Chris Austin

Innovative and results-driven UX/UI Designer with a proven track record of creating seamless, user-centered digital experiences. Adept at leading cross-functional teams, driving product strategy, and translating user needs into actionable design solutions. Passionate about accessibility, design systems, and data-driven decision-making to enhance product engagement and business outcomes.

My Passions (What I Do)

Problem-Solving & Critical Thinking

Designers need to approach design challenges with a problem-solving mindset. This includes analyzing problems from multiple angles, generating innovative solutions, and making informed design decisions that balance user needs with technical constraints.

Visual Design

Strong skills in visual design, including knowledge of color theory, typography, and layout principles, are essential. This ensures that the product is not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing and engaging.

User-Centered Design

Understanding and empathizing with users is key. This involves conducting user research, creating personas, and iterating designs based on user feedback. The goal is to design products that solve real problems and offer a great user experience.

Prototyping & Testing

The ability to create prototypes and conduct usability tests is vital. This involves using tools like Axure RP, Figma, or Adobe XD to build and test interactive models of the product, allowing for iterative improvements before final production.

Testimonials

Companies

Resume

Accomplished UX/UI Designer

Experience

InEight Inc.
4/2017 - 7/2024

Lead UX/UI Designer

  • Led end-to-end design for multiple products, improving usability and engagement across web and mobile platforms.
  • Designed InEight Compliance Mobile, optimizing on-site inspections with multimedia capture, reducing documentation time.
  • Established design systems for scalable, consistent UI across product suites.
  • Mentored and led design teams, fostering collaboration and process efficiency.
Nelnet
4/2015 - 4/2017

UX/UI Designer

  • Conducted user research and testing to enhance financial services platforms for K-12 and higher education.
  • Led accessibility audits and improvements, ensuring compliance with WCAG 2.0.
  • Designed responsive web applications that improved user retention and efficiency.
NTT DATA
9/2013 - 3/2015

UX/UI Designer

  • Established UX processes, integrated user research, and enhanced security-focused applications.
  • Collaborated with developers to align UX/UI with software development cycles.
Northrop Grumman
7/1998 - 9/2013

Software Engineer II

  • Designed secure, mission-critical applications for national defense. Specialized in UI/UX for high-security systems and software development.

Education

Bellevue University

Master of Science, Computer Information Systems (CIS)

University of Nebraska at Omaha

Bachelor of Science, Biology

Human Factors International

Certified Usability Analyst (CUA)

Additional Highlights

  • Strong expertise in Agile methodologies and cross-functional collaboration.
  • Passion for mentoring and developing UX/UI talent.
  • Experienced in designing for complex, regulated industries, including construction, education, security, and government.

Research

Critical Thinking

95%

User Research

85%

Usability Testing

75%

Design

Visual Design

90%

User-Centered Design

95%

Mobile-First Design

80%

Responsive Design

80%

User Interface Design

95%

Rapid Prototyping

95%

Design Systems

85%

Accessibility

70%

Axure RP

95%

Figma

80%

Development

HTML / CSS

80%

JavaScript

70%

Bootstrap

80%

React

50%

Product Management

Market Research & Analysis

60%

Product Strategy & Roadmapping

75%

Cross-Functional Collaboration

80%

Data-Driven Decision Making

75%

Portfolio

My Work
Mobile Query Builder

Mobile Query Builder

Mobile
Perform Form

Perform Form

Web / Mobile
Pilot Watch

Pilot Watch

Concept
Form Builder

Form Builder

Web
Product Navigation

Product Navigation

Mobile
Snapshot

Snapshot

Web
User Profile

User Profile

Mobile
Design System

Design System

Web
Compliance Mobile

Compliance Mobile

Mobile

Contact

Get in Touch

Omaha, NE

info@caustindesign.com

(402) 881-2358

Freelance Available