Hillsboro, OR 97124
www.howervision.com

Summary

Daniel Hower has delivered successful results to numerous agencies and businesses in the Internet industry. He has twelve years of professional experience in web interface design.

Dan is an exceptional web graphic designer and a certified developer in HTML, xHTML and CSS. He utilizes JavaScript such as JQuery, Moo.FX and sIFR to enrich web sites and applications and builds dynamic pages with PHP. Dan's expertise also includes information design, user experience and Section 508. He has top-notch interpersonal skills, an extensive background in the fine arts, and an interest in business development.

These characteristics allow Dan to handle diverse responsibilities and makes him a significant asset to any web business-driven company. His goal is to provide outstanding value as an experienced, highly talented employee on a creative or marketing team.

Detailed Work Experience

Senior UX Designer at Aquent
April 2009 - present
On assignment with the web marketing team at The Regence Group which supports their member portal, myRegence.com.

Senior Web Interface Designer at Aquent
June 2008 - December 2008
Added significant value to Red Studio, Inc. by operating as their web design services capability.

  • Reported directly to the Creative Director and collaborated with her design team to create complete web and print marketing assets for clients
  • Oversaw and engaged in every aspect of new web projects including creative, front-end development, quality assurance and setting up web traffic analysis accounts
  • Enriched user experiences with JavaScript such as Jquery and sIFR; Flash video, Flash JumpEye media components and Google Map API

Senior Web Interface Designer at The Regence Group
December 2006 - May 2008
Contributed to enrolling nearly 300,000 new users within a year at myRegence.com, a customer service portal for insured members of BlueCross BlueShield Regence, the primary health insurance company for the Pacific Northwest.

  • Introduced and authored validated xHTML and CSS based layouts to myRegence.com's IT infrastructure which resulted in faster rendering pages, better managed code and improved accessibility for people with disabilities
  • Designed and developed the final look and feel for the welcome page for the "Join the Conversation" marketing campaign, a key component to enrolling 300,000 new users
  • Authored user-centric information architecture which outlined the foundation for myRegence.com v2.0
  • Mentored two web interface designers on xHTML, CSS and related markup practices

Senior Web Interface Designer at Filter/Talent
June 2006 - October 2006
Improved the user experience and user interface for Pheedo, Inc.'s enterprise level web-based applications. Pheedo pioneered the RSS advertising industry in 2003 and their efforts have resulted in triple digit revenue growth for leading publishers.

  • Authored key usability improvements based on customer needs, analysis of current applications and new business requirements
  • Introduced and authored validated xHTML and CSS based layouts to Pheedo's IT infrastructure which resulted in faster rendering pages and better managed code
  • Strengthened Pheedo's brand by visually redesigning both applications and marketing web site simultaneously

Senior Consultant promoted to Associate at Booz Allen Hamilton
February 2003 - April 2006
Created tremendous impact by translating client and project team initiatives into visual requirements that resulted in a wide variety of graphic design deliverables, including web, print, motion and multimedia. Booz Allen is a 95 year old firm at the forefront of strategy and technology consulting with 20,000 employees and over $4 billion in annual revenue.

  • Converted a paper-based classroom course into a CD-based learning tool that resulted in more efficient training of FDA employees
  • Art directed, designed and developed the new web site for IPIX.com. Project managed remaining tasks as an Associate
  • Awarded the Team's Appreciation Award – Absolute Personal Best in April 2005
  • Promoted to Associate within two years

Senior Web Interface Designer at Lokion Interactive, LLC
February 2001 - January 2003, April 2006 - June 2006
Added significant value to Lokion Interactive during their startup phase by operating as their web design services capability, resulting in tremendous company growth and new business.

  • Designed several notional UI concepts for Viking Range which had an impact on the final site design launched two years later
  • Project managed, designed and developed a new web site for Lokion's partner firm, The Ramey Agency
  • Reported directly to the President and collaborated with her development team to provide complete web solutions for a variety of clients

Art Director at Plural, Inc.
September 2000 - January 2001
Founded a new creative team at Plural's DC office and introduced best practices and methodologies authored at marchFIRST.

  • Shared knowledge with developers and bridged the gap between designers and developers resulting in more effective teamwork
  • Wore many hats, including project management as well as development to ensure project success
  • Authored usability recommendations for NASDAQ Online which resulted in a more user friendly site experience

Senior Web Interface Designer promoted to Art Director at marchFIRST (USWeb/CKS)
June 1997 - August 2000
Brought creative services capability to the DC office as the first in-house web designer and 'employeee #7'. By 2000 we were a $15m a year office and one of the largest internet professional service offices in the area.

  • Designed and redesigned the web properties for several world reknown clients such as America Online, US Airways, Royal Caribbean, Fannie Mae and the National Geographic
  • Authored the 'online style guide' which provided development documentation for all our clients
  • Promoted to Art Director within two and a half years; managed and mentored a team of eight designers with varying levels of experience
  • Improved design team's capabilities with the latest computer hardware, graphic software solutions and design training opportunities

Skills

Hand coded validated xHTML, advanced CSS, Section 508, JavaScript and PHP. Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver and Visio. Strong interpersonal, presentation, communication and organizational skills. Competent on PC and Mac. Experience in Java and PHP environments.


Education

Syracuse University, MFA in Art Media Studies in Computer Graphics, May 1996
Rochester Institute of Technology, BFA in Graphic Design, May 1993


Honors and Awards

Exhibitions

  • June 2007: Pixel: Artists Who Use The Computer juried art show
  • October 2006: Filter/Talent office in Portland, Oregon
  • 1997: annual VENTE exhibit at Fujita Research, Encino, CA
  • Fall 1996: 7th Visual Fantasy at Machida City Museum Of Graphic Arts, Tokyo, Japan
  • Summer 1996: SIGGRAPH '96 in the Computer Animation Festival Electronic Theater
  • Spring 1996: Work exhibited at University of Iowa, Museum of Art, in the THAW 96 Digital Festival
  • Fall 1995: La Segunda Bienal De Video Y Artes Electronicas de Santiago

Press and Awards

  • April 2005: Team's Appreciation Award for Absolute Personal Best (Booz Allen Hamilton)
  • March 2000: US Airways new website design wins honors by Emarketer
  • March 2000: Co-authored article on Photoshop 5.5, published on Cnet.com

Related Interests

Video games, video game advertisements, pop art, graphic design, urban decay, Pontiac automobiles, electronica music, and cartoon animation.


*** References available upon request

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