Skilled in interpreting test results, documenting outcomes, supplying feedback and recommendations, and applying user-centred design best practice.
Ability to manage full testing lifecycle from participant recruitment to acceptance and sign-off.
Regularly perform rapid prototyping tasks and wireframe concept development utilising paper-prototyping techniques and software design tools including OmniGraffle, Microsoft Visio and Axure RP.
Skilled in the creation of interactive prototypes through XHTML and CSS. Regularly utilise Adobe Fireworks, Photoshop, and the Flex 3 environment to test RIA designs.
Conversant with Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) guidelines, Pas 78, Disability Discrimination Act (UK), and Section 508 (US).