About
Hi, I'm Ezra (he/him).
I believe that technology should connect people, so I build interfaces that embody accessibility, usability, and empathy.
I am a Florida-based User Experience Leader with 12 years experience delivering high-quality applications. I currently oversee all UI and UX for a suite of 15+ authoring, content management, and AI applications for one of the world’s largest education companies. I remotely manage a team of 7 Designers, I’ve implemented 2 unified Design Systems, and I've established a full playbook of design processes to cultivate efficiency and agency within my team.
Outside of work I spend time working on DIY projects or growing tropical plants in my yard. I always look forward to a chance to learn new skills, and most recently learned to work with stained glass. I live with my wife, dog and 3 cats in sunny Palm Harbor, Florida.
My Background:
I have a formal education in Graphic Design (FSU) and Creative Technology (NYU), so I am well-versed in the foundations of form and function in the digital world. I developed my expertise in UX through self-driven learning and hands-on experience conducting user research to yield more intuitive and human-centric designs. I’m certified in Web Accessibility to make sure my interfaces can reach as many people as possible.
During my career I’ve contributed to a diverse mix of digital and physical products, within budding startups and established corporations, and including B2B, B2C, Ed tech and R&D. I am most passionate about design leadership and crafting engaging web-based applications at scale.
My Working Style:
Empathy, inclusivity, and transparency are at the heart of my creative process and my management style. I start by focusing on the fundamental needs of my employees and our users, then building workflows through iteration and really listening to feedback. When we get that right, we can foster real curiosity and delight. Working on such a massive ecosystem of tools, there’s a limit to my involvement on each major initiative. I must lean on the strengths of my individual team members, and empower them to grow their own skills and expertise.
My superpower is turning a big aspirational idea and into achievable goals on a realistic timeline. Because of my experience as a hybrid designer/developer, I have a comprehensive view of the product process for ideation to launch. I augment the typical planning process with tailored visual aids to guide requirements discussion. My objective is to align expectations as early as possible, and to encourage creativity while staying laser-focused on our goals.
Craft and Tech
During my time at NYU I began researching the intersection of crafting and tech. I dove into the interwoven histories of these practices, created technology for crafters, and used craft as a pathway to learning engineering and programming skills.
Read more about my personal projects and inspiration on the Designlab Blog.
Talks
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Keynote Speaker and Guest Panelist
Fashion Tech Week New York>
Microsoft Experience Center - New York, NY
September 2017
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The Future is Soft
TEDxVilniusED
Vilnius Tech Park - Vilnius, Lithuania
January 2017
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Wearable Tech
Internet of Fashion Meetup>
Grind Spaces - New York, NY
June 2016
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Will Cyborgs Knit?
ITP Thesis Week
NYU Tisch School of the Arts - New York, NY
May 2016
Exhibitions
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eTextile Spring Break
Wassaic Project - Wassaic, NY
January 2018
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Fashion Tech Week NY
New York, NY
September 2017
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Body Hacking Con
Austin Convention Center - Austin, TX
January 2017
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World Maker Faire
New York Hall of Science - Queens, NY
October 2016
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NYC Media Lab Summit
Lerner Hall at Columbia University - New York, NY
September 2016
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Fashion Innovation Alliance Fashion+Tech Showcase
ROA Building on Capitol Hill - Washington, DC
June 2016
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ITP Student Showcase
NYU Tisch School of the Arts - New York, NY
May 2016, May 2015, December 2014
Classes
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Design & Authoring for Interactive Media I
Fashion Institute of Technology
Spring 2017
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Programming Wearables
Geek Forest
Winter 2016
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Wearables: Sewing with Electronics
Geek Forest
Fall 2016
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Inventors Club
United Nations International School
Fall 2016
Workshops
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HTML & CSS - Make a website
ITP Camp
June 2016
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Wearable Tech Design
ITP Camp
June 2016
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Leather Craft Basics
ITP Camp
June 2016
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Open Source Weaving
ITP Camp
June 2016
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Soft Circuits
Bronx Social Center
February 2016
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Wearable Electronics: Intro to Soft Circuitry
Pioneer Works
October 2015