This is what the inside of my heart looks like.
e-mail: amy at amykahn dot com 
  

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Amy Kahn
6 Ellis St
Newton, MA 02464
amy at amykahn dot com
h. 617.744.5064
c. 617.458.1339
About AmyAn Information Architect, Amy has been in the field since 1998. She has extensive experience in design, code and deployment of various size and types of websites, as well as administering and designing content management systems. Her experience ranges from B-B to B-C and nonprofits, as well as financial institutions. She carries a NASD Series 7 and NASAA Series 66 certifications, obtained in 2003.

Skills

Information Architecture and Design Management

Gathering Business Requirements

  • Performing contextual research and analysis
  • Analyzing market data
  • Identifying target audiences
  • Interviewing target users
  • Generating User Scenarios and Use Cases
  • Information Architecture/Design Management

  • Generating information architecture artifacts
  • Designing for various specific business goals
  • Creating Page Layouts
  • Recommending viable client-side technologies
  • Dealing with cross-platform/browser issues
  • Facilitating communication between all parties involved in development-delivery lifecycle
  • Addressing Usability and Accessibility Issues

  • Performing heuristic evaluation
  • Planning, performing, and logging usability tests
  • Using the latest usability standards to analyze results
  • Website Development and Software Packages
     
    Programming Languages

  • HTML (CSS), DHTML, XML, SQL, JavaScript, PHP, ASP
  • SQL, Oracle, Informix, MySQL
  • Familiar with Perl, Python, CFML, COM, Java, JSP
  • Development/Design Packages

  • Visio, Photoshop, ImageReady, SnagIt, GIMP, Dia, Acrobat
  • DreamWeaver, HomeSite, Emacs, VI
  • Rational Rose, Powerpoint
  • Visual Source Safe, CVS
  • MS Office, StarOffice, OpenOffice
  • Operating Systems

  • Windows NT/2000/XP
  • Red Hat Linux, Suse/Novell Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, HPUX
  • Macintosh OS 9/OSX

  • Employment

    February 2004 - Present
    OHO, Cambridge, MA - Human Factors and Information Architecture Consultant
    Responsible for usability preparation, testing, analysis and logging for various clients, including the Jonathan Edwards Center at Yale University and Montefiore Medical Center's web sites. Information Architecture and wireframe-level design for the Jonathan Edwards Center at Yale University.

    July 2004 - December 2004
    Fidelity Investments - Lead Designer/Information Architect
    As a part of Fidelity eBusiness Design, led the design and completed both visual design and information architecture for high profile projects on Fidelity NetBenefits, including Loans, E-mail aggregation and user preferences, E-Learning integration, Health and Welfare online enrollment, and Defined Contribution online enrollment and income deferrals. Also participated in design for One Fidelity, the retail side of the company. Responsibilities include managing the production of complete working prototypes in HTML and JavaScript, visual design of individual pages using existing and new components, producing IA artifacts including site maps, navigation specifications, “clickable” screen inventories, alternate scenario documentation, schematics/wireframes, and design review documents. Managing a small design team (2-4 people).

    April 2003 – September 2003
    Softplex, Inc., Freelance Projects - Information Architect
    Freelance information architecture for a variety of clients, including Softplex, Inc. and Staples, Inc.
    For Softplex.com: edited HTML code to match updated company profile, edited website directory structure for usability purposes.
    For Staples.com: performed usability testing/logging, gave recommendations for site redesign as well as layout issues. Created schematics to express recommendations.

    December 2001 - September 2003
    GNOME Foundation - Information Architect
    Redesigned the look and feel of the Gnome Foundation websites, including GUADEC.org (Gnome Users and Developers' European Conference) and GNOME.org. Responsibilities included interaction design, heuristic evaluation, information architecture, documentation including info boards, site-map, navigational flow, navigational model, paper prototypes, and schematics.

    October 2001 - June 2002
    Rheuminations, Inc. - Information Architect
    Developed new website dedicated to disease research, education, and empowerment of the patient. Responsible for interaction design, heuristic evaluation, information architecture, documentation including sitemap, navigational flow, navigational model, content matrix, paper prototypes, schematics.
    Designed and developed content management and group authoring software specific to the client, with the same design deliverables as above. Said software is still in use today.

    November 2000 - March 2001
    NerveWire, Inc. - Interaction Designer
    Planned and documented user interfaces for client applications. Evaluated usability heuristics, advised coders during the building of web applications. Used Visio, PowerPoint, Dreamweaver, HTML and other documenting tools to create information architecture artifacts. Re-evalutated and redesigned internal company methodology and knowledge management software.

    May 1999 - November 2000
    Snickelways, Inc. - Information Architect, User Interface Developer
    Designed and developed e-commerce websites for various types of clients, both B-B and B-C, including the first company to bring direct marketing to the Web. Used Visio, Photoshop, ASP, VB, HTML, JavaScript, SQL and Microsoft IIS to design and develop web applications. Helped create some of the first Web information architecture standards which are still in use today.

    May 1998 - May 1999
    CyberSites, Inc. - User Interface Developer, Technical Writer
    Internship. Designed, developed and documented some of the first community Web sites, including their flagship website, AncientSites.com, now AncientWorlds.net. Was the first developer in the company to use SQL in conjunction with proprietary scripting language (RAGE) to create some of the first dynamic sites on the Web.


    EducationColumbia University
    Degree: Bachelor of Arts, History
    Class of 1999

    Albert A. List College, The Jewish Theological Seminary of America
    Degree: Bachelor of Arts, Bible
    Class of 1999


    Certifications / MembershipsProfessional Certifications
  • NASD Series 7 Certification, April 2003
  • NASAA Series 66 Certification, April 2003

  • Memberships
  • Columbia University Alumni Association
  • Greater Boston Sig Chi
  • SigIA Mailing List

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    About Amy Kahn


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