Holly E. Dowell

Experience

Social Media Consultant

January 2021 - present

Bookseller

WORD Bookstores (August 2020 - present)
Interface with customers, make book recommendations, process online orders, contribute to inventory selection (particularly nonfiction), facilitate the Show Me the Women book club, contribute to content creation for social media channels.

SPECIALIST

The Digital Equity Lab (January - December 2019)
Contributed to visual design and information architecture of publications such as the digital security report regarding the 2020 Census. Coordinated events and convenings including a 300-person panel discussion, 75-person participatory workshop, and 65-person design chartette including preparing agenda and materials, scheduling rooms, marketing via email and social media, ordering catering, collaborating with external partners and speakers, etc. Formalized documentation, communication, and event planning processes, including the creation of a relationship management database, redesign and maintenance of website, establishing a social media management strategy, and building out an email campaign system. Crafted letters to New York City Council to concisely share comprehensive research and encourage the passage of relevant legislation.  

Research Communications Fellow

International Rescue Committee (August 2017 - August 2018)
Part of the Research, Evaluation, and Learning technical unit. Contributed to communications around the four humanitarian research priorities, employed design and information architecture skills to transmit research findings to internal teams, research collaborators, organization partners, and general audiences. Participated in fieldwork at Mtendeli refugee camp in Tanzania, facilitating participatory design workshops and scoping interviews with Airbel Center’s Coach Erevu project, interested in social-emotional learning (SEL) in schools, and focus group discussions with refugee teachers testing a new curriculum to reduce corporal punishment. Fellowship through the Zolberg Institute on Migration & Mobility.

User Experience Design Consultant

(October 2015 - August 2017)

Clients have included:

Zype: A platform empowering video content creators to reach audiences through OTT applications.
Evaluated existing flows and made recommendations to improve usability. Crafted onboarding and platform tutorial experiences to increase engagement.

Alpha: A platform enabling companies to make informed product decisions by facilitating user testing.
Crafted wireframes and mockups for usability upgrades and new features. Improved UX design of administrator tools and client-facing data analytics.

gen.video: A platform that connects top consumer brands to highly-visible social media influencers.
Responsible for the user experience and visual design. Developed experience flows and accompanying mockups for projects ranging from user onboarding, brand campaign management, and influencer engagement.

Bizly, Inc: Enterprise software and mobile app for on-demand meeting space
Developed design process. Crafted mobile and desktop web designs (from ideation to high-fidelity mockups) for new products and features such as the digitization of hotel onboarding. Worked directly with engineering team to identify and address usability issues across the product. Facilitated personas workshop. Constructed tone and voice guidelines for application and social media.

Newman Library at Baruch College   
Developed user research protocols for website improvement projects, specifically focused on the discoverability of resources. Led 20+ testing sessions with students. Analyzed the insights to make informed recommendations for redesigns of search, database listings, and the course reserves experience. Produced design collateral (wireframes and mockups) to elucidate improvement suggestions. 

UX/UI Designer

Next Jump, Inc. (August 2014 - July 2015)
Led design efforts for new product category - entertainment tickets - within corporate perks platform with an audience of 70 million. Worked directly with engineering team to review and approve of implementations before release. Provided creative support to merchant management team. Honored three times as one of the “Top 10 Employees of the Month.”

Perceptive Software (June - August 2013, internship)
Generated several design concepts and interactive mockups for a tablet application based on an existing medical imaging desktop application. Conducted design critiques and facilitate collaborative brainstorming with developers, product managers, and client managers. Created voiceover videos to explain designs. Developed first-time user experience for a new product.

Undergraduate Researcher

Information Science Department at Cornell University (January - May 2014)
Collaborated with eight person team on NSF-supported paper “Speculative Design for STS.” Accepted to digitalSTS Handbook, a publication focused on Information and Communication Technologies for Development. Developed workbook of speculative and critical design concepts inspired by ethnographic research from the Change Islands and Jamaica, investigating the potential usefulness of technology to developing communities.

Student Team Lead

IT Service Desk at Cornell University (October 2011 - July 2014) 
Grew from Level 1 Support to Team Lead. Provided technical assistance to students, faculty, professors, and alumni via phone, email, and online chat. As team lead, collaborated with full-time managers to ensure timely training on new technologies and cohesive integration of 40-person student staff. Managed the schedules, handled hiring, implemented training, and delivered evaluations for all student employees.  

Volunteer

Catchafire

UX Consultant (December 2015 - present)
Develop infographics and conduct pro bono audits for nonprofit organizations looking to improve their website’s usability. Provide timely site reviews that address organization-specific concerns and offer actionable suggestions for improvement. Six audits and two infographics completed to date.

Trinity Grace Church Williamsburg

Deacon of Justice & Mercy (February 2018 - present)
Develop vision and strategy for pursuing renewal in North Brooklyn through community partnerships and service opportunities. Cultivte relationships with several neighborhood and citywide CBOs. Encourage congregational engagement. Maintain relevant webpage and provide support to topic-specific curriculum development.

Compassion Initiative Leader (November 2015 - February 2018)
Coordinate seasonal neighborhood feasts that are free to the community. Lead a team of five to coordinate food donations, space set up, invitations, and hospitality.

New Sanctuary Coalition

Accompaniment Volunteer (August 2018 - present) 
Attend immigration hearings with vulnerable New Yorkers. Spent a week at the U.S.-Mexico border supporting a temporary shelter for asylum-seekers recently released from border patrol custody.

She's the First

Copy Editing Volunteer (May 2017 - present) 
Edit updates and scholar bios from partners around the world working to empower girls through access to education.

City Harvest

General Volunteer (October 2015 - May 2017) 
Distributed donated fresh produce to food-insecure families in Bed-Stuy and Queensbridge.

Civic Hall Labs

UX Consultant (November 2016 - December 2016)
Contributed to pro bono project for JustFix.nyc as part of Civic Hall Labs's Delta.NYC program. Developed personas, tone guidelines, and communication templates for the nonprofit's two main audiences (funders and partners).

Tools