Work Experience: Bay Area (12 + years experience)
UX Education: Bachelors in Arts (BFA), Masters in Fine Arts (MFA), UC Berkeley Extension (Cognitive Tools for Interaction Designers), Fielding (Media Psychology)
Prototyping Tools
MFA Instructor - User Experience 801
Thank you for visiting my website! I grew up in Louisiana and started my career as a visual web designer. I earned my BFA from Louisiana State University in Graphic Design, and my MFA from the Academy of Art University San Francisco in Interaction Design and Web Usability. I have also taken classes at UC Berkley Extensions in Cognitive Psychology and Fielding Graduate Santa Barbara in Media Psychology.
My skill set and experience ranges from: concept story boarding, branding, user interface, user testing, competitive analysis, research, mobile, responsive web, information architecture and interaction design. I also have marketing experience including telemarketing, sales and advertising. I have a background as a fine artist. My drawing skills help me become a great white board sketcher in order to translate my ideas to stakeholders.
I have designed interfaces in several industries ranging from software, enterprise, healthcare, education, financial, e-commerce and nonprofit for several platforms. I also teach an MFA class once a week called User Experience 801 at the Academy of Art University. It is teaching students the process of interaction design from sketching, wireframes, research, user testing to an end prototype. I take whatever skills and mentoring that I learn in the corporate world and apply it to my classroom lessons. I truly enjoy teaching and making an impact on education while motivating future designers.
Feel free to contact me to see more samples of my work. :) www.linkedin.com/in/vnnpham/
My skill set and experience ranges from: concept story boarding, branding, user interface, user testing, competitive analysis, research, mobile, responsive web, information architecture and interaction design. I also have marketing experience including telemarketing, sales and advertising. I have a background as a fine artist. My drawing skills help me become a great white board sketcher in order to translate my ideas to stakeholders.
I have designed interfaces in several industries ranging from software, enterprise, healthcare, education, financial, e-commerce and nonprofit for several platforms. I also teach an MFA class once a week called User Experience 801 at the Academy of Art University. It is teaching students the process of interaction design from sketching, wireframes, research, user testing to an end prototype. I take whatever skills and mentoring that I learn in the corporate world and apply it to my classroom lessons. I truly enjoy teaching and making an impact on education while motivating future designers.
Feel free to contact me to see more samples of my work. :) www.linkedin.com/in/vnnpham/
LinkedIn Recommendations
Ram - Product manager - Consumer Wireless & Mobile products
Van Nga was my design lead on Yahoo Answers Mobile. She is a talented visual design artist who is also good at mobile interaction design. As a product manager, I found her easy to work with, to exchange ideas and to collaborate. She has a lot of creative ideas and has the ability to turn user stories into great visuals in no-time. She works well in large team settings where one has to iterate and turnaround design feedback from multiple stakeholders. I would be happy to work with her again in the future.
May 9, 2013, Ram worked directly with Van Nga at Yahoo!
Van Nga was my design lead on Yahoo Answers Mobile. She is a talented visual design artist who is also good at mobile interaction design. As a product manager, I found her easy to work with, to exchange ideas and to collaborate. She has a lot of creative ideas and has the ability to turn user stories into great visuals in no-time. She works well in large team settings where one has to iterate and turnaround design feedback from multiple stakeholders. I would be happy to work with her again in the future.
May 9, 2013, Ram worked directly with Van Nga at Yahoo!
Kathleen - User Experience Specialist, Visual Designer, Teacher
Van Nga has a good aesthetic design sense but also able to work on complex interaction design problems. She makes anything look easy and effortless, and can be always counted on to produce high quality work. I first met Van Nga when she was my student in my Principles of Usability class at the Academy of Art University. I watched her skills grow as she worked her way through the MFA program. Because of her strong design skills and easygoing personality, we hired her back to teach a few graduate UX design classes. Students have remarked how generously she shares her industry experience and knowledge in the field of UX.
January 7, 2013, Kathleen managed Van Nga at Academy of Art University
Van Nga has a good aesthetic design sense but also able to work on complex interaction design problems. She makes anything look easy and effortless, and can be always counted on to produce high quality work. I first met Van Nga when she was my student in my Principles of Usability class at the Academy of Art University. I watched her skills grow as she worked her way through the MFA program. Because of her strong design skills and easygoing personality, we hired her back to teach a few graduate UX design classes. Students have remarked how generously she shares her industry experience and knowledge in the field of UX.
January 7, 2013, Kathleen managed Van Nga at Academy of Art University
Lourdes - Online Director, School of Illustration at Academy of Art University
Van Nga was my student at the Graduate School of Web Design & New Media at the Academy of Art University. She has explored the world of interaction design with a passion, and she's grown as a leader, professional and educator. She has a positive personality and she is tremendously generous as an instructor. Van Nga exposes her students to professionals in the field and to current trends in the industry.
May 24, 2012, Lourdes was Van Nga's client
Van Nga was my student at the Graduate School of Web Design & New Media at the Academy of Art University. She has explored the world of interaction design with a passion, and she's grown as a leader, professional and educator. She has a positive personality and she is tremendously generous as an instructor. Van Nga exposes her students to professionals in the field and to current trends in the industry.
May 24, 2012, Lourdes was Van Nga's client
Rebecca - Interaction Design Manager at Kaiser Permanente
I have had the pleasure of working with Van Nga on a few projects. She is good at collaboration and giving and receiving feedback. Van Nga produces good quality wireframes and documentations. She is thoughtful in what she does and able to take-in requirements and create a design that addresses both user and business requirements. I recommend Van Nga as a valuable Interaction designer and team member.
August 19, 2010, Rebecca managed Van Nga indirectly at Kaiser Permanente
I have had the pleasure of working with Van Nga on a few projects. She is good at collaboration and giving and receiving feedback. Van Nga produces good quality wireframes and documentations. She is thoughtful in what she does and able to take-in requirements and create a design that addresses both user and business requirements. I recommend Van Nga as a valuable Interaction designer and team member.
August 19, 2010, Rebecca managed Van Nga indirectly at Kaiser Permanente
Karen - User Experience Designer
I have had the opportunity to work with Van Nga on many projects. Her work is consistently high-quality and represents a good understanding of design principles and best-practices. Several of our projects were under tight deadlines. Van Nga always willingly accepted the challenge and delivered a perfect product according to spec and ... early!
She is wonderful to collaborate with as her ideas are fresh and often represent solutions others hadn't considered. She is up-to-date on current industry trends and technology; it's obvious that she spends time searching the Internet for new ways to solve design problems. If that isn't enough, she follows directions well, asks appropriate questions and has great follow-through. She is enthusiastic about her work and the industry and has an amazing level of energy. I feel very lucky to work with her.
July 28, 2010, Karen managed Van Nga indirectly at Kaiser Permanente
I have had the opportunity to work with Van Nga on many projects. Her work is consistently high-quality and represents a good understanding of design principles and best-practices. Several of our projects were under tight deadlines. Van Nga always willingly accepted the challenge and delivered a perfect product according to spec and ... early!
She is wonderful to collaborate with as her ideas are fresh and often represent solutions others hadn't considered. She is up-to-date on current industry trends and technology; it's obvious that she spends time searching the Internet for new ways to solve design problems. If that isn't enough, she follows directions well, asks appropriate questions and has great follow-through. She is enthusiastic about her work and the industry and has an amazing level of energy. I feel very lucky to work with her.
July 28, 2010, Karen managed Van Nga indirectly at Kaiser Permanente
Jim - Standards Compliance Lead and Design Pattern Librarian for User Experience at LexisNexis
I had the pleasure of collaborating with Van Vga at Kaiser Permanente, on their consumer-facing Web site. She is a prodigious worker, super-fast at prototyping, yet always thorough with her work. She has excellent Graphic Design skills, which she brings to bear when she prototypes. No matter how tough the assignment, Van Nga tackles it head on, while retaining a positive attitude that is infectious. She understands User Experience and keeps up with the disciplines. As an Interaction Designer, I knew that I could count on Van Nga to grasp interaction conventions and best practices, making my collaboration with her easy and efficient. I highly recommend her for your organization.
July 11, 2010, Jim worked directly with Van Nga at Kaiser Permanente
I had the pleasure of collaborating with Van Vga at Kaiser Permanente, on their consumer-facing Web site. She is a prodigious worker, super-fast at prototyping, yet always thorough with her work. She has excellent Graphic Design skills, which she brings to bear when she prototypes. No matter how tough the assignment, Van Nga tackles it head on, while retaining a positive attitude that is infectious. She understands User Experience and keeps up with the disciplines. As an Interaction Designer, I knew that I could count on Van Nga to grasp interaction conventions and best practices, making my collaboration with her easy and efficient. I highly recommend her for your organization.
July 11, 2010, Jim worked directly with Van Nga at Kaiser Permanente
Carol - Sr. Regional Health Education Project Manager at Kaiser Permanente
Van Nga is remarkably skilled and fast at prototyping. She's easy to work with, has a very positive attitude. A joy to work with.
June 24, 2010, Carol managed Van Nga indirectly at Kaiser Permanente
Van Nga is remarkably skilled and fast at prototyping. She's easy to work with, has a very positive attitude. A joy to work with.
June 24, 2010, Carol managed Van Nga indirectly at Kaiser Permanente
Mike - Senior Vice President Operations and General Manager at Asset International
I can't say enough about how great it is to work with Van Nga. She impressed me from the first day we started working with her, and hasn't stopped. She's got a great eye for design, and is a good combination of creative and practical. She also has a good sense for user experience - something very important with web design. She's smart, picks things up quickly, and gets everything done on time. I've been very happy working with her, and will continue to do so. I'd recommend her for anyone.
April 6, 2009, Mike was Van Nga's client
I can't say enough about how great it is to work with Van Nga. She impressed me from the first day we started working with her, and hasn't stopped. She's got a great eye for design, and is a good combination of creative and practical. She also has a good sense for user experience - something very important with web design. She's smart, picks things up quickly, and gets everything done on time. I've been very happy working with her, and will continue to do so. I'd recommend her for anyone.
April 6, 2009, Mike was Van Nga's client
Evan
Chief Financial Officer at Marin Sun Farms
We found Van Nga to have a keen eye for design and a very creative bent. We're very happy with the work she's done for us.
November 10, 2009, Evan was Van Nga's client
Chief Financial Officer at Marin Sun Farms
We found Van Nga to have a keen eye for design and a very creative bent. We're very happy with the work she's done for us.
November 10, 2009, Evan was Van Nga's client
Steve - Director of Business Development at Austin Oaks Hospital
Van Nga is an amazing designer. She is very creative and is able to think out-of-the-box to come up with designs that not only fit my needs but are strategically superior to my competitors designs.
February 28, 2008, Steve was Van Nga's client
Van Nga is an amazing designer. She is very creative and is able to think out-of-the-box to come up with designs that not only fit my needs but are strategically superior to my competitors designs.
February 28, 2008, Steve was Van Nga's client
Betty - Owner at Packard Consulting
When my earlier layout and design creator for our monthly newsletter died, I found myself frantically looking for a replacement. Van Nga met with me only once and immediately took to the task with ease and creativity. Together we have changed the newsletter to a more graphic and pleasant design to accommodate the readership. She is a joy to work with. From that first moment Van Nga has proven her worth to both myself and the San Francisco Garden Club. You will not be disappointed in hiring her.
October 28, 2008, Betty was Van Nga's client
When my earlier layout and design creator for our monthly newsletter died, I found myself frantically looking for a replacement. Van Nga met with me only once and immediately took to the task with ease and creativity. Together we have changed the newsletter to a more graphic and pleasant design to accommodate the readership. She is a joy to work with. From that first moment Van Nga has proven her worth to both myself and the San Francisco Garden Club. You will not be disappointed in hiring her.
October 28, 2008, Betty was Van Nga's client