“

the essential truths

” 

Problems I Solve

How I Work

Current Projects

Get in Touch

I am driven by the need to create better experiences. To take ownership of a project or a product, and move it forward, asking questions that unearth and clarify the essential truths. Through that process, I transform broken brand experiences into fluid customer interactions. I fix underperforming conversion streams. I plan experiences that satisfy and stimulate the customers (and prospective customers) using them, driving business value.

On the way, I create close working relationships, and help teams fight obfuscation and move forward with clarity and purpose.

Add me to your team to lead a transformation, to create momentum, to plan and deliver elegant, delightful, performance-driven experiences.

-Brian Ragan

link

PROBLEMS I SOLVE

FOR AGENCIES AND THEIR CLIENTS

I’ve led major site redesigns (from discovery through delivery), re-designed broken conversion streams, planned CRM experiences, architected e-commerce sites, created site- and mobile apps, led innovation projects for customer acquisition programs, and more. I’ve helped clients re-conceptualize their digital ecosystems and identify and exploit opportunities with their prospects and customers. I take interaction design calamities and turn them into delightful consumer experiences.

When I’m not in a full-time leadership role, I’m a great hired gun. I understand what ID/UX/creative directors need and want, and I make them look good. I make project- and account managers’ lives easier, and I help move projects along.

During any given project lifecycle, I:

  • Lead discovery efforts, uncovering consumer insights and clarifying business goals
  • Facilitate client workshops and lead strategy and buy-in sessions
  • Create experience strategy proposals and roadmaps

  • Architect prospect & customer experiences (creating flows, site maps, wireframes, specs, etc.)
  • Direct and advise teams on effective interaction design
  • Plan, facilitate and analyze user research

 

FOR STARTUPS

I am an entrepreneur at heart, and I love to create. I have a ton of energy for jamming on ideas—and working like a dog to make them happen. Because I’ve “been there” on projects large and small—for agencies, small businesses, and startups—I’ve learned some nuances about navigating through projects of all sizes. I have a sense for what comes first, how much effort to apply along the way, what’s important and what’s not—and when. I’m great at thinking through ideas and finding the resonant truth in them. In this context, I’m a strategist, an architect, an interaction designer, a creative director, a marketer, and an accelerator. I help a team to stay on track and bring high-quality ideas to fruition with limited time and resources.

More about what I bring:

  • Thinking through rough concepts—building on ideas, pulling loose threads, finding the truth and heart of an idea
  • Turning sketches into wireframes and specs—helping to flush out what’s missing, what’s needed—and creating a road map that can shorten visual design and develop cycles, saving precious start-up resources

 

  • Leading creating teams
  • Doing down-and-dirty, fast-results customer research
  • Creating project plans and managing small teams to schedule
  • Much more—we need to talk!

SOME OF THE CLIENTS I’VE WORKED WITH

 






link

HOW I WORK

It sounds simple, but it’s rich with nuance and has been crafted over years of experience: I listen to the problem, from the perspectives of both clients and consumers. I ask provocative questions about goals and opportunities. I study competitors. I consult team members from different areas of expertise. I architect experience journeys and interaction points. I guide and direct teams in building out experiences: web, mobile, email, advertising. I involve customers in validating work. And I’ve learned by watching clients fail that you don’t reach the destination on launch day. You keep going. You study what’s working and what isn’t. You tweak and optimize. You get better. And you earn success every day that you maintain a commitment to refinement and evolution.

MY 8 COMMANDMENTS (eventually I’ll have two more, and I’ll be perfect)

Working on projects
  • I work FOR the people I work WITH—building respectful, collaborative relationships makes work easier and more fun, and leads to better work.
  • I can’t stand wasting time (or money). I do what I can to make work better AND faster—while recognizing that people are not robots, and creativity and inspiration are not linear.
  • When possible, I avoid work in silos—great inspiration comes through creative collaboration.

As a director
  • I can’t possibly know everything and won’t pretend to—talented people need space to work their mojo.
  • People deserve to receive clear direction.
  • People deserve to be shielded from dysfunctional company B.S. that gets in the way of their work (while I work to correct the underlying problems).
  • It is my responsibility to mentor and nurture junior staff—nobody should have to fend for themselves or get hung out to dry; people with talent deserve support so they can grow.
  • Everyone deserves to be treated with humanity and respect—people are not machines, and companies that treat them that way deserve to wither.

 

SOFTWARE I USE
For UX work, I’m at ease with InDesign, Visio, Omnigraffle, Axure for prototyping, and I experiment with Balsamiq, iMockups for iPad and other software from time to time that promises to change life as we know it.

I use all the usual office software. I get around Photoshop pretty well, and I dabble with Illustrator and Dreamweaver. I’ve built simple html+css sites. I manage blogs and sites with WordPress and Joomla, which I customize where I can and for which I bring in developers when I’m over my head.

link

CURRENT PROJECTS

SPOTIFY DESKTOP & MOBILE APP

For a major soft drink brand, I’m planning the UX for a worldwide, social music app that will run on Spotify and on mobile. The app is deeply integrated with Spotify and Facebook, who are partnering with the brand on this cornerstone music initiative. The app is currently in prototype mode, and v1 will be launched shortly.

CULTURE SITE (TABLET + DESKTOP) FOR A BOUTIQUE HOTEL GROUP

A boutique hotel group asked our team to conceive a culturally rich, tablet-friendly site to revitalize its brand in the eyes of its “design class” customer base. The site is equal parts city guide, platform to feature each hotel, and channel to share the unique point of view of the entire group with an audience that cares about art, design, music and style. Launch imminent.

MOBILE BEAUTY APP

I worked with a great team on a branded mobile app in the beauty space that will engage a passionate fan base with exclusive content, playful visualizations of the brand’s key product attributes, ways for fans to interact with the brand through social competitions. A very fun project, heavy on experience strategy and interaction design. Launching soon.

UX REHAB

I periodically update a blog of both great and pathetic experiences at UXrehab.com. Subscribe and get my thoughts on the latest inspirations and needed interventions in the world of customer experience.

IN THE INCUBATOR

I’m dabbling with a few app ideas in my scraps of free time: one related to socializing music that would make an excellent Spotify app (and maybe a stand-alone app), and other smaller apps that would be fun but because I can’t find the revenue potential yet, are on the back burner. I’ve developed detailed v1 schematics for each of these ideas and I’d love to pursue any one of them (they range in intensity of effort required to build), but I need a tech partner to help prototype and bring them to life. If you’re a mobile developer and wants a motivated partner, get in touch. At the moment, I’m looking for a partner based in NYC who can make a minimum weekly time commitment and has successfully deployed apps into the app stores.

YOUR PROJECT?

I am always looking for interesting projects to sink my teeth into. Get in touch and let’s talk about how I can help build or improve your site, app, customer flow, and/or make your team stronger.

link

GET IN TOUCH