UI/UX
Designer
Hi, my name is Tony Dawson. I am a UI/UX Designer with 10+ years of experience in user interaction and interface design. I'm currently helping Citigroup design and develop their UI/UX design process for new products and software enhancements. Teaming up with Product Managers and Development teams to produce straightforward and intuitive user experiences for multiple software applications. I am a self-motivated, highly adaptive professional who thrives in a fast-paced, agile work environment. I am seeking the opportunity to utilize my creativity and expertise in a UI/UX Design role to deliver straightforward, intuitive, and beautifully designed user-centered experiences.
2019
ONE61 STUDIO
BIOWORLD
STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION SMARTWATCH
To boldly go where no watch has gone before. This project was truly a blast! From concept to creation, I played an integral role in the look and feel of the entire interface. This one had some challenges. We had to use the same framework as the previous watch (Fallout), so I had to create design solutions that not only followed the iconic Star Trek: The Next Generation Brand ID but also stayed within the pre-determined architecture. We also had the constraints of the hardware itself. Screen resolution was 240x240 with very limited file sizes for animation. Although challenging at times, this was one of my favorite projects to date. It really pushed me as a designer. And come on, it's freakin Star Trek!
MY ROLE:
UI/UX Design
2018
PLANET 316
STORY BIBLE
CHILDREN'S STORY BIBLE
& AUGMENTED REALITY APP
I worked to create initial concepts and overall style of characters, collaborating with contractors to ensure all assets were cohesive and polished. Designed characters with a vibrant color palette and exaggerated body proportions to appeal to a younger audience. Used flat shading and minimal gradient for background elements to mirror trends of popular cartoons. Mimicked the look of the book by matching the semi-flat design in UI elements while using subtle gradients to create a contrast to pop off the page and enhance the website and app experience without getting lost in the overall heavy saturation of the images.
MY ROLE:
Art Direction, Web Design, UI/UX Design, Print Layout, Illustration, Logo Design
2018
FUSION BIBLE
BIBLE APP
This project is "Fusing Media and Scripture to give you the ultimate Bible experience." I dove into researching the latest design trends of 2018, merging the classic visual elements with the newest color palettes and pushing the limits of what one would expect from a bible app. Such as integrating augmented reality, virtual reality and mixed media. Creating more depth with semi-flat design, vintage-inspired gradient, flat shapes with simple icons, large authentic photography, and bold typography.
MY ROLE:
UI/UX Design, Logo Design
2018
PROF. MAXWELL'S
4D LAB & 4D CHEF
CHILDREN'S EDUCATIONAL
AUGMENTED & VIRTUAL REALITY APP
The client requested a character to resemble the prestigious Albert Einstein. Employing magical realism to composite a 3D character, I collaborated with the project manager to construct the initial concept as well as model the asset and clean up the rigging. Rendered stills for branding and marketing campaigns as well as composite renders for the commercial to match the movement of the camera while keeping the character grounded to the table. Consulted with the client, their in-house artist, and our development team to establish the look and functionality of the UI design.
MY ROLE:
Art Direction, UI/UX Design,
3D Modeling, 3D Rendering
AWARDS:
2017
DAILY BIBLE JIGSAW
CHILDREN'S STORY BIBLE
& AUGMENTED REALITY APP
Worked with Programming Director to develop a streamlined user experience and overall brand to be utilized for a gaming app series; Daily Bible Jigsaw, Daily Bible Word Search, and Daily Inspired Jigsaw (yet to be released). Created concept and completed design of the main puzzle piece character host. Fabricated puzzles using unique, stylized text treatments over stock images that coincide with the theme of that month to make each one its own piece of art. Used solid cuts in gradients to create the illusion of thick chamfered edges. Created and integrated custom UI alongside stock background elements compositing them together to form seasonal backgrounds with bold color palettes and isometric design to give the illusion of 3D depth.
MY ROLE:
Art Direction, Web Design,
UI/UX Design, Logo Design, Illustration
2016
HERO CENTRAL VBS
AUGMENTED REALITY/
MOBILE GAME APP & WEBSITE
The client asked for a standout aesthetic incorporating old comic book style of exclamation speech bubbles, brick patterned backgrounds, a simple sharp city skyline, and a touch of cartoon-ized high-tech. I used varying black outline thicknesses, CMYK inspired color palette to mimic the 4-color print process of classic comics, along with stylized font throughout UI. Mixed 3D and 2D elements to merge that vintage comic feel with a more modern vibe. For the logo, I used a bold perspective on the hero text, mixed Ben Day dot halftone shading with gradients, added a skewed skyline to portray it as a larger than life emotion, and encompassed it in the shape of a classic exclamation speech bubble.
MY ROLE:
Art Direction,Web Design, UI/UX Design, Logo Design
2016
UNSEEN: THE PRINCE WARRIORS
365 DEVOTIONAL APP
Priscilla’s book cover inspired the overall mood of the UI for the correlating app. The simple sepia tones of the cover, lead me to choose a slightly achromatic color scheme relying on light and dark value contrast for variety. To give the app a complimentary medieval-warrior design I utilized calligraphy style fonts on titles and subtitles and a Serif typeface throughout the body text to appeal to a more mature audience. I also employed vintage parchment texture for the backgrounds, simulated a leather appearance with embossed icons for the main menu buttons, colored stone illusion for the other buttons, and filigree designs as accents and framing.
MY ROLE:
UI/UX Design, Web Design, Logo Design
2016
CAVE QUEST
MOBILE GAME &
AUGMENTED REALITY APP
For Cave Quest, I was responsible for leading the art team to develop high-end character models, with fully functioning rigs to provide smooth, exaggerated motions. I also prepared high-resolution print renders to be utilized for marketing and advertising. With the overall cave theme, I chose to design the UI so it would appear to be glowing and create a contrast to the dimmer backgrounds. To accomplish this I used a brightly toned color pallet and an outer glow effect on the buttons that really made them pop off the screen. I integrated real-life rock textures to create the borders matching the cave imagery provided by the client.
MY ROLE:
UI/UX Design, 3D Modeling,
3D Animation, 3D Rendering
2015
SURF SHACK VBS
MOBILE GAME APP
I sculpted the initial design of the logo in Zbrush to provide me with perfect shading and perspective for the text and other elements of the design. The remainder of the logo, I developed in Photoshop utilizing vector shapes with vibrant colors and hard shadows to produce a highly polished look; adding hand-painted details sprinkled in to create the effect of sand, cartoonish wood texture, and palm tree leaves. For the UI, I chose high-gloss buttons with flat white icons to really grab the user’s attention. Whereas I used more 3D looking icons in-game UI to match the air of the logo without drawing too much attention to the user as they navigate through the games.
MY ROLE:
Art Direction,
UI/UX Design, Logo Design
2015
PLANET 316
WEBSITE
WEBSITE WITH
E-COMMERCE STORE
To develop the look and feel of this site I started with the backdrop, by embedding a collage of game assets on a blue starry sky background with a glowing burst effect to imply that Planet 316 is bursting at the seams with incredible products and entice the audience to further investigate what the company has to offer. I then added a light grey box with a slight gradient and thick chamfered edges over the backdrop to provide high contrast and further amplify the colorful artwork. I used a playful typeface and color plucked from the backdrop to create menu tabs and banners along with gradients and hard edges to give them depth. Centered on the tabs I created round glossy blue buttons with bright blue rim light to draw the eye and let the user know where to look. From there I constructed ads for all of the Planet 316 games with the intent of making them look as though they all belong to the same world. I also worked closely with the web developer to provide my vision on how different elements should react and the overall navigation of the site.
MY ROLE:
UI/UX Design, Web Design, Logo Design
2014
FIRE BIBLE FOR KIDS
MOBILE COMPANION APP
& DEVOTIONAL APP
The Fire Bible itself already has beautiful illustrations within its pages. My job was to take these stunning illustrations and encase them in a flashy UI that would serve to provide the user with an enhanced experience involving 3D animations, interactive puzzles, games, and quizzes. I pulled the vivid color palette from the printed book to maintain cohesion and kept the majority of the UI minimalistic with a focus on functionality. I kept the main selection buttons large to magnify the elegant black and white illustrations from the book, adding a red tint, gloss effect, subtle bevel, and contrasting blue stroke to compliment the starburst background and other UI elements within the app. I also contributed to the concept design and modeling of multiple 3D assets and characters that emerge in augmented reality throughout the book, including the main character that serves as your host and helps you maneuver through the whole experience.
MY ROLE:
UI/UX Design, 3D Modeling,
3D Animation, 3D Rendering