Visual Designer

Susana Galarza

Philadelphia, PA

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About

I am a Visual Designer from Philadelphia. I love working in environments where honest feedback and diversity are encouraged. I’m inspired by the humbling feeling of listening to users and connecting with others in the design community. Gardening, fluffy cats and traveling to Scotland are some of my favorite things.
Education
- UX Research Specialty User Experience
  
  Nielsen Norman Group
  
  2018 - 2018
  
  License 1022451
- Master's in Science Communication Degree
  
  Pratt Institute
  
  2007 - 2010
- Bachelor's of Arts Advertising
  
  Michigan State University
  
  2002 - 2006
Experience
- Visual Designer
  
  SEI Investment
  
  Phoenixville, PA
  
  Nov 2014 - Present (10 years)
  
  • Create visual designs and content for online classes by collaborating with users, subject matter experts and instructional designers
  • Initiate adoption of user experience principles in course design and architecture
  • Conduct usability and A/B testing to improve the interfaces of online classes
  • Interview users and stakeholders to develop personas
  • Lead workshops to educate peers and management on the importance of advocating for users
- Graphic and Web Designer
  
  SpecialtySpain
  
  Mar 2014 - Present (10 years 8 months)
  
  • Developed sitemaps and wireframes
  • Created brand identity for custom tour company
  • Defined user-centric content and designed website
- Graphic Designer and Illustrator
  
  Olin Health Center at Michigan State University
  
  East Lansing, MI
  
  May 2008 - Present (15 years 9 months)
  
  • Designed award-winning cartoon characters for posters, table tents, t-shirts and social media
  • Developed strategies for a campaign aimed at changing unhealthy alcohol consumption norms at a flagship state university
  • Campaign decreased extreme alcohol consumption by 20% for undergraduate students and 61% for graduate students
- Graphic Designer and Illustrator
  
  Florida State University
  
  Tallahassee, FL
  
  Mar 2013 - May 2013 (2 months)
  
  • Illustrated, designed and wrote content for medical amnesty campaign aimed at 50,000 college students for FSU’s health promotion department
  • Developed duck cartoon character for posters, table tents and stickers
- Graphic Designer and Illustrator
  
  Nurses for Africa
  
  Nashville, TN
  
  May 2012 - Jun 2012 (1 month)
  
  • Designed and wrote content for HIV/AIDS brochure for Zambian educational outreach initiative looking to encourage disease prevention
  • Advised nurse educator on effective communication methods for a predominantly non-English speaking audience by emphasizing use of simple English and educational graphics
- Graphic Designer
  
  Nashville Symphony
  
  Nashville, TN
  
  Jan 2011 - Oct 2011 (9 months)
  
  • Developed design standards to unify organization’s brand
  • Designed over 300 marketing materials including concert programs, magazine ads, billboards, annual reports, web banners and logos
  • Hired, trained and supervised junior graphic designer
- Professor Assistant
  
  Pratt Institute
  
  New York, NY
  
  Aug 2009 - Apr 2010 (8 months)
  
  • Instructed over 30 graduate students in the areas of digital design, visual communication and social media for the Graduate Communications Department
  • Trained students in use of Flash, Final Cut Pro, Audacity and Blogger.com to develop a brand platform and to maintain online communities
- Student Government Association Representative
  
  Pratt Institute
  
  New York, NY
  
  May 2009 - Jan 2010 (8 months)
  
  • Represented the concerns and interest of the student body from 4 departments housed in Pratt Manhattan Campus
  • Acted as the liaison between Pratt Institute’s Brooklyn and Manhattan Campuses
  • Planned and led student meeting titled “Talk to Me” to gather student feedback, educate students about SGA’s role, set SGA goals and encourage participation
  • Designed and wrote international student’s information sheet for Housing Office Department’s training manual
Awards

2011 Pinnacle award & People’s Choice award Winner, Social Norms Campaign I April 2011

Member, NAMA I March 2011 to March 2012

Pratt Show 2010 Exhibitor I May 2010

Pratt Manhattan Student Representative, SGA I May 2009 to January 2010

President, Communications Committee I August 2008 to June 2009

Member, AIGA I May 2007 to May 2010

Member, Advertising Consultant, SCNO I March 2006 to May 2006

Member, Michigan State University Honors College I January 2002 to December 2006

Michigan State University Dean’s list I August 2002 to December 2006
Affiliations

Girl Develop It Philly, Philly Content Strategy
Skills
- UX
- Visual Design
On Coroflot

@Susana_Galarza, member since 2010
- Followers 5

Susana Galarza

Assistant Professor - Educator, Industrial Design, Myron E. Ullman, Jr. School of Design

Assistant Professor, Graphic Design