Since 2022
Since 2020
Since 2015
Since 2013
Since 2006
Since 2003
Since 1993
Since 1988
RC cars
Autocrossing
Kayaking
Mountain Biking
Card and Boardgames
Paintballing
Video Games
Hiking/Camping
Matthew Phillips - Anthropologist/UX Designer
"'Who in the world am I?' Ah, that's the great puzzle!"
Father, strategy game lover, outdoor adventurer, autocrosser, avid gamer, research enthusiast. I have always been told that I am a bit odd. I have an unyielding interest in the things people do, how they do them, and why they do them. This led me to pursue a M.A. in Cultural Anthropology. Combining my love of exploring human culture with my love of technology, my collegiate research focused on Digital Culture. I conducted research into how users interact with virtual worlds in both my undergrad and graduate work. Looking to take my love of research, human interaction, and technology and form it into a career, I then pursued a M.S. in User Experience Design.
"Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." - Alice
I chose "Jabberwock Design" as the face of my work because it represents what we are trying to solve for. I see Lewis Caroll's 'Jabberwock' as the unrelenting problem packed with business needs, imaginative solutions, a bit of nonsense, and truths that need sorting out via a vorpal blade. UX is that vorpal blade that defeats the Jabberwock.
Nothing excites me more than diving head first into a pile of data. Being able to observe and analyze human behavior through research methodologies such as ethnographic research, interviews, focus groups, surveys, usability testing, and card sorting are the aspects of UXD that I enjoy the most.
Being able to then take that data and generate deliverables such as user personas, sitemaps, workflows, user journeys, low and high fidelity wireframes and prototypes using software such as Axure RP or Omnigraffle is an exciting process. Taking that analyzed data and constructing it into actionable blueprints for products and designs is a wonderful process only topped by bringing it to life with the final product.
That being said, it is also important to admit our weaknesses. While I excel at observational and analytical ability needed for research, I lack programming knowledge myself. While I am attempting to compensate slightly for this weakness by expanding my html knowledge beyond the basics, programming will never likely be a major skill set for me.
Education
State University of New York at Potsdam
B.A. Anthropology/Archeaolgy
2010-2013
2013-2015
University at Buffalo
M.A. in Cultural Anthropology
Kent State University
M.S. in User Experience Design
2015-2017
Work Experience
Mutual of Omaha, Omaha, NE
User Experience Designer (FT)
SUNY Potsdam, Potsdam, NY (Remote)
Instructional Designer (Contract)
Kiewit, Omaha, NE
User Experience Designer (Contract)
Frazer Computing, Canton, NY
Project Development Planner (FT)
Mar. 2015- Dec. 2017
Jan. 2018 - Sept. 2018
Jan. 2023 - Current
Apr. 2020 - July 2020
Sept. 2018 - Current
Thinkful, New York, NY (Remote)
UX Mentor (Contract)
July 2022 - Current
Hobbies