Izel Maras
🙂

Izel Maras

Head of Design in New York, She/her

Looking for a product designer opportunity!

5 months ago

About

Head of Design at Roon, an early-stage healthcare startup developing an app for complex health conditions.

Work Experience

2022 — Now
New York

Roon is a platform that provides video answers to medical questions, offering accurate, up-to-date information from trusted sources to empower patients and improve healthcare outcomes through a user-friendly interface and personalized content.

2019 — 2022
Product Design Lead at Verizon Communications
New York

Led the development and implementation of the Digital Design System for 50M+ users, managed agency teams, implemented Storybook, and oversaw design system adoption and QA processes while also redesigning key flows and interfaces for the My Verizon App and web.

2017 — 2019
Senior Product Designer at Verizon Communications
New York

Contributed to critical initiatives such as Verizon Up in-app, Verizon Design System, and Verizon Juice.

2015 — 2017
New York

As a visual designer at Frog, I worked on projects including BNY Mellon's wealth management website, Samsung's design research for customer service, and TouchTunes jukebox visualizations. I also contributed to Verizon's immersive bus design and smaller projects for T-Mobile and AB InBev.

2014 — 2015
Cambridge, MA

I designed and developed a wearable device, focusing on interface design and serial programming.

Projects

2024
  • Redesigned search functionality with AI-powered querying

  • Developed user flow integrating traditional search and AI-assisted answers

  • Implemented a system for generating summary responses from database content

2024
  • Developed an intuitive creator tool for doctors to edit video, audio, and text content

  • Designed end-to-end service for medical content creation and management

  • Engineered Airtable-based backend for content workflow and doctor data, created interfaces on Airtable for doctors to access and edit the backend

  • Created comprehensive documentation and user guides

  • Optimized content creation lifecycle through service design

2024
Video Experience at Roon
  • Designed multi-perspective video player interface for iOS and responsive web

  • Implemented features to showcase diverse expert opinions per question

2024
Content Catalog Architecture at Roon
  • Devised topic and expert-based taxonomy for content organization

  • Designed intuitive navigation for exploring topics and subtopics

  • Implemented backend logic to support hierarchical content structure

2024
  • Built ground-up design system leveraging Figma's auto layout and variants

  • Extended design system to support responsive web and iOS platforms

2023
User Onboarding at Roon
  • Crafted a seamless onboarding experience

  • Designed an interactive onboarding video to educate users on Roon before signing up

2023
Product Strategy & Growth at Roon
  • Led product roadmap development and design strategy

  • Contributed to securing $8M seed round

  • Launched iOS app with 9,000 sign-ups, supporting various medical conditions

  • Expanded to web platform within 18 months

2023
  • Laid the foundation for the Roon experience with web and mobile web designs.

  • Served as the core product for Roon.

  • Secured seed funding from Sequoia to support further development.

  • Designed two main parts: a question-and-answer forum similar to Reddit and a "Starter Kit" video class section inspired by MasterClass.

2022
Branding & Marketing Strategy at Roon
  • Created cohesive visual identity across all touchpoints

  • Directed branding efforts for consistent messaging

  • Developed marketing materials aligned with product vision

2022
Animation, Illustration at Roon
  • Developed an illustration design language for Roon that aligned with their brand's color and aesthetic.

  • Created an illustration style, producing all illustrations and crafting storyboards for animations.

  • Expanded the design system with Lottie-coded animations in collaboration with animators and storytellers to visualize complex medical concepts effectively.

  • Created visually engaging content that simplified intricate medical information for enhanced user comprehension.

2022
Web MVP at Roon
  • Laid the foundation for the Roon experience with web and mobile web designs.

  • Served as the core product for Roon.

  • Secured seed funding from Sequoia to support further development.

  • Designed two main parts: a question-and-answer forum similar to Reddit and a "Starter Kit" video class section inspired by MasterClass.

2021
My Verizon App Redesign at Verizon Communications
  • Transitioned to tab bar architecture, optimizing user pathways

  • Oversaw two rounds of rebranding efforts

  • Redesigned account section

  • Redesigned personalized home

2021
Digital Design System at Verizon Communications
  • Led development and implementation, with 50M+ users, reach, and metrics

  • Managed agency teams (AKQA, RGA, Moment) for system audits

  • Interfaced with engineering to implement Storybook

  • Oversaw design system adoption for 200 members of the design team

  • Initiated and championed QA processes across the design organization.

  • Created tailored expansion packs for journey teams

2021
My Verizon Assistant at Verizon Communications
  • Collaborated with chatbot teams to ensure consistency across text and voice interfaces.

  • Expanded Verizon Digital Design system to include conversational UI components.

  • Created concept designs for a branded experience of My Verizon Assistant.

    • Developed a unique and cohesive visual identity aligning with Verizon's brand values.

    • Carefully considered typography, color palettes, iconography, and overall design aesthetics to create a visually engaging and immersive experience for users interacting with My Verizon Assistant.

2021
GizmoWatch Kid Watch Interface at Verizon Communications
  • Created engaging, child-friendly watch faces that balanced fun and functionality to enhance the user experience for kids.
2020
5G Home Internet at Verizon Communications
  • Designed educational website and user flows for setup and purchase
2018
Verizon Juice at Verizon Communications
  • Collaborated with a creative director to design the homepage for Verizon Juice.

  • Provided visual design support for Verizon Juice, a pre-paid plan later replaced by Visible

  • Created visually appealing assets for web, app and marketing purposes

2018
Verizon Design Internal Web Page at Verizon Communications
  • Created a visually captivating and informative homepage showcasing Verizon's design culture, values, and career opportunities.
2018
  • Implemented gamified experiences with event tickets for user retention

  • Crafted interactive countdown card and flow for premium ticket sales.

  • Created illustrations for the Verizon Up token

2017
Verizon 5G Bus Visualization at frog Design
  • Created an interactive animation introducing Verizon 5G.

  • Contributed to a coded animation for an immersive product design project.

  • Collaborated with technologists and product designers to visualize the future of 5G internet within a physical bus interior.

2017
TouchTunes Juke Box Music Visualizer at frog Design
  • Designed and developed a visually captivating music visualizer for the TouchTunes Juke Box.

  • Created an immersive visual experience that synchronized with the music, enhancing user engagement and enjoyment.

  • Incorporated various graphic elements, effects, and animations that dynamically responded to the rhythm and mood of the music.

  • Leveraged design and coding skills to create a captivating and interactive experience for users.

2016
Samsung Customer Service Customer Journey at frog Design
  • Conducted design research and field interviews with Samsung's customer service teams to gather insights and understand pain points.

  • Conducted user research and journey mapping.

  • Developed personas to address call center issues.

  • Synthesized user research and created insights.

  • Developed a strategy and journey map to improve the customer journey, focusing on addressing pain points, streamlining processes, and enhancing communication channels.

  • Created a journey map that visually represented critical touchpoints and identified areas for improvement.

  • Provided actionable recommendations to enhance the customer experience and improve overall customer satisfaction.

2016
BNY Mellon Wealth Management Website at frog Design
  • Designed the wealth management website for BNY Mellon, implementing and expanding the design system.

  • Created user journey maps and archetypes to guide the design process.

  • Ensured consistency by adhering to design system guidelines, and integrating typography, colors, and icons.

  • Introduced new visual elements and design patterns to expand the brand language.

  • This resulted in a visually compelling website that reflects BNY Mellon's professionalism, trustworthiness, and client commitment.

2015
  • Designed the brand, website, and interface for a Bluetooth-enabled social networking device.

  • Developed serial communication code using Arduino and C.

  • Created 3D-printed encasings, integrating aesthetics and functionality.

  • Soldered tech components for proper integration and seamless user experience.

  • Mapped user experience journey and developed informative infographics to highlight device features and benefits.

  • Delivered a comprehensive wearable device, blending design, technology, and user-centric visuals.

Side Projects

2020
  • Developed the brand identity, including logo design and overall visual aesthetic, for Desen, a crochet brand focused on slow fashion.

  • Designed and maintained the e-commerce website, ensuring a seamless online presence.

  • Crafted marketing strategies and social media design to promote Desen's products and reach a wider audience.

  • Created generative designs for crochet patterns using Midjourney.

  • Successfully gained recognition in Turkey's design scene and expanded to New York, with features in local magazines and international publications like GQ.

2019
Maras Instagram Filter
  • Collaborated with visual programmer Charlotte Rea to transform illustrations into an interactive face filter.

  • Created a captivating face filter on Instagram that quickly gained popularity.

  • Resulted in a significant fan following and inspired fan art.

  • Consistently ranked as a top filter in the Instagram Filters section for several weeks.

  • Successfully brought illustrations to life through augmented reality, creating a memorable and widely embraced experience for users.

2015
Colibri at SolarRoute
  • Designed an infographic for SolarRoute to raise awareness and generate interest in their mission to improve energy access in off-grid areas of Nicaragua.
2014
  • The Perceivable Interface explores human-technology interaction. Inspired by Jacques Lacan’s mirror stage concept, it uses full-body 3D motion capture to create glitchy silhouettes of dancers.

  • Enhances dancers' bodily relationship with technology through real-time projections, creating a new form of improvisation and employing multi-sensory elements like stereo sound and lighting for an immersive experience.

  • Aims to catalog and visually quote various modes of human experience through innovative digital storytelling.

Features

Education

2011 — 2015
Bachelor of Arts at Tufts University
Massachusets

Major in International Literary and Visual Studies
Minor in Computer Science

  • Combined media arts, design, language, film-making, and computer science.

  • Explored intersections between different forms of expression and communication.

  • Developed a diverse skill set and unique perspective on literature, visual arts, technology, and cultural studies.

  • Gained a deep understanding of how various mediums and disciplines influence each other.

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