gail leija- user experience: career highlights

current

Manager, Information Architecture

Sapient, Toronto. From May 2009

Part-Time Professor

York-Sheridan Bachelour of Design Honours Degree program, Oakville ON. From Dec 2008

Information Architect & Interaction Designer

gl-ue, Toronto. From Aug 2007

Senior Information Architect | User Experience Lead

Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Dallas TX. From Sep 2003 to Jul 2007

Provided user experience strategy and design for Komen.org and Komen for the Cure web applications. Collaborated with internal and external stake holders, including Komen staff and Komen’s international volunteer network, as well as scientific researchers and health educators and activists to create innovative online solutions which further Komen’s promise to end breast cancer.

Senior Information Architect | Creative Lead
Verizon, Irving TX. From Mar 2001 to Sep 2003

Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams of designers and developers within the eBusiness practice to deliver both internal, web-enabled applications and customer-facing telecommunications services. User Experience Director for the Verizon Vcom kiosk, now operating in over 1000 7-Eleven stores across the US. Information Architecture and UI Strategy for Verizon Online Repair and for eWeb, Verizon's first generation intranet, serving over 250,000 employees in the combined retail business units from the former Bell Atlantic, GTE and NYNEX.

Vcom Customer Self-Service Kiosk

In 2001, Verizon entered into a five-year strategic alliance with 7-Eleven to offer a variety of telecommunications products and services via 7-Eleven stores' Vcom electronic kiosks. Vcom is 7-Eleven stores' web-enabled kiosk that merges ATM capabilities with the flexibility of Internet-based applications and 24-hour, touch-screen convenience. Verizon also offers Prepaid Long Distance Calling Cards directly from the Vcom Kiosk. Customers can select both international and domestic calling cards and view rates per minute and minutes per card, as well as "recharge" cards by using their assigned PIN numbers and access codes to add more minutes. Launched in 2003, this new channel targets an underserved customer base, allowing Verizon customers without computers, credit cards, or even bank accounts to pay their bills in cash as well as take advantage of many of the same services offered on Verizon.com.

I led a team of Designers and Developers that delivered:

- A consistent user experience driven by multiple back-end systems within the former GTE and Bell Atlantic
- Fully functional Spanish versions, making this Verizon's first public-facing, bi-lingual self-service application
- A comprehensive style guide for internal marketing groups and external agencies
- Integration with over-the-counter transactions allowing customers to add minutes to their current calling cards
- Card customization allowing customers to view rates per minute and add minutes per card

early

Director of Information Architecture
Sapient, Addison TX. From Nov 2000 to Mar 2001

Senior Information Architect
in2action (i2) , Irving TX. From Feb 2000 to Oct 2000

Creative Director
Donovan & Green, New York and USWeb/CKS, Dallas TX. From July 1999 to Feb 2000

Senior Art Director | Information Architect
Agency.com, New York and Dallas TX. From Feb 1996 to Jul 1999

Art Director
Sanctuary Woods Multimedia , Dallas TX. From Feb 1994 to Jan 1996

Content Strategy | Business Development
ArchiMedia Interactive , Dallas TX. From Feb 1993 to Feb 1994