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   * KttiPay
   * Humm
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   HERE IS JUST A SELECTION THE PROJECTS I HAVE LED RECENTLY
   
   KTTIPAY
   
   HUMM
   
   ED TRIPPER
   
   FURTHR

 * Me


PRODUCT DESIGNER


CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVER


DIGITAL ARCHITECT

RESEARCHER

ENTREPRENEUR

IDEA MAKER

|


ABOUT ME

family
Healthy Living
Animals
Gamer

Hi my name is Gary and my passion is how we interact with the entire world
around us, creating products and solutions that enable people to do this better
is truly what excites me.

I am a natural creative problem solver and ten years in UX has served to sharpen
that ability even further. I honestly enjoy each step of the process, whether
building a new product or refining an existing one.

From research, to client and team communication, through testing phases and 
final design. And every hurdle in between that you inevitably encounter. 

Read My Full Story


 * My path into UX is one I've been on since sketching and inventing as a
   teenager obsessed with Leonardo da Vinci

 * I hold a bachelors degree in Journalism and worked in Sky News in London
   which has enhanced my researching skills for UX

 * I hold a masters degree in the field of Interaction Design

 * Away from my desk, I like to relax with family, strive to keep healthy and
   help animals in any way I can.

 * I am as equally adept leading the research phase of a project, as I am with
   final design. Workshops and brainstorming sessions are my favourite method to
   begin the creative process of building a product.

 * My startup, Teemie won funding from the Irish government and was chosen by
   Google as one of their Adopt A Startup companies. Leading a startup has given
   me an entire collection of other skillsets that cannot be taught anywhere
   else.




SOME OF MY WORK


PROJECT NAME: KTTIPAY


OBJECTIVE: CREATE A PLATFORM THAT ALLOWS USERS MANAGE FINANCES AND SHARE
EXPENSES


THIS PROJECT WAS BROUGHT TO ME WITH JUST AN GENERAL IDEA AND AN OBJECIVE TO TAKE
THAT IDEA THROUGH FIRST, A PHASE OF VALIDATION AND EARLY RESEARCH TO PROVIDE
ENOUGH DATA FOR THE CLIENT TO THEN FEEL COMFORTABLE IN PROCEEDING TO A BUILD
PHASE.

THROUGH A VARIETY OF METHODS FROM WORKSHOPS WITH TARGET USERS, PROTOTYPING AND
DESK RESEARCH WE ACHIEVED THE VALIDATION THE CLIENT WAS SEEKING AND STARTED A
FULL TRADITIONAL UX PROCESS. FURTHER RESEARCH, WIREFRAMING AND EVENTUALLY ONTO
THE FINAL DESIGN YOU SEE BELOW.

THE FINAL RESULT EVOLVED FROM WHAT WAS SIMPLY AN IDEA FOR BILL SPLITTING TO WHAT
IS NOW A MORE ROBUST GROUP SHARING AND EXPENDITURE PRODUCT. USERS CAN CREATE
ACCOUNTS OR ‘KITTIES’ AND SHARE THEM WITH LOVED ONES TO GROUP SAVE AND VIRTUAL
CARDS ARE GENERATED FOR ALL MEMBERS TO SPEND WITH. IT IS AN EXTREMELY QUICK
PROCESS WHEN COMPARED TO BANKING PRODUCTS.


READ FULL CASE STUDY




PROJECT NAME: HUMM




OBJECTIVE: RESEARCH, TEST AND DESIGN A NEW UX STRATEGY FOR THIS COMPANY


I WAS APPROACHED BY A COMPANY IN IRELAND CALLED FLEXIFI, WHO HAD AN EXISTING
PRODUCT IN THE FINTECH SECTOR OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS, WHO WERE PREPARING
TO SCALE THEIR COMPANY, AND OPTIMISE THEIR PRODUCT.

THE PRODUCT PROVIDES A METHOD FOR SHOPPERS TO MAKE INSTANT PURCHASES IN STORE,
AND PAY BACK IN INSTALLMENTS WITH ZERO INTEREST UP TO A CERTAIN AMOUNT. MY
OBJECTIVE WAS TO DO A COMPLETE AUDIT OF THE PREVIOUS PRODUCT, CONDUCT RESEARCH
ON METHODS TO OPTIMISE THE USER EXPERIENCE BASED ON THAT AUDIT, CARRY OUT USER
TESTING, BUILD WIREFRAMES AND CREATE A HIGH-FIDELITY PROTOTYPE TO TEST SOME OF
THESE IDEAS. I THEN WENT THROUGH A TEST AND EVALUATION PHASE BEFORE COMPLETING
THE FINAL DESIGN.


READ FULL CASE STUDY

Full Portfolio here




MY METHODOLOGY


THE MORE EXPERIENCE I HAVE BUILT UP WORKING AS A UX DESIGNER, THE MORE THAT I
HAVE EXPERIMENTED BOTH INDIVIDUALLY AND AS PART OF GROUPS, DIFFERENT METHODS OF
SOURCING INFORMATION WHICH CAN HELP TO MAP OUT THE DIRECTION OF A PRODUCT.

AS A FULL STACK UX DESIGNER, I AM AS PASSIONATE ABOUT SEEING THE REACTION OF
TEST USERS IN THE EARLY STAGES OF A WORKSHOP, AS I AM ABOUT SEEING THE REACTION
OF THE CLIENT WHEN THEY SEE THE FINAL DESIGN WORKING FOR THE FIRST TIME.

FROM SKETCHING ON PAPER, TO WIREFRAMING AND FROM INTERVIEWING TEST USERS TO
VIEWING THE RESULTS OF A SURVEY ABOUT MY TEAMS IDEAS, THE RESEARCH PHASE IS THE
MOST CRUCIAL PART OF THE PROCESS. I MOST ENJOY CREATING PERSONAS AND HAVING
STICKY NOTE SESSIONS FOR PROJECTS, AS I FIND THEY REALLY FUEL CREATIVE THOUGHTS
AND IDEAS WHICH HAVE RESULTED IN SOME GREAT FEATURES IN FINISHED PRODUCTS.

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CASE STUDY - INSTAGRAM STORIES AR MODE


OBJECTIVE: A LOOK INTO AR FUNCTIONALITY BEING IMPLEMENTED INTO INSTAGRAM STORIES


AS A PRODUCT AND UX DESIGNER, MY MIND NATURALLY AND REGULARLY ENVISIONS WAYS IN
WHICH USERS INTERACT WITH PRODUCTS, BOTH DIGITAL AND PHYSICAL. I WANTED TO USE
THAT ABILITY TO IMAGINE THE USER EXPERIENCE OF MY FAVOURITE SOCIAL MEDIA TOOL,
INSTAGRAM.

THE OBJECTIVE OF INSTAGRAM, WHETHER THROUGH STORIES OR POSTS IS TO ALLOW USERS
TO BECOME DIGITAL STORYTELLERS. TO SHARE MOMENTS, BE THEY PASSING OR EVERLASTING
EVENTS IN THEIR LIVES AND TO MORE IMPORTANTLY, IMMERSE THEIR AUDIENCE IN THAT
STORY. SO I WANTED TO BUILD UPON THAT OFFERING EVEN MORE INTERACTIVITY IN HOW
USERS CAN ENGAGE IN THIS CONTENT. BY ALLOWING USERS TO BOTH CREATE AND CONSUME
STORIES AT PARTICULAR LOCATIONS AND PINNING THEM IN AR. THE EXAMPLE BELOW
SHOWING A USER IN TIMES SQUARE WHO CAN VIEW IN AUGMENTED REALITY, STORIES PINNED
TO THAT LOCATION.


READ FULL CASE STUDY


PROCESS FROM PAPER TO FULL DESIGN




PROJECT NAME: TEEMIE


OBJECTIVE: IMPROVING THE WORKFLOW OF STAFF AND MANAGERS IN NON-OFFICE INDUSTRIES


TEEMIE IS A PROJECT THAT I HAVE BEEN LEAD RESEARCHER AND DESIGNER FROM THE
CONCEPTUALISATION PHASE, TO POST DEVELOPMENT. I HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR NOT
ONLY PROVIDING THE NECESSARY DATA IN THE EARLY STAGES TO VALIDATE THE PRODUCT,
BUT ALSO FOR CREATING THE FULL PRODUCT DESIGN FOR MULTIPLE PLATFORMS, WITH
DESKTOP, MOBILE AND ADMIN PACKAGES .

THE CREATION OF THAT PRODUCT DID NOT END THERE WITH MY RESPONSIBILITY CONTINUING
WHILE BEING THE PM AND GUIDING THE PROCESS THROUGH FULL DEVELOPMENT. OUR
OBJECTIVE WAS TO CREATE A PRODUCT THAT WOULD HELP OUT CERTAIN INDUSTRIES WITH
TOOLS BUILT JUST FOR THEM, AND WITH A V2 AND INVESTMENT INCOMING, I BELIEVE WE
MORE THAN ACHIEVED THAT.


READ FULL CASE STUDY




PROTOTYPING


I AM A BIG BELIEVER IN TESTING IDEAS, AND IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS UX
DESIGNERS TO USE EVERY METHOD POSSIBLE TO VALIDATE AN IDEA FOR A CLIENT. THIS
CAN HAVE MANY DIFFERENT OUTCOMES, EITHER THEY WILL HAVE THE BEST VERSION OF
THEIR IDEA MOVING FORWARD THEY OR WILL QUICKLY FIND OUT IF THEY NEED TO
RE-EVALUATE THEIR PLANS.

FULLY INTERACTIVE, HIGH-FIDELITY PROTOTYPES WILL GIVE THEM THE INFORMATION THEY
NEED TO MAKE THIS DECISION, BEFORE PAYING HIGH COSTS FOR DEVELOPMENT. THIS
CANNOT BE ACHIEVED WITH TRADITIONAL HOTSPOT PROTOTYPES. WHICH IS WHY I USE TOOLS
LIKE FLINTO, THAT ALLOW COMPLEX ANIMATIONS AND BEHAVIOURS TO BUILD AS CLOSE TO A
FINAL PRODUCT AS POSSIBLE.

IT IS ALSO THE MOST POWERFUL VISUAL FROM A DESIGN PERSPECTIVE TO ANALYSE THE
USER EXPERIENCE AND MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS NECESSARY. I HAVE IN THE PAST COUPLE OF
YEARS BEGUN TO USE PROTOTYPES FAR MORE REGULARLY, AS A METHOD TO CREATE A A
FULLY REALISED VISUAL FOR THE CLIENT, BUT ALSO TO ENABLE THE DEVELOPMENT TEAMS
TO HAVE AN INTERACTIVE VISUAL TO WORK FROM. THIS ALONE SAVES MANY POTENTIAL BACK
AND FORTH.




PROJECT NAME: STUDENTITY


OBJECTIVE: THE CREATION OF POWERFUL SOFTWARE TO COMBAT ACADEMIC CHEATING


THIS PROJECT REQUIRED A LONG RESEARCH AND DISCOVERY PHASE. ONE WHICH WOULD
PROVIDE THE DATA NECESSARY TO PROVIDE A SOFTWARE SOLUTION WHICH WOULD AIM TO
ERADICATE ANY KIND OF CHEATING OR PLAGIARISM IN COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITIES. THE
PRODUCT HAD THE OBJECTIVE TO PROVIDE SOME INNOVATIVE FEATURES, WHICH WOULD
COMBINE TO ENSURE THAT A PERSON TAKING AN EXAM OR DOING AN ASSIGNMENT IS THE
CORRECT PERSON, IN ADDITION TO THE ORIGINALITY OF WHAT THEY WRITE.

WORKSHOPS AND A LOT OF TESTING AND ITERATION WAS NEEDED TO CREATE THE RESULT.
ONE WHICH IS NOW IN THE PROCESS OF BEING ADOPTED BY SOME SCHOOLS WITH A VIEW TO
SOME BIG YEARS AHEAD BRINGING IT TO THE REST OF THE WORLD.


READ FULL CASE STUDY




PROJECT NAME: ED TRIPPER


OBJECTIVE: A STUDY INTO THE BEHAVIOUR OF TEACHERS AND STUDENTS ON EDUCATIONAL
TRIPS


WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE CLIENT COMPANY, IN ADDITION TO SOME SCHOOLS IN
AUSTRALIA AND MUSEUMS, WE HAD TO OBJECTIVE OF IMPROVING THE INTERACTION AND
ORGANISATION OF SCHOOL TRIPS. OUR EARLY RESEARCH SHOWED THAT THERE WERE MANY
OPTIONS OUT THERE FOR BOOKING OR ORGANISING THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASPECT OF A
SCHOOL TRIP.

PARENTAL PERMISSION, LOGISTICS ETC. THE AREA WE WANTED TO FOCUS ON WAS HOW
TEACHERS AND STUDENTS INTERACTED WHILE ON THE TRIP, AND HOW DIGITAL TOOLS COULD
ENAHNCE THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR KIDS.


READ FULL CASE STUDY




PROJECT NAME: FURTHR


OBJECTIVE HELPING TRAVELERS TO ORGANISE MANY ASPECTS OF THEIR TRIPS


I LEAD THIS PROJECT FROM RESEARCH PHASE, THROUGH ITERATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF
THE CONCEPT TO COMPLETING THE FINAL DESIGN. WITH QUITE A NEW CONCEPT AND SOME
INNOVATIVE TOOLS WITHIN THE PRODUCT, THE CHALLENGE WAS TO CREATE A FLOW THAT
WOULD HOUSE SOME OF THESE INNOVATIVE NEW TOOLS, WITHIN A PACKAGE THAT MADE SENSE
FOR THE DEMOGRAPHIC THAT WE WERE TARGETING.

WE ACHIEVED THE END RESULT WITH A COMBINATION OF WORKSHOPS, INTERVIEWS WITH
TRAVELLERS, A LOT OF INTERNAL BRAINSTORMING AND SOME GOOD OLD FASHIONED
ITERATION. THE DESIGN RESULT WAS ALSO CREATED WITH A LOT OF HARD WORK AND
DISCOVERING THE RIGHT FEEL FOR THIS DEMOGRAPHIC. THE OBJECTIVE WAS TO BE FRESH,
APPEALING AND EASY ON THE EYE AND I BELIEVE THAT WE ACHIEVED THIS.


READ FULL CASE STUDY




CASE STUDY : TECHNOLOGY IN FASHION RETAIL

User experience and mobile usage in retail, not just in fashion but in any
aspect of commerce is one that is changing on a consistently regular basis over
the past decade and all signs point to that trend continuing into the next
decade.

read more


CASE STUDY: DESIGNING AND CARRYING OUT UX WORKSHOPS

A key element of research, in particular in the user experience or interaction
design field is how to gain insight into what people like when interacting with
products, how they use apps or websites, what they expect and more importantly
what they don’t like.

read more




Product design is a continual process of learning, and collaboration is one of
the best methods of fueling that. If you would like to connect, whether as a
fellow designer, or someone looking for help. Please feel free to connect with
me on my LinkedIn below. 



USEFUL LINKS

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