Rick Mitchell

Director of Digital Experience | Product Owner | UX Engineer

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

About

A human-centered human committed to creating human-centered technology. I’m a product professional who sits at the intersection of UX, engineering, and product strategy, with deep experience in mission-driven environments. My background blends hands-on UX engineering with strategic product leadership, allowing me to translate user needs, technical constraints, and organizational priorities into accessible digital products.

Experience

  • Director of Digital Experience & Design at Holy Family University
    Apr 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 3 mos

    Originally hired for the role of Web Administrator to enhance the University's website and quickly grew into a new, expanded role. • Direct the vision and strategy for all core digital properties, including the website and internal portal, while establishing and ensuring adherence to brand standards. • Own the entire product lifecycle from ideation to optimization, leveraging data-driven insights to improve user experience and achieve business goals. • Spearhead user-centered design initiatives and technical enhancements, ensuring all digital properties meet accessibility standards and user experience best practices. • Serve as a key liaison between marketing, IT and business units, actively engaging with a diverse range of stakeholders across the campus community. • Build new website features and components in the Drupal CMS platform in keeping with the University’s design system using HTML / Twig, SASS and JavaScript. • Manage the work of the Senior Web Strategist as well as any external vendors to deliver excellent digital experiences.

  • Senior UX Engineer at EY Design Studio
    Jul 2022 - Oct 2023 · 1 yr 4 mos

    Contributed as a business transformation consultant within EY's Design Studio in Philadelphia. Leveraged technology to bring business solutions to life by creating intuitive and pleasing digital products. Work included: • Partnering with multidisciplinary teams to define business strategies, user needs and optimal solutions • Building and testing user interfaces to specifications along with implementing designs with other developers, designers and technology organizations • Presenting and collaborating with clients • Working on internal projects, such as the Design Studio website • Conducting technology assessments and research to provide recommendations to client project teams • Working with an engagement team to manage client and project expectations and schedules • Utilized ReactJS, React Native, NextJS, CSS, Javascript, HTML

  • Benefits Data Trust (Full-time · 2 yrs 10 mos)
    • UI Developer & UX Researcher
      Jan 2021 - Jul 2022 · 1 yr 7 mos

      Served in a multifaceted role contributing UX/UI development, research and design across the organization’s suite of digital products as a member of the UX Design team within the Department of Innovation & Product • Collaborated on the development of UX/UI design deliverables, e.g., personas, journey maps, user flows, and interaction patterns • Acted as the lead front-end web developer for BDT’s public-facing website • Collaborated with UI Designers to translate wireframes and graphic mockups into functional code • Creates quality mockups and prototypes • Both led and assisted with UX research efforts — including qualitative and quantitative research through all stages of the product life cycle, from design discovery, prototype testing, through post-implementation analysis • Explored and uncovered user behaviors, motivations, and needs through a variety of research methods, e.g., competitive analysis, mapping, interviews, focus groups, and usability testing • Collaborated with UI Designers and Software Engineers on maintaining and improving BDT’s design system and UI component library • Utilized HTML, CSS, Javascript, React, TypeScript, Gatsby, NetlifyCMS, some Redux • Utilized research and analytics tools such as Excel, Airtable, Mural, Hotjar, and SurveyMonkey

    • UX/UI Developer
      Oct 2019 - Dec 2020 · 1 yr 3 mos

      Work on UX/UI design and development across the national non-profit's suite of digital products as a member of the UX Design team within the Department of Innovation & Product • Act as the lead developer for BDT's public-facing website and work with internal stakeholders to continually make improvements, including an upcoming redesign effort • Building and maintaining the organization’s UI component library using React, TypeScript and JSS/CSS with UI team members • Replatformed website from WordPress to React, Gatsby and Netlify • Create mockups and prototypes utilizing the organization’s design system • Collaborate with Software Engineers to ensure design integrity • Utilizing React, Gatsby, Netlify, HTML, CSS, JSS, Javascript, TypeScript and Sketch

  • Web Development and Communications Specialist at Freelance/Independent Consultant
    Oct 2013 - Jan 2020 · 6 yrs 4 mos

    Create promotional material and web content for institutions and businesses • Write copy for the web, proposals to prospective clients, informational materials for potential investors, and other related corporate communications • Design visually-compelling websites for small businesses and creative arts projects • Clients include a design studio, a research university and an e-commerce start-up

  • UX/UI Developer at Apple Leisure Group
    Nov 2017 - Oct 2019 · 2 yrs

    Developed front end and improved UX of consumer sites for international resort brand. · Built new features, components and pages with HTML, SASS, JavaScript and AngularJS 1.x · Replatformed existing consumer sites on Adobe Experience Manager CMS · Worked closely with UX designers to execute brand vision and modern UI · Collaborated with team to define standards for interactivity and front-end development · Defined and executed A/B tests in collaboration with marketing analytics team · Utilized Agile to complete work in sprints while aligning with business goals