ABOUT
Matt Walker is a seasoned Senior UX/UI Design Expert with an impressive 27-year track record creating exceptional products for renowned global brands. Throughout my career, I have consistently demonstrated prowess in creative concept strategy, development, and leadership that has garnered multiple awards, including a prestigious Webby Award.
In my current role as the Design Lead for the State of Connecticut, I am spearheading a significant initiative to revamp and simplify the states websites, including DMV, Labor, and Parks, into a more user-friendly experience. My strategic thinking and ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders have proven instrumental in achieving consensus and ensuring have proven instrumental in achieving consensus and ensuring the success of each project.
Previously, as the Head of UX/UI for the Yale Library, I played a pivotal role in a comprehensive redesign of the Yale Library website, establishing it as a top-ranking library site in the country. My analytical skills and knack for presenting effective solutions were crucial in navigating the challenges of overseeing the redesign for the third-largest library in the country.
During my tenure at NumberFire (acquired by FanDuel), I created the brand-new RotoWorld.com for NBC Sports, showcasing my adaptability and innovation. Additionally, my role as the Head of Design for ESPN’s Fantasy Sports product line for over 8 years contributed significantly to ESPN Fantasy’s dominance, growing it from the third to the top Fantasy gaming product globally.
My achievements include the successful integration of social media and gamification, significantly expanding ESPN Fantasy Sports reach onto mobile platforms. Notably, the ESPN Fantasy Football iPad app, which I designed, received the 2013 Webby Award for Best Game (Tablet & All Other Devices).
My passion lies in architecting effective product and experience strategies, applying analytical and creative thinking to ideation, evaluation, and end-to-end design execution. I have been privileged to collaborate with major sports entities and personalities, such as the Pittsburgh Pirates, Orlando Magic, and renowned athletes like Marshall Faulk, CC Sabathia, and Albert Pujols.
RESUME
QUALIFICATIONS
Senior Product Design, Interaction Design and Logo Design specialist with over 28 years of creating rich and award-winning interactive experiences across multiple platforms and devices. Excels at creative concept strategy, development, and inspiring creative teams. Creative work rewarded with multiple awards, including a Webby Award, and helped bring ESPN Fantasy Sports to the number one Fantasy platform in the world.
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
State of Connecticut, DAS | BiTS
Design Lead Oct 2021 – Present
Creating and implementing the design strategy for all of the State of Connecticut websites. My main focus is creating a cohesive system at an Enterprise level that can serve the entire state agency needs.
YALE UNIVERSITY
Digital Experience Design Lead Jan 2018 – Jun 2021
Digital Experience Design Lead at Yale University Library APR 2019 – Present Responsible for the User Experience of the Yale University Library website system. My responsibilities are focused on User Experience, Branding, look and feel and more. The Yale Library is the third largest library in the country.
NEW HORIZONS LEARNING SOLUTIONS
Senior UX/UI Designer Jan 2018 – Jan 2019
Senior User Experience designer tasked with taking the award-winning off-line Software Education Giant and helping change their business to a completely online application that can be taken from anywhere.
NUMBERFIRE (acquired by FanDuel)
Senior UX/UI Designer Jan 2017 – Dec 2017
Responsible for defining the look, feel, layout and interaction details of digital products for NumberFire and their partner brands. Spent an entire year working hand in hand with NBC Sports to redesign RotoWorld, their premier Fantasy Sports Editorial site.
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
Senior UX/UI Designer Aug 2015 – Jan 2017
Senior Visual and Experience designer for both Mobile and web applications at Sports Illustrated, Golf.com, and SIKids.com. Lead the entire redesign of SportsIllustrated.com and its numerous sub-brands from scratch to much critical acclaim.
CONTINUITY
VP Creative Design Nov 2014 – June 2015
As VP of Creative Design, oversee all creative efforts for the organization. I established and created the look and feel and brand for this young Tech startup. Day to day responsibilities combines both online and offline brand direction as well as strategy within our products and company direction. This includes Application UX/UI, marketing materials and overall creative production throughout the company.
ESPN.COM FANTASY SPORTS
Creative Lead Dec 2005 – May 2014
Lead Creative for ESPN Fantasy Sports for over 8.5 years. Concepted, wire-framed, prototyped and set the direction for all of our games on both mobile and desktop platforms. I developed innovative navigation systems, interface designs, typography, and page layouts for mobile and web packages and other interactive media. In addition to that, I led creative direction on all branding, look and feel and logo work for the entire ESPN Fantasy platform. In my tenure, ESPN became the number one Fantasy gaming site in the world and accounted for over 35% of all traffic to ESPN.com.
CASUALCORNERGROUP.COM
Creative Director Jan 2003 – Dec 2005
Directed all of the creative for CasualCorner.com, PetiteSophisticate.com, and Responsible for any and all creative for the Casual Corner, Petite Sophisticate and August Max websites. Manage the creative department and team, which consist of full time staff and freelancers. Coordinate and build daily site updates and changes based on up to date site metrics. Design and implement Email Marketing Strategize, design and build Sales/Promotions Art Direct and manage monthly photo shoots as well as periodic photo work. Oversee and coordinate Image Enhancement for each monthly site refresh for all three brands as well as Carolee and Adrienne Vittadini. Clients Include: Casual Corner, Petite Sophisticate, and August Max. Carolee and Adrienne Vittadini (for photo enhancement only).
FRY MULTIMEDIA
Senior Art Director July 2000 – May 2002
Development of visual designs synergistic with the user interface, information, interactive designs, current technology, and client requirements Design tasks include Wireless hand-held application interface, Internet application interface, Website, Promotion, and advertising design. Manage client communication through all phases of development process Work with the team of engineers, Product Management and Production to ensure prompt delivery and development of creative briefs, goals and concepts, competitive site analyses, user interface designs, and branding characteristics. Conduct and lead internal and client creative reviews. Manage and train a team of junior creatives.
Clients Include: Best Cellars, Coach, Cornell University, Godiva Chocolatier, Growing Family, New York Mercantile Exchange, Ragú, The Sporting News, Waterworks, Waterford, Wishbone
CYBERRETAIL.COM
Co-founder/Creative Director Jan 1999 – May 2000
Oversaw and led all company branding including Advertising, Promotion, Direct Mail, Interactive extensions, Site Design, Sales materials, media kits, and Trade Show kiosks and materials. Created Company’s digital imaging standards and Pro-IPO materials.
EAST WEST CREATIVE
Art Director July 1998 – Feb 1999
Created promotional pieces for packaged goods that included youth-oriented cereal box designs and package designs for the adult foods and beverages Company recognized and highly ranked in Promo Magazine’ s Top 100 in 1999
Clients Include Cool Whip, Jell-O, Johnson & Johnson, Keebler, Kraft Foods, Oreo, and Post Cereals.
YOE STUDIO
Senior Designer
Created initial creative concepts for logo designs, style guides, magazines, toys, store displays, and product lines.
Clients Include Cartoon Network, Goosebumps, Zamboni, Big Boy, Rugrats, Nickelodeon, Time-Warner, Richard Simmons, Bazooka Joe, Steven Spielberg, Hasbro Interactive and Keebler.
SKILL/PROGRAMS
Design Strategy, Branding, UX + UI Design, Wire framing, Prototyping, Logo Design, Typography, Client Management, Mentorship, Mobile First Design, iPhone, iPad, Android Product Design, Usability Testing, Technical Implementation Knowledge, Photo Shoot Direction
EDUCATION
FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
State University of New York
Associate in Applied Science degree, June 1996; Advertising Design Major; June 1995; Illustration Major
Student Body President,
Board of Trustee Member
DESIGN AWARDS/ACHIEVEMENTS
2 Logo’s Published in the prestigious 2017 Logo Lounge Book 10 and 4 logos in the 2014 Logo Lounge Book 8 • 2013 Webby Award Winner for Best Game (Tablet & All Other Devices) – ESPN Fantasy Football iPad App • 2012 Three logos published in the first ever LogoPond.com “LogoPond V1” design book • 2011 John F. Kennedy Catholic High School Hall of Fame Inductee for his contributions in the areas of Branding and Web Strategy • Judge for the 2009 Logopond Awards. • Judge for the 2010 Annual Design Awards contest.• Fall 2004 Logos published in “Logos: Making a Strong Mark” • ‘03 & ‘02 Web Awards Standard of Excellence for Waterford.com • 2003 Web Awards Standard of Excellence for Ragú • 2002 Web Awards Outstanding Web Sites for Ragú • 2001 Web Marketing Association’s Standard of Excellence Award for Waterworks.com • 1998 National Corporate Identity of America Award for Zamboni logo