Ken Skistimas
Summary
With over 12 years of experience in the field of interactive design including experience working as a designer at startups, small companies, publicly traded companies as well as freelance, Ken offers a cross-section of skills that is hard to come by today. His special areas of expertise include graphic design, user interface design, usability, typography, color theory and interface architecture. In addition he has an understanding of technical issues not often considered by most visually-oriented designers.
Employment History
june 2008 to present Nokia, San Francisco, CASenior Visual Designer
- Responsible for improving the user experience and visuals on the Symbian mobile application.
- Assist in the design and development of mobile web pages to be displayed in conjunction with the Symbian application.
- Interface with Nokia branding team to ensure all visuals adhere to corporate brand guidelines.
- Produce all customer-facing artwork or assets.
Lead Visual Designer
- Work closely with cross-functional team to update, improve and develop features.
- Mentor and support other visual design team members.
- Technical liason between design team and product development.
- Assist in developing patterns for use on eBay core site.
Lead Visual Designer
- Responsible for all visual aspects of the product including graphic design, page layout and iconography.
- Develop new product features and implement revisions based on user feedback.
- Implement new features and bug fixes in HTML and CSS using proprietary server and middle tier software.
- Collaborate closely with Product Manager, Interaction Designer, Developers, VP of Product Development and CEO.
Designer
- Designed, mocked up and specified forward-looking software applications for various Government clients and contractors.
- Produced storyboards and feature walk-through presentations.
- Worked closely with the Lead Scientist, Program Director, Information Designer and the Engineering Team to develop new ways of interacting with and displaying large amounts of data.
- Directed other graphic artists and animation programmers in their work and integrated their material into the product development flow.
Principal
- Consult with clients regarding various aspects of graphic, online design and user interface design.
- Provide architecture, layouts, style guidelines and final code for web sites.
- Manage projects within budget and time constraints.
- Clients include various Bay Area technology companies.
Senior Web Designer
- Developed unique visual solutions that effectively translated the communication goals of the client.
- Generated project schedules, site specifications, architecture and design layouts.
- Directed and oversaw production staff during all stages of the project.
- Presented creative direction and design concepts for client review.
Graphic Designer
- Constructed comprehensive layouts and UI based on product and business specifications written by product managers.
- Implemented feedback from various corporate departments, focus groups and usability testing.
- Collaborated with page developers and product team to implement designs in HTML and Cold Fusion.
- Assisted with product development, market validation, and feature development in early stages of the company.
- Oversaw entire graphic production and page design process.
Graphic Designer
- Worked closely with product managers and producers to develop on-line identities for existing product lines.
- Developed new and experimental online identities for Brøderbund and The Learning Company.
- Responsible for taking site design from initial concepts through implementation.
- Performed weekly and monthly maintenance on multiple sites.
Education
1993 to 1997 University of North Texas- Communication Design Major
- Radio, Television, Video and Film
- Member of "Fineline", a student run design firm.
Distinctions
may 2004
US Patent 20050268250
Apparatus and method for selecting actions for visually associated files and applications.
august 2003
US Patent 20050049986
Visual representation tool for structured arguments.