Feb 2010 - Aug 2011
developers.facebook.com/socialdesign
Role: Concept, Layout/Interaction Design & Information Architecture, HTML/CSS, Back-End Dev
At Facebook, I was the "Social Design Evangelist" and a product designer. In addition to designing numerous aspects of Facebook.com - including News Feed, Friend Lists, the publisher, Insights and the entire developer site - I also defined and wrote the Social Design Guidelines and presented them to developers working on the platform.
Social design is a central theme of my life. Forever trying to express myself and be heard by others, my goal is to bring more authenticity to online interaction, focusing less on the day-to-day and more on the bigger picture. This opportunity was a chance for me to really explore how to help people be more open and honest, connect with each other through meaningful things and develop stronger bonds.
May 2007 - Sep 2008
Apple
developer.apple.com/iphone/program
Role: Layout/Interaction Design & Information Architecture, HTML/CSS
As part of the Evangelism team at Apple, I worked on numerous projects within Apple's Worldwide Developer Relations group, including interface guidelines, WWDC keynotes and components of the Developer Connection website.
I collaborated with members of the web team to put together a new design of the iPhone Program pages which outlines the process by which new developers can get involved with ADC membership and iPhone application development.
For the interface guidelines, I collaborated with evangelists and technical writers to examine the current information architecture and restructure it based on a new conceptual organization surrounding user needs. This included breaking it into three separate sections: (1) understanding the iPhone platform, (2) developing a concept for an iPhone app and (3) learning the UI elements to use. In addition, I proposed creating a better user experience through popup tooltips, interactive videos, more in-depth imagery, shorter paragraphs and more whitespace.
Jul 2009 - Jan 2010
www.google.com
Role: Concept, Layout/Interaction Design & Information Architecture
As a member of the search user experience team at Google, I had the opportunity to contribute to the new search interface design (the good parts), strategies for search in the future as well as devise a few features enhancing search quality. This included extracting events and answers from links and the "Something different" area on search results, among other things. Additionally, I designed new features and future versions of Webmaster Tools.
To me, it seemed that design at Google wasn't so much about the visual presentation as it was about the functionality and getting users to the data as efficiently as possible. Though an interesting field for its scientific approach, I felt aligned with a different philosophy - one that focuses on a design branding and doesn't rely entirely on data.
July 2010 - present
OneUpMe
www.oneupme.com
Role: Concept, Layout/Interaction Design & Information Architecture, HTML/CSS, Back-End Dev
OneUpMe.com is a wordplay site that fosters abstract and creative thought. The site hosts a variety of games and every day there's new prompt for users to respond to, attempting to 'one-up' each other in the cleverness of their response. But perhaps more importantly, the site is a vibrant community of creative thinkers from around the world in various creative industries.
I originally built this site in 2006 but rewrote its entirety in 2010 using Facebook Connect and social design principles. It has since formed the basis for my Voxle community platform.
Read more about the original site in The Daily Pennsylvanian and the new one in TechCrunch, Nerve.com, Re:COMEDY Magazine, New York Magazine and CBS News.
Jan 2009 - present
The BRIDGE by LMT
www.lmtmag.com?from=voxle
Role: Strategic Consulting, Concept, Layout/Interaction Design & Information Architecture, HTML/CSS, Back-End Dev
LMT is a business strategies trade magazine for dental laboratory decision-makers, in addition to the host of several popular trade shows every year.
The BRIDGE is the first site I created using my Voxle social platform. Lab owners can interact with manufacturers, post thoughts and questions, comment on articles and products, message each other and more. Companies can showcase products, post news and updates, create clinics and events and interact with the community. All the while, a news feed showcases all activity on the site. The backend data also serves as LMT's subscriber information, allowing users to manage their account with LMT and register for trade shows.
Additionally, an iPhone web version made specifically for trade shows allows event-goers to browse, search for and read about clinics and speakers while they're at the show.
Nov 2008 - Feb 2010
Milo
www.milo.com
Role: Layout/Interaction Design & Information Architecture, HTML/CSS
Milo combines a breadth of web technology to bring consumers well-rounded information on products available locally, including product specs, customer reviews and nearby locations to buy the products.
Though they were retrieving data, Milo desperately needed help in devising their product strategy and design. Aside from making the usage of the site more efficient, they needed to figure out their core feature set and build a brand. Working with them on and off for two years, I created several design revisions all which provided much cleaner, more organized layouts that defined a brand and experience and just made browsing the site a lot easier.
A restructuring of the information architecture also emphasizes connecting people to their local shopping community and providing them with the best product information. A variety of custom store logo icons were also created for the interactive maps.
I also designed an iPhone app as they entered the mobile space.
In December 2010, Milo was sold to eBay for $75 million.
Jul 2008 - present
FruiTunes
www.fruitunes.com
Role: Concept, Layout/Interaction Design & Information Architecture, HTML/CSS, Back-End Dev
There are a few sites out there that let you search for - and play - music online. The problem is in the interface - it's often overcomplicated, poorly designed and hard to use. So, I used a simple public search API to create my own music search site from scratch.
The result is a clean and simple user interface that displays album artwork, song lyrics and allows users to share songs and create playlists. Also includes an iPhone web version for access to songs on the go.
March - Oct 2010
Airbnb
iPhone Application Design
Role: Strategic Consulting, Layout/Interaction Design & Information Architecture
Airbnb lets people from all across the world rent out their houses or rooms in their houses on a nightly basis to travelers and other guests. Users can stay anywhere from a small apartment in midtown Manhattan to a castle in Germany to a Spanish Villa on the ocean in Costa Rica.
From the start and throughout the process, I worked closely with the CEO and lead developer to provide product strategy, information architecture and interaction design. Together we defined features, goals and interaction paradigms down to specific screen layouts and a freelance graphic designer polished up the visuals at the end.
The iPhone app provides users with an easy way to browse the hottest locations, find available places nearby, make reservations, communicate with hosts and more! Learn more at airbnb.com/iphone.
"Eric has an intuitive sense for creating great user experiences, both on the web and mobile devices. He's very clear in his communication, ideas, and leading discussions [and] is on my list of 'highly recommended'".
- Airbnb Founder, on Linkedin
July 2009
Eventbrite
www.efishdesign.com/sites/eventbrite/
Role: Layout/Interaction Design & Information Architecture, HTML/CSS
Eventbrite helps businesses & organizations of all sizes manage, promote and sell-out their events. Everyday, thousands of people visit the site which hosts tens of thousands of events. But their original homepage wasn't conveying their image as best it could.
They asked me to design a better homepage that would better illustrate their brand proposition. The result focuses on Eventbrite's central positioning for both event-creators and event-seekers. The page highlights local events and companies using the service and provides a better, simpler overview of how it works.
Additionally, I designed an iPhone app for event administrators to keep track of their event information and event attendees which is currently in development.
"I would work with Eric on web or iPhone design any chance I could get. He is an incredible talent."
- Eventbrite CEO, on Linkedin
Note: Eventbrite changed their branding and site design in April 2010. This design served as their homepage for the year prior.
Nov 2008
Quantcast
www.Quantcast.com
Role: Strategic Consulting, Layout/Interaction Design & Information Architecture, HTML/CSS
Quantcast is a website based on viewing the statistics of other websites, their prime focus being to analyze sites in order to obtain accurate statistics. With all the data they have to present, they needed a clean and easy-to-use interface that presented information in a consistent style and made use of the browser's space.
I worked as a contract designer to help them rethink the layouts of their main pages. My redesign gave a restructuring to the main pages, yielding more room for data, a more spaced-out layout and a more defined navigation that hightlights the various services Quantcast has to offer.
"I cannot overstate Eric's speed and versatility as a designer. It was amazing to see him work in several different domains at Quantcast and be so quick to understand them, and execute his design. His enthusiasm covers the spectrum of (the future of) web products. If you want speed, expertise, and passion, you want Eric."
- Engineer at Quantcast, on Linkedin
Jan - May 2006
CG@Penn
dmd.upenn.edu
Role: Layout/Interaction Design & Information Architecture, HTML/CSS, Back-End Dev
The Digital Media Design program at Penn needed a newer, more current branding and website, one that would encompass all of the Computer Graphics @ Penn programs and entice prospective students to apply.
The goal of the redesign was to provide a sleek, attractive and informative website for the program I have a degree from. The original site wasn't terribly pretty or usable and it was difficult to find information about the program.
The result is a super simple interface that unites all graphics programs at Penn and provides an easy-to-read interface for finding information. Additionally, I added backend functionality to allow all the students in the program to create profiles and image galleries. Their personal work is then displayed randomly on other pages throughout the site. Administrators can easily add and remove users as well as update announcements.
Apr - June 2009
Milo on iPhone
iPhone Application Design
Role: Strategic Consulting, Layout/Interaction Design & Information Architecture
In order to help gain a better following in the more personal, mobile space, I suggested that Milo, the website made to find locally available products, create an iPhone app too.
The app features the same search functionality as the site, allowing users to find a specific product of interest, and then lets them view all its reviews, product specifications and details.
Additionally the app shows the list of local stores that have the product in stock and offers a map view based on their current location. It also remembers products you've recently viewed for easy access later on.
Nov 2009
LMT Mobile
www.lmtmag.com/m
Role: Concept, Layout/Interaction Design & Information Architecture, HTML/CSS, Back-End Dev
One of the most important aspects of the business of LMT Magazine is its several annual trade shows. With a new website and backend database in place, it was easier to store and display information about trade show exhibits, speakers and clinics.
The iPhone web version of the site allows event-goers to browse, search for and read about the clinics, speakers, companies and clinic locations while they're at the show.
This was developed using the basic IUI framework and appending additional functionality for a floating tab bar footer.
Feb 2009
American Idol for iPhone
iPhone Application Design
Role: Layout/Interaction Design & Information Architecture
American Idol approached an iPhone development team I was working with asking for a new proposal for their mobile iPhone app. This proposal highlights what I deemed as the core features of a mobile version of the American Idol series: contestant information, news and updates, photos, videos and more.
Each feature is designed to be perfectly consistent with native iPhone app interaction design and, having worked on the evangelism team at Apple, I followed the UI guidelines very closely.
Feb - April 2008
Mac Web Toolkit
www.MacWebToolkit.com
Role: Concept, Layout/Interaction Design & Information Architecture, HTML/CSS, Back-End Dev
This project is essentially a web GUI toolkit that allows you to create elements that mimic the look and feel of Mac OS X and a foundation for developing a web-based operating system. Heavily and generically programmed in a mix of PHP & Javascript, the system allows for module development solely in PHP and translates it to XML and HTML.
The nifty part is twofold: (a) that the interface looks like a Mac and (b) there's an entire underlying framework for module development that makes them really easy to make.
Read More
Jan - May 2007
GreekNet
www.GreekNet.org
Role: Concept, Layout/Interaction Design & Information Architecture, HTML/CSS, Back-End Dev
This site was the product of a small startup of mine that was accepted into the Wharton Venture Initiation program at Penn.
A social networking site modeled after Facebook but aimed specifically at fraternities and sororities, GreekNet enabled you to connect with alumni and current chapter members outside your school and find jobs, friends, mentorships and events. GreekNet contains most of the core features found on Facebook but limits your scope as a user to those people only within your organization. Feature list includes profiles, groups, directory, photos, events, job board, forum and more!
Demo: user: test@greeknet.org, pass: test
Mar 2009
BigEatSF
www.BigEatSF.com
Role: Concept, Layout/Interaction Design & Information Architecture, HTML/CSS, Back-End Dev
A very simple implementation of Google Maps makes the popular article from 7x7 more interactive. The online magazine featured a list of the top 100 things to eat in San Francisco, but with only a list of food and restaurant names, it was relatively useless.
BigEatSF displays the list of restaurants, the items to order there as well as the restaurants' address and plots it all on a clickable map. The site also allows users to check off which places they've been to without needing yet another account to manage.
May - August 2006
GroupTrak
www.GroupTrak.net
Role: Concept, Layout/Interaction Design & Information Architecture, HTML/CSS, Back-End Dev
A simple social networking site for friends. This originally started with a simple idea: create a place online where my group of friends could log on to daily to post their plans for the day so that later, we all could see who was free to hang out. Then I added more features to the profile (such as address and phone number for reference). Then I added several more features and it eventually became a full-fledged networking site that mimicked the then-existing functionality of Facebook.
Among the various features, users can create albums and upload photos, create events and invite other site members (who are notified both by email and when they login) and message each other internally. Additionally, users can create an 'interest list' of their crushes, who will be notified only if they add you to their list too ;^)
See the demo, username=tester@grouptrak.net, pass=tester