Bio

I am a Senior UX Designer and Design Manager at Wolverine Worldwide

…with experience in UX research, interface design, graphic design, and branding. In previous roles, I have driven digital success for Fortune 500 companies and notable local brands.

I emphasize strategy, clear communication, and comprehensive documentation to deliver business-centric results, grounded in real market and audience data. I am experienced in qualitative and quantitative user testing, upholding a consumer-focused, mobile-first UX philosophy. My work is efficient, aesthetically pleasing, and significantly improves customer experiences.

I begin the workflow by first listening, then conducting research. My aim is to devise and communicate a strategy rooted in a well-defined problem statement. From there, I embark on a journey of creating, testing, and refining solutions, all with the goal of constructing the perfect components and layouts. Collaborating with cross-functional teams ensures the delivery of impactful and valuable results.

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Joe is a master story-teller and a true steward of his craft. He artfully solves complex design problems by always considering the user journey, helping others to relate and empathize with the pain points and needs of real people.

Gil Castellanos, Senior UX Designer, Kin + Carta

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At the moment I am listening to a number of podcasts including UX Leadership, Hidden Brain, Jordan Harbinger Show, The New York Times Daily, and Men in Blazers.

I enjoy journaling as a form of learning. I write everyday. I exercise, play pick-up soccer, tennis and snowboard.

My everyday values include maintain good health & exercise, seek joy & adventure, be present with energy, and grow by reading and practicing.

Ideas I believe in…

Be clear and be heard

Just because something is said doesn’t mean it’s been heard. Just because it’s heard doesn’t mean it has been understood. Be clear, simple, and to the point.

Trust candid communication

Understanding people and being empathic is critical, but someone who cares about you should be honest with you. Debates are healthy when everyone wants the best outcome for the customer.

Be sure to build the right thing

Don’t waste time building something and expect people to use it. Research and test it with prototypes. 5-7 responses from actual customers can be substantial.

No one should start at zero

Create templates that can be reused. Use systems that off-load rote decision-making. Build so that the person who follows you has a path. Think about your future in the next role. Build, buy or bargain for what you will need.

By the numbers…

10 books

Last year, I read 10 books. My favorite fiction title was The Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John Le Carré. As for non-fiction, my favorite was The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene.

9 articles

I have written nine articles for the Wolverine Worldwide UX Center of Excellence. Writing serves as a means of both learning and sharing. It aids in transforming the context of our work into common business logic.

127 components

In 2023, I made a contribution of 127 components to the Wolverine Design System, known as KX and pronounced as ‘kicks.’ These components serve as an extension of our core UI kit, enabling us to swiftly transition from ideas to testing and coding.

8 years

Prior to joining Wolverine Worldwide, I worked as a contractor for eight years, where I led teams in designing and developing UX strategies and marketing initiatives for clients such as DraftKings, Appalachian Mountain Club, Conveyor Concepts, Hasbro, and many others.

Previous Client Experience

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Career Highlights

Graduated Savannah College of Art and Design
Moved to Boston
Hired at BigBad
Designed Constant Contact logo
Designed J.Jill Web Site
Hired on at Digitas
Lots of work with General Motors
Started Joem Design, LLC.
Moved to Grand Rapids
Started co-working space, Left Right Boom
Elected VP of Public Relations in Toastmasters
Toastmasters Competent Communicator
Won District Toastmaster Competition
Hired as a contractor for GFS
Hired at Wolverine Worldwide
Promoted to UX Design Manager

Awards

Bank of America Enterprise Site
OMMA Award Finalist, MITX Financial Finalist

Holiday Inn Express, StaySmartAmerica.com
Festival of Media Creativity Award Winner, Adrian Best in Show Winner for Web Marketing, Adrian Best in Show Winner for Public Relations, MITX Finalist Travel category

Tide, DressToTheSevens.com
MITX Finalist Consumer category

Orange Communications, Wildfire.com
Horizon Interactive Gold Medal Winner, B2B category, MITX Finalist High-Tech category

Discover the Work

Checkout the four case studies on the home page. Click the button below and see the work.

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Read the Résumé

Head over to the Résumé page and find all the relevant capabilities and success metrics.

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Reach Out and Say “Hello”

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