John W. Sheldon is an experienced UX designer, producer, and illustrator.

Resume

Skills

Practical Skills

  • Interface Design
  • Wireframing & Prototyping
  • HTML, CSS, & JavaScript
  • User Testing & Research
  • User Workflow & Process Analysis
  • Video Production
  • Photography & Lighting
  • Document Layout & Design
  • 2D Animation
  • Creative Direction
  • Multimedia Illustration
  • Technical Illustration
  • 3D Modeling
  • Persuasive Writing
  • Technical Writing
  • Public Speaking & Presentation

Design & Production Software

  • Adobe Creative Cloud
    • Premiere
    • After Effects
    • Illustrator
    • InDesign
    • Photoshop & Lightroom
    • Animate
    • Dreamweaver
  • Axure
  • 3D Studio Max
  • Microsoft Office
  • TechSmith Morae
  • Avid Media Composer

Experience

User Experience Designer | Leidos

March 2020 to Present

  • Create screen mockups and workflows to demonstrate program functionality
  • Interface with subject matter experts, developers, and product owners to simplify workflows and reduce user workload
  • Review developer work for usability and for adherence to style guide
  • Update, expand, and maintain product style guide documentation to cover new functionality
  • Create and update icons and other graphic elements
  • Check prior work against current standards and update as needed
  • Work with subject matter experts to assist in development and implementation
  • Designed and programed interactive multimedia applications for web-based delivery
  • Optimized content for client system performance, including re-creating content in web video formats
  • Created HTML5 animations
  • Created and updated technical illustrations and diagrams of parts and processes
  • Created and analyzed Javascript functionality for web-based training applications
  • Created, updated, and edited 3D models and animations, including models of machine parts
  • Assisted in the research, selection, and modification of training content to meet learning needs
  • Updated project graphics standards to improve typography, presentation, and readability

Freelance Design & Production

Self-Directed Work

  • Game design, illustration, and layout for Roar of Alliance tabletop board game
  • Illustration and layout for The Man and the Stag tabletop roleplaying game
  • Created the Homunculus Assembly Line tabletop roleplaying game art zine
    • Project Management from ideation to physical and digital delivery
    • Managed and art directed a remote team of illustrators
    • Created illustrations and page layouts
  • Art direction, illustration, and layout for the Turn tabletop roleplaying game rulebook
  • Illustration and layout for Of the Woods: Lonely Games of Imagination
  • Filmed, produced and edited the YouTube series Leading With Class

Client-Directed Work

  • Video Editing and Production for Bully Pulpit Games
  • Brand and collateral design for Platonic Solids and Off Guard Games
  • Illustration and layout consultation for the Into the Dark tabletop roleplaying game

Web Manager | Washington & Jefferson College

October 2012 to March 2020

  • Updated and approved website content through Content Management System
  • Monitored site traffic using Google Analytics, and adjust page SEO as needed
  • Managed implementation of redesigned site on new CMS platform
  • Configured site architecture for new CMS implementation
  • Oversaw homepage redesign process with outside design firm
  • Conducted content audit of the college website

Senior Production Specialist | SAE International

January 2012 to June 2018

  • Analyzed process workflows and identified where automation could be used to drive cost and time savings while decreasing potential for error
  • Led the selection process for a new enterprise-wide content services platform
  • Defined content and metadata models for implementation of digital asset management system
  • Created an internal site to allow employees to search and understand the corporate taxonomy
  • Provided updated templates and batch scripts to enable automated publishing of 3rd-party documents, resulting in significant cost and time savings
  • Managed & troubleshooted XML to InDesign publishing workflow
  • Laid books & technical papers, including complex papers passed over by other publication specialists
  • Managed product templates, focusing on brand compliance and user satisfaction
  • Provided technical assistance and training to publication specialists

Technical Illustrator | HEBCO, Inc.

March 2010 to January 2012

  • Completed high-volume document scanning project ahead of schedule
  • Helped to manage a database of technical illustrations
  • Reproduced technical images and illustrations using Autocad, Illustrator, and Photoshop
  • Provided training to other Technical Illustrators on new features of Adobe Creative Suite programs

Broadcast Journalist | U.S. Army

April 2005 to June 2011

  • Served as Senior Editor for AFN-Iraq from July 2006 to June 2007:
    • Produced & edited over 100 episodes of a daily, 10-minute newscast called Freedom Journal Iraq
    • Created the short-form 1-minute news update product Iraqi Freedom Minute
    • Traveled independently to produce multiple news and feature packages for the Pentagon channel and Armed Forces Network
    • Managed the technical work of field reporters
    • Produced the Multi-National Force’s year-in-review video for 2006
    • Awarded the Joint Service Commendation medal for exemplary quality of work in conjunction with other forces
  • Trained other broadcast journalists on editing and design, including higher-ranked personnel
  • Provided Adobe Illustrator training at a unit level

Education

MSc

Media Arts and Technology

Duquesne University

BSc

Graphic Design

Art Institute of Pittsburgh

ASc

Art

Community College of Allegheny County

MOS

Broadcast Journalism Qualification

Defense Information School

Testimonials

Thumbnail for The Warren Kickstarter video

Steve Segedy, Bully Pulpit Games

"John has saved the day for us on several occasions, taking on video editing projects at a moment's notice and producing excellent work. He has an instinct for what we need, and is able to quickly and patiently work through our feedback to give us more than we hoped for. We'll definitely be working with him again!"

An illustration of two cyberpunk characters back to back in high contrast, used for a t-shirt design.

Jeff Johnston, Nunchcon

"When I needed a t-shirt design for a local convention, I had a strong visual idea but zero experience in art direction. John was able to decipher my instructions, suggest improvements, communicate reliably, respond to changes, and deliver a striking and popular design on schedule."

Logo for Platonic Solids

Stras Acimovic, Platonic Solids

"Working with John was great. He incorporated my ideas with his own style in timely fashion. I'll be using the results for many years."

Portfolio

Published Works

Of the Woods: Lonely Games of Imagination, 2017, illustration and layout

Let Me Take a Selfie, 2017, layout

Into the Dark, 2018, illustration

Turn, 2019, illustration, art direction, and layout

Towns Like Ours supplement for the Turn RPG, 2020, illustration and layout

Homunculus Assembly Line, 2020, writing, art direction, illustration, and layout

The Man and the Stag, 2021, illustration and layout

Roar of Alliance [beta], 2021, game design, illustration, art direction, and layout

 

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