Updated May 2013
Interaction Designer & Experience Developer

Interactive design leader with over 13 years of creative experience including performance-based online marketing, branding, social networking, web strategy, and human-computer interaction (HCI). Expert in all core design tools and languages. An accomplished supervisor, Josh takes responsibility over projects and proactively seeks improvements. Producer of award-winning designs, including the American Design Award and Multichannel Merchant Silver Medal Award.
Timeline
User Interface Engineer
- Audax Health
- Nov 7, 2011 - Current
- Senior design and development role for the health care platform Careverge.com. Recommend and implement site usability improvements. Key player creating and implementing gaming aspects of the site. Currently heading up design and front-end development for an upcoming mobile web app.
Creative Director
- JoshThomas.com Studios
- Sep 1, 2004 - Current
- Freelance consulting, design & development for local businesses and organizations. Clients include Women Leading the Future, Inqbation, URSA Major, Marshall Jevons, C'ville Free Clinic, and St. Anne's Belfield School.
Senior Interactive Designer
- Rosetta Stone
- Oct 1, 2008 - Sep 1, 2011
- Supervised internal designers, developers, and agencies. Aligned creatives across various channels, social media, and international websites. Formulated innovative experiences to maximize conversion based on A/B, multi-variant, and usability testing. Collaborated with stakeholders, designers & developers to ensure projects met all requirements. Documented and upheld web style guides. Spearheaded U.S. site redesign in 2009, expediting workflows working alongside off-shore development team. Redesigned Korean and Japanese websites in 2010. Created and redesigned profile area for language-learning software. Designed and coded customer support portal. Won American Design Award for RosettaStone.com and nominated for a Pixel Award in 2009.
Web Developer
- Dept. of Homeland Security
- Apr 1, 2008 - Oct 1, 2008
- Orchestrated ICE.gov redesign as the lead designer and developer. Migrated website data to XML/XSLT. All code tested for accessibility (WCAG & 508-compliant) and IE6 compatibility. Collaborated with both technical and non-technical government officials. Six-month contract through HP
Senior Interactive Designer
- Crutchfield Corporation
- Apr 1, 2006 - Apr 1, 2008
- Responsible for the design and development of Crutchfield.com – ranked first as Consumer Report’s best online electronics site for 3 consecutive years and BizRate Circle of Excellence winner for 12 consecutive years. Redesigned site in 2008 from concept through execution. Applied web standards to new design by incorporating cutting-edge sensibilities. Established and documented standards as art director for CrutchfieldCanada.com and CrutchfieldAdvisor.com. Won 2007 Gold Multichannel Merchant Award for Crutchfield.com. Earned company Excellence awards in 2006 and 2007 and Employee of the Month award in 2006.
Designer / Systems Specalist
- Crutchfield Corporation
- Jun 1, 2002 - Apr 1, 2006
- Designed for print, web, and administered IT systems in the creative department. Established and re-programmed IT applications using AppleScript, ASP & SQL for various workflows including color proofing and software compatibility. Completed certifications: Apple Certified Help Desk Specialist (2005), CompTIA A+ (2006). Earned company Outstanding Support Services awards in 2004 and 2005.
Student
- Longwood University
- Aug 1, 1999 - May 1, 2003
- Graduated with degrees in Graphic Design and Computer Information Systems.
Computer Services Manager
- Kinko's / FedEx Office
- Nov 1, 1997 - Aug 1, 1999
- Lead graphic designer for business and personal clients. Supervised two co-workers. Provided training and PC/Mac support. Increased dept. revenue 300% over a two-year period. Quickly promoted to dept. manager & earned Coworker of the Month award.
Launched mobile app
- Audax Health
- Apr 25, 2013
- Launched popular mobile fitness app Realm Blazer.
Industry Leader Award
- Audax Health
- Apr 3, 2012
- Won Industry Leader of the Year Award for Innovation the at the GDS Next Generation Healthcare Payer Summit.
Launched startup
- PlaySay
- Apr 5, 2011
- Helped launch innovative language-learning App PlaySay for the Facebook platform. Company went on to successfully sell to Berlin-based company Babbel.com.
US redesign / AD Award
- Rosetta Stone
- Jul 14, 2010
- Won American Design Award for redesigning RosettaStone.com USA site.
Korea + Japan Redesign
- Rosetta Stone
- Dec 31, 2009
- Conceptualized, wire-framed, designed, and prototyped Korean website from scratch. Later ported over new styles to Japan's Rosetta Stone website.
Redesigned ICE.gov
- Dept. of Homeland Security
- Oct 2, 2008
- Conceptualized, wireframed, mocked up, and coded ICE.gov redesign.
Site redesign + Award
- Crutchfield.com
- Apr 2, 2007
- Won prestegious Gold Multichannel Merchant Award for Crutchfield.com, in part for work done redesigning Cruchfield.com. Mocked up visual design from wireframes. Coded site with the help of one other front-end developer.
Excellence Award (x2)
- Crutchfield.com
- Jan 4, 2006
- Voted for by colleagues and won Crutchfield Excellence award for second consecutive year.
Support Award (x2)
- Crutchfield.com
- Mar 1, 2005
- Voted for by colleagues and won Crutchfield Outstanding Support Services award for second consecutive year.
Established proof system
- Crutchfield
- Apr 1, 2004
- Worked with photographers, designers, printers, and proofing systems to color calibrate creative department to a strict process.
Est. JoshThomas.com
- JoshThomas.com
- Nov 1, 2002
- Established this domain and hosted portfolio of creative work from various art classes.
Produced community website
- Longwood University
- May 2, 2001
- Created community website using ASP for the town of Farmville, VA, that featured restaurant menus and various things to do around town.
Help Desk
- Longwood University
- Feb 9, 2000
- Began working in various computer labs for the help desk, working with students to solve technical issues.
Broke sales record
- FedEx Kinkos
- May 11, 1999
- Broke former sales records for document creation. Promoted to manager of department.
Created first website
- Josh Thomas
- Feb 2, 1998
- Created first portfolio website to showcase creative work done thus far.
Various publications
- High School
- Jan 2, 1997
- Volunteered to create various brochures, newsletters, and yearbooks for high school.
Vital Stats
13
Years Experience
31
Websites Launched
3
Continents Visited
Job Duties
Skill Advancement
Interests Over Time
Education
MS'14 |
Iowa State University
Human Computer Interaction
|
BS'03 |
Longwood University
Graphic Design, Computer Information Management Systems
|
Pastimes
Skill Proficiency
Percentage
80%
Increased mobile engagement at Audax Heath over 2 years
30%
Annual conversion increase at Rosetta Stone over a 3 year period
Languages