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I am a User Experience and Product Designer based in Saint Paul, MN.

Selected Projects More about myself
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About

A little bit about myself

I value empathy, learning, and making connections. I look for opportunities to build products and create experiences that help people.

Professional Experience

September 2019 - Present

Securian Financial

User Experience Designer

I contribute as a UX Designer on the design system/digital style guide product team, providing support towards brand and ux consistency across Securian Financial's digital properties.

  • Managing, maintaining, and enhancing shared design libraries used by other designers and teams (Sketch).
  • UX consultant across enterprise.

April 2019 - September 2019

Strategic Education Inc.

Associate Manager - Interactive, SEI Studios

I contributed as an Interactive Designer and also managed a team of six Interactive Designers. I helped provide leadership, creative direction and strategic vision for the Studios Interactive team and also designed interactive experiences for students and internal clients.

  • Pattern Library Business Owner
  • Shared Media Asset Cloud Business Co-Owner
  • User Experience and Design consultant across enterprise regarding innovation, interactive strategy and product design
  • Interactive Designer
Notable Products
  • FlexPath Diagnostic Tool - Personalization tool for enrollment counselors to help students determine the most appropriate program and course path.
  • Formative Activity Creation Tool (FACT) - Internal tool for Instructional Designers to create assessment media moving towards a more efficient production process.

December 2015 - April 2019

Capella University

Associate Manager - Interactive, Course Media

I contributed as an Interactive Designer and also managed a team of six Interactive Designers, along with contractors, when needed. I helped provide leadership, creative direction and strategic vision for the Course Media team. Additionally, I helped with the creation, maintenance and support of the interactive media for students and internal clients.

  • Pattern Library Business Owner
  • User Experience and Design consultant across enterprise regarding innovation, interactive strategy and product design
  • Interactive Designer
Notable Products
  • FlexPath Diagnostic Tool - Personalization tool for enrollment counselors to help students determine the most appropriate program and course path.
  • Formative Activity Creation Tool (FACT) - Internal tool for Instructional Designers to create assessment media moving towards a more efficient production process.

March 2010 - December 2015

Capella University

Interactive Designer

I led the creative vision for a variety of interactive media for students and internal clients.

  • Lead Designer of simulation (Vila Health) and orientation media
  • Usability testing for interactive leadership resources (LEAP)
  • Mentorship of Interactive Designer contractors
Notable Products
  • Simulation Media - Unique, branded, immersive experiences for students to assess their decision-making and problem-solving skills within various scenarios.
  • FlexPath Orientation - Media piece that prepares and assesses students for a self-paced learning format.

March 2009 - March 2010

Lillie Suburban Newspapers

Graphic / Production Designer

I provided design layouts for print and web applications, conducted quality testing for print production, and demonstrated successful project management within fast timelines.

  • Created custom advertisements on a daily basis

June 2008 - December 2008

Initio Advertising

Graphic Designer Intern

As an intern, I provided wireframes, prototypes, interactive media, print design, and logo/brand work.

Notable Product
  • Trinona Course Map - Interactive course map for Trinona Triathlon.

March 2007 - March 2008

Christiansen Creative

Graphic Designer Intern

As an intern, I provided layout, production, and brand design work.

Notable Product
  • Hudson Travel Campaign - Postcard illustrations for various landmarks in Hudson, Wisconsin.

June 2005 - June 2014

HappyFaces Entertainment

Caricature Artist

I provided caricature drawings for various companies, schools, and private events throughout the Twin Cities area.

Skills

  • Interaction Design
  • Visual Design
  • Prototyping
  • User Testing
  • Wireframing
  • Animation

Tools

  • Sketch
  • Invision
  • HTML / CSS
  • After Effects
  • Illustrator
  • Photoshop
Download My Resume

Work

Selected projects I've enjoyed

Here are some projects showcasing my interactive design, user experience, animation and illustration skills.

Growth Mindset

Animation

This animation provides a comparison between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset. Various examples of embracing challenges for growth are shown throughout the three minute animation. It was created using After Effects. (View Animation)

Vila Health Simulation

Scenario-based Interactive

In this simulation activity, I helped design a scenario in which the student is instructed to meet with the Director of Nursing Informatics of a fictional Medical Center (St. Anthony Medical Center) to identify potential solutions regarding patient check-in issues. (View Interactive Walk-through)

Riverbend City Simulation

Scenario-based Interactive

In this simulation activity, I helped design a scenario in which the student is instructed to select the counseling or therapy session most relevant to their interests and area of study. (View Interactive Walk-through)

FlexPath Orientation

Wireframes, Design

From concept to launch, I helped design and develop the following orientation media piece that prepares and assesses students for a self-paced learning format. (View Design Screens and Wireframes PDF)

LEAP Courseroom User Testing

UX Research

I conducted user testing sessions to evaluate the first course design for an online leadership series pilot. The program was referred to initially as "LEAP" (Learn. Evaluate. Apply. Perform). My findings and recommendations were presented to the LEAP Product Team in July of 2014. (View LEAP UX Findings PDF)

Course Recommendation Diagnostic

Tool Interactive

This interactive is a program level diagnostic that enrollment counselors use in collaboration with the student to determine an optimal path through the student's desired program. It is personalized based on the student's goals/needs and course objectives to improve the delivery of a flexible program model. (View Interactive Walk-through)

Ethical Scenario - Joe

Branching Interactive

This branching interactive media piece presents choices that ABA professionals face as they work with clients and families. In this specific case, Joe decides how best to handle a parent who wants him to make a treatment choice that he isn’t familiar with.
(View Interactive Walk-through)

Ethical Scenario - Ke'Shawn

Branching Interactive

This branching interactive media piece presents choices that ABA professionals face as they work with clients and families. In this specific case, Ke'Shawn decides how best to handle a problem with a client's mother.
(View Interactive Walk-through)

The Hero's Journey

Illustration

I created five illustrations for a Capella English Writing Course to illustrate the five stages of the Hero's Journey; Birth, Quest, Trial, Epiphany, and Rebirth. The illustrations were used in interactive media pieces created by Kerry Hanson. It was also implemented within the actual courseroom design layout.

Nursing Scenarios

Illustration

I created these illustrations for a Capella Nursing Course to illustrate seven different scenarios that were paired with assessments. The example assessment above was developed by another Interactive Designer, Lori Olson. However, I was a part of the core team to design and develop the overall assessment design pattern and template.

Children's Book

Illustration, Design, Writing

Here is a children's book that I wrote and illustrated for my senior thesis called, "Bruno's Treasure". It is about a bear that loves collecting things and decides to leave his belongings behind for friendship.

Candy Bar Concept Design

Brand & Product Design

This was one of my favorite projects while I was a student at the College of Visual Arts. I was able to take on the roles of Product Designer, Brand Strategist and Writer to create the "Anibarz" line of chocolate candy bars.

Band Poster

Illustration

Poster concept illustration for Handsome Furs show.

Band Poster Sketch

Illustration

Poster sketch illustration for The Daredevil Christopher Wright show.

Postcards

Illustration

Postcard illustrations for various landmarks in Hudson, Wisconsin.
(Created during an internship at Christiansen Creative.)

Story Poster

Design and Illustration

I created a three panel poster for a friend's story called, "The Little Bird and the Boy with the Orange Hat".

Logos and Icons

Design

Here are some logos and small brand illustrations that I've created throughout the years.

Wedding Invitation

Branding, Letterpress Print

When my wife and I got married in 2012, I created a typeface, logo and wedding invite design that was letterpress printed.
(Photo courtesy of Matt Lien Photography)

Contact

Let's connect sometime

Let me know if you have projects where we can build something together.

mark.bune@gmail.com