Abbe is
A multidisciplinary designer with deep expertise balancing creativity and analytical thinking, I transform complex content and data into accessible, engaging designs that get results.
Companies in a variety of industries—including EdTech, FinTech, Pharmaceutical, and B2B and B2C Marketing—hire me to create and improve their products and services across industries, platforms, and channels.
With degrees in advertising and fashion pattern making, my work is interwoven with imagination, structure, and iterative technique.
I am proudest of the mission-driven work I’ve done to:
- increase reading proficiency
- make math less scary
- warn about the dangers of tobacco use
- bring new medications to patients in need
- empower young people to participate in civic life and vote
Recent projects: simple-to-complex software, websites, landing pages, email, social posts, digital assets, data visualizations, packaging, presentations, marketing collateral, signage, ebooks, print books, white papers, logos, design systems, and style guides.
Expertise
- Designing consistent user experiences across platforms and channels
- Blending creative direction, project management, hands-on design, and production
- Striking the right balance between aesthetics and functionality
- Managing projects, processes, deadlines, and expectations
- Collaborating / supporting cross-functional and distributed teams in fast-turnaround environments
Professional Highlights
Learning Design
Product Design
Design Management
Visual Design
Developed innovative, data-driven STEM and Literacy products and instructional tools that supported / empowered classroom teachers and improved learning outcomes for students
Educational Epiphany
- Spearheaded brand development of 6 core literacy products purchased by 99% of clients; Increased sales by 433%
- Contributed to reading proficiency increase of 20 – 60% in K–12 schools in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Maryland, and Tennessee
Carnegie Learning
- Reimagined the Middle School and High School Math Solution products
- Earned perfect scores in 3 gateways (Focus & Coherence, Rigor & Mathematical Practices, and Usability) from EdReports.org
- Satisfied 7 customer pain points, making the curriculum more accessible and engaging while maintaining content fidelity
Curriculum Associates
- Refreshed the Ready® Classroom Mathematics brand by establishing a functional and beautiful design system
- Introduced 5 visual modes of math representation to increase student engagement and build confidence
Scholastic
- Concurrently managed 8 multichannel product components (mobile, tablet, web, whiteboard, and print) for math and literacy intervention products
- Created wireframes, prototypes, and information flows for digital platforms and games
- Modernized workflow and processes by leading the transition from Waterfall to Agile
- Supervised design teams of up to 4 serving as key conduit between design, content, and development teams
Benchmark Education
- Designed digital and print books introducing young children to the pleasure of reading and older children to potential growth careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)
- Sourced imagery; commissioned illustration; selected and supervised vendors
- Negotiated and managed production timelines, estimates, contracts, and billing
Online Learning
Visual Design
Created intensive, accelerated online learning experiences for 2U’s 40M+ adult learners worldwide
- Reduced the digital talent skills gaps for enterprise clients (e.g., Amazon, Netflix) by retraining employees in market-driven programs in Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, Fintech, Full Stack Development, UI/UX Design, Product Management, Project Management
- Translated complex technical concepts into visualizations, creating instructional content supports for the learning design platform
- Implemented / maintained brand guidelines and templates, ensuring consistency, quality, and fidelity
- Researched and informed internal teams of inclusive practices: Design Thinking, Accessibility, and Color Vision Deficiency (CVD)
- Collaborated with and supported distributed teams of curriculum engineers, instructional designers, editors, and animators
Data Analytics and Workflow Technology
Visual Design
Production
Delivered real-time financial market coverage and analysis for B2B investment audiences
- Spotlighted proprietary apps, research, data, and predictive analytics in use cases, fact sheets, reports, presentations, social media ads, and signage
- Transformed complex concepts into compelling visual narratives for buy side and sell side investors
Wealth Management
UX/UI Design
Visual Design
Production
Developed integrated marketing solutions for the Merrill Lynch Chief Investment Office (CIO)
- Improved the user flow and interface of an online authoring platform resulting in an overall site use increase of 35 – 50% and a Gramercy Institute Financial Marketing Strategy Award
- Delivered thought leadership and wealth management guidance to 15,000+ advisors
- Collaborated with analysts and economists to provide thought leadership / wealth management guidance; transformed complex data into compelling visualizations and infographics
Healthcare
UX/UI Design
Visual Design
Production
Guided employees to expert clinical support with personalized guidance while helping employers reduce healthcare costs and pharmacy spend by 15%
- Created on-brand landing pages, emails, social media posts, case studies, and presentations promoting the company’s healthcare navigation and pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) platforms
Pharmaceutical
Visual Design
Production
Designed for stakeholders and influencers within the policy and biopharmaceutical research and development communities
- Facilitated MSD Japan (Merck) transition to Agile; achieved twin goals of organizational and workforce transformation
- Partnered with policy, research, and development communities to improve public health and well-being and bring new medications to patients in need
Broadband
UX Design
Upgraded website for rural customers to function as both community resource and informational hub
- Iterated low-to-mid fidelity interactive wireframes transforming a decade old design to a new, modern, usable interface
- Collaborated with distributed product team to organize web content and map user journey
Packaging
and Branding
Design Management
Production
Supervised product development for 4 Colgte Oral Card brands reaching record high annual toothpaste market share of 34.8%
- Enforced graphic standards, ensuring product-line fidelity and brand compliance
- Explored printing techniques, specialty inks, varnish effects, and substrates with packaging engineers / vendors
- Managed domestic and international vendors, from contract negotiation to day-to-day supervision