About Me
Background
I am a Product Designer with VMware Tanzu Labs (formerly Pivotal Labs), where I work on apps and am managing a multi–portfolio design system. Previously I have led User Experience Design in The Hartford's Small Business Innovation Lab in FiDi, NYC, and worked as a UX Designer for the United States Tennis Association (USTA). I served as an active member of the board of directors for the NYCUXPA for three years. I have taught Information Architecture and Interaction Design as a Visiting Assistant Professor in the graduate program at Pratt Institute.
In my free time I paint, consume various types of science fiction, and play with my dog, Pepita.
Mariko Frost
(She/her/hers; Pronounced "MAR EEE KOH" where "Mar" is like the Spanish word for sea)
Experience
Sr. Product Designer, VMware Tanzu Labs (formerly Pivotal), Austin, TX, Jun 2021–Present
Research and design on user-centered web apps as a consultant for public sector projects. Training team members for same. Managing a multi-app design system.
Visiting Assistant Professor, Pratt, NYC, Aug 2020–May 2022
Teaching Information Architecture and Interaction Design within the UX Design graduate program.
AD User Experience, The Hartford Small Business Innovation Lab, NYC, Apr 2019–May 2021
Leading a small research and design team in Product Design at The Hartford’s Small Business Innovation Lab. Planning and conducting user experience research and collaborating with colleagues to architect novel digitally delivered insurance products.
UX Designer, United States Tennis Association, Greater NYC, May 2018–Apr 2019
Co-designed the Net Generation App, now available in the Apple and Google Play stores. Collaborating with our team on UX Research, UX Design, and UI Design. Some responsibilities included: User Interviews, personas, creating and presenting decks, drawing low (hand drawn), medium, and high fidelity wireframes (Sketch), heuristic evaluation, card sorting, tree testing, information architecture, accessibility checks, collaboration with development, prototyping (InVision), and remote usability testing.
UX/UI Designer, InSpirAVE, NYC, Nov 2017–May 2018
Worked closely with stakeholders and development team at this Fintech startup company to design and launch the MVP version of the InSpirAVE web app. Improved sign up flows, increased gamification and sign-up rates. Assisted in WordPress site maintenance.
Freelance Design, various locations, Aug 2010–May 2018
A variety of freelance UX Design, Design, and Illustration roles including: UX Design for a property management company, textile design for the Marchesa Voyage collection, patent drawings for legal firms, map making.
Graphic Designer / Registrar / Production Manager, Drummond Framing Inc. NYC, 2012–2018
Created exact–to–spec designs in Photoshop for clients to have their unique frames visualized on their art prior to purchase.
Collaborated on designs to bring the old Flash based website up to date with a full re–design.
Spearheaded the successful implementation of a new digital art inventory system that is digitized, searchable, and automatically backed up, with corresponding art labels.
Adjunct Professor of Art, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 2007–2011
Teaching adult Studio Art courses, including drawing and Figure Drawing.
Creating curriculum with detailed lesson plans, course calendar, syllabus, and demonstrations.
Earned high evaluation scores from students and praise for high quality of student artworks.
Associate Professor of Art, Collin College at Spring Creek, Plano, TX 2009–2011
Teaching adult Studio Art courses, including Drawing, Figure Drawing, and Painting.
Created a teaching website with customized teaching tutorials, videos, and documents.
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Education
New York University
School of Professional Studies
New York, NY
Diploma in UX Design
1/2017–11/2017
University of North Texas
College of Visual Art and Design
Denton, TX
MFA in Painting and Drawing
2006–2009
University of Texas
Department of Art and Art History
Austin, TX
BFA in Studio Art
2001–2005
Skills
Research
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Information Architecture
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Usability Testing (UXQB certified)
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Usertesting.com
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Ethnographic Style Discovery Interviews
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Personas
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User Journeys
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Card Sorting
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Contextual Inquiry
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User Needs
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Desk Research
Facilitation & Enablement
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Design Pairing
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Presenting & Public Speaking
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Teaching
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User Story Mapping Workshops
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Mental Models Workshops
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Affinity Diagramming
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MoSCoW Workshop
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Running Group Critique
visual & Interaction DESIGN
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​Figma
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Sketch
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Wireframes (low, medium, high fidelity)
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Creating and Maintaining Design Systems
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Interaction Design
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Prototyping (Figma, Invision)
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Adobe Creative Suite
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Digital Illustration
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Designing for AA compliance
Product
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Agile & XP Practices
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Balanced Team
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Collaborating With Other Designers
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Dev–Design Collaboration
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Finding Lean Slices
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Pairing with Product Management on Product Direction
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User Stories
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Retros
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Working with legal, compliance, security, etc. as needed
Contact
Thanks for visiting. If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, or just want to say "Hello", please feel free to send a message.