Christopher Khalil
Director of User Experience
Chris has over 13 years experience in the field working on anything from the design of complex desktop applications and intelligent collaborative agent systems to RIA’s, websites and virtual worlds such as Second life. Over the years he has turned his hand to a few interesting design problems such as thermonuclear power plants control panels, immersive augmented reality enviroments, seismic simulators, intelligent agent interactions, websites and virtual worlds such as Second Life.
He has presented at a variety of international conferences and published numerous papers in the field. Prior to arriving in NSW Chris was the CHISIG leader for Victoria.
As well as his work at NDM he has designed solutions for clients such as BHP Billiton, CGU, Goodyear/Dunlop and Schlumberger and worked on HCI research at institutions such as Loughborough University, University College London and XeroxParc Europe, Cambridge (all in the UK).
Most recently he was invited, as a leading UX thinker, to contribute a chapter to an international book called ‘UX Storytellers’ – free preview available or buy from Amazon.
Chris has a degree in Electronic Systems Design, a Research Masters in Telecommunications and a PhD in Human Computer Interaction. His thesis was on Auto-Adaptive Multimedia Interfaces.
Chris is an avid fan (tragic) of Liverpool FC.
You can read more of his musings on User Experience on his blog. Twitter: chris_khalil
Patrick Kennedy
Design Research Lead
Patrick is responsible for the team’s user research and customer insight activity. He has over ten years experience in the digital media and web industry, with expertise covering user research, user experience design, information architecture and best-practice web design.
As both a consultant and in-house practitioner, Patrick has delivered successful projects in a variety of different environments, including marketing and advertising, media, IT, manufacturing, not-for-profit and the public sector. He has worked with a variety of organisations, both in Australia and the United Kingdom.
Patrick holds a degree in Computer Systems Engineering from UTS and a nationally recognised training qualification (TAA40104 Certificate IV in Assessment and Training). He regularly speaks at industry conferences (including UX Australia, OZCHI, OZ-IA, webDU and Open Publish) and has published many articles on user experience related topics.
More of Patrick’s ramblings can be found on his personal blog, Pat’s Point of View, and on Twitter under the name @patrickkennedy.
Scott Bryant
Senior Experience Architect
Scott began his career as a visual artist before working in university libraries and local government, and finally into new media over 13 years ago. Along the way he completed two Masters Degrees, in Media Art and Information Studies (while working as a Project Manager, Content Producer and IA). After a return from the US working on the Ask Jeeves innovative search interface he concentrated on user experience design working as Information Architect and lecturer in information and interaction design at the University of Technology, Sydney.
Angus Fraser
Senior Experience Architect
Angus is a Visual Artist turned Web Developer turned Information Architect. Since the mid nineties (with a recent detour via film school and media production) he has been hooked on designing for user experience. His past roles include Head of User Experience at 3 Mobile, Information Architect on numerous dot com bombs, Katoomba based freelance Web Developer and Bushwalker.
Lexi Thorn
Senior Experience Architect
Lexi started off her career in Melbourne as an interaction designer, working on a number of state government and commercial sites. When she got the travel bug she moved to London for a few years. There she specialised in information architecture and user centred design and honed her passion for the field, working on sites such as the Financial Times, O2 mobile shop, ChildLine and C&G mortgages – exploring Europe on the side.
Recently she’s been interested in the Semantic Web and the benefit that this has by allowing audiences to interact with content in new ways. “It is the unexpected re-use of information which is the value added by the web.” – Tim Berners-Lee
As a contrast from her desk job and an ode to her NZ roots she enjoys getting outdoors as much as possible; hiking, swimming and snowboarding.
Manuel Guerrera
Associate Experience Architect
Manuel joins the team having just completed his Masters Degree in Interactive Multimedia at UTS.
Prior to that he graduated with a Bachelor of Communication Science and Technologies degree from IULM University in Milan, Italy where he’s from. He has just been nominated for an AIMIA award for ‘Best Student Project’ for his Digg style news aggregator site: Strine.
Perfect Gen Y representative, iPad maniac and social media addicted, Manuel also loves nature: he likes to go surfing in summer and snowboarding in winter.
On Twitter @brodieolson
Matthias Schreck
Senior Experience Architect
“Matty” joined the team in September 2010, after a 2.5 year stint in the Customer Experience unit at Telstra where he worked mainly on Enterprise and Government administrative user interfaces, and 3 years as a Web Coordinator at the University of Technology, Sydney, where he introduced crazy things like Facebook and Flash into the marketing mix. He has a Masters degree in Interactive Multimedia, a Grad Dip in IT, and a somewhat odd German degree in International Economics. German by birth and by reputation, Matty’s move into IT and HCI made him the first in his family not to become a doctor, but to be the first one instead who knew how to switch on a computer without having to read the manual.
Matty loves sinking his teeth into creating prototypes with Axure, gets very excited about almost anything, and spends his early morning hours fighting space battles and creating magical potions (yes, on the computer). He runs his own blog about the best food in the world (www.pasta-blog.com), watches a lot of HBO shows, and has just recently become organising member of Sydney’s first UX Book Club.
Krystalyn De Mesa
Experience Architect
Krystalyn first stepped into the world of UX in her hometown, Melbourne, having completed a degree in Multimedia & Media Studies, and working as an interaction designer with a range of government, banking and commercial clients.
After taking a short career break to indulge in her passion for travel (visiting the shores of Hong Kong, China, Dubai, New York and Los Angeles), Krystalyn decided to focus on e-learning projects working as a Learning Specialist within Telstra. During her time at Telstra, Krystalyn also undertook Project Management roles and delivered numerous training and leadership programs. Krystalyn then joined Salmat, where one of her e-learning projects was nominated as an eLearning Industry 2010 Awards Finalist.
Looking for adventure and a new challenge, Krystalyn made the move in January 2011 from Melbourne’s maze of graffiti-lined laneways (which she loves!), to Sydney’s sunny beach culture – to join NDM’s USiT team.
Outside of her ‘checklist’ approach for UX projects, Krystalyn enjoys running, walking really long distances (100km!), eating cupcakes, supporting her Hawks boys and now that she lives in NSW, learning the intricacies of Rugby Union.
On Twitter @krystalyndm
James Hunter
Senior Experience Architect
James has not yet written his bio, but he too promises that it is on the way shortly.
Ashleigh Sterzenbach
Associate Experience Architect
Ashleigh joins the USiT team as part of completing her Diploma in IT and Professional Practice. She recently completed her Masters Degree in Interactive Multimedia at UTS where she gained a strong interest and passion in UX design and IA.
During her postgraduate study, she undertook Australia's leading entrepreneurship and mentor based program for mobile phone content and applications - known as MEGA - and has worked with Mozilla Labs as part of her final project to produce a rich hybrid application, focussing on virtual brainstorming groups for creative corporates.
Ashleigh holds a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) degree and has worked for the likes of Australian Associated Press (AAP) and Grazia Magazine.
USiT Alumni
Former members of the team who make an appearance on this blog, include:
- Stephen Cox, (former) User Experience Director
- Alun Machin, (former) Senior Experience Architect
- Patrick Lee, (former) JavaScript Ninja
- Louisa Cameron, (former) Senior Experience Architect
- Melissa Cooper, (former) Senior Experience Architect
- Jim McCool, (former) Senior Experience Architect
- Christopher Roosen, (former) Senior Experience Architect
- Raymond van der Zalm, (former) User Experience Strategist
- Sophie Ellis, (former) Senior Experience Architect
