Ashley McQuaid

a creature, at work.

Ashley has practiced user experience design, information architecture, and the design and execution of user research since 2011.

Most recently, Ashley was an associate creative director at Amp Agency, leading user experience for brands as large as Meta and as local as Teddie Peanut Butter. Her work encompassed project strategy, user research, site architecture, and interaction design, as well as ongoing collaborations with visual design, development, and client teams. Prior to her work at Amp she was a senior IA/UX designer at iFactory, focusing on higher education, healthcare, publishing, and not-for-profits. At iFactory she managed the internship program in addition to her work on websites and apps. She also has extensive experience in financial services and the interior machinations of intranets.

Ashley’s care for her work stems from a love of relationships and intricacies, and when her work on the web or in the client meeting space is done, she is immersing herself in her local biosphere through observing, writing, divining, and creating art. You can explore this work at Eight of Pentacles.

Experience

Amp Agency

Associate Creative Director, Experience Design

July 2021 – Present

Senior UX Designer

February 2020 – July 2021

Honors & awards

Hatch62 Gold for eCommerce
Teddie Peanut Butter · October 2023

Hatch61 Bronze for Digital
Beyond Meat · June 2022

Lead IA/UX from concept to launch on standalone projects and within ongoing client relationships, collaborating with teammates in visual design, development, copy, strategy, and account services. Work encompassed websites and web applications within a variety of industries including media, technology, and consumer goods.

  • Developed detailed information architecture, wireframe prototypes, and other interaction design deliverables with an eye towards UX best practices, strategic project goals, development capabilities, and overarching client initiatives
  • Worked flexibly within existing client design systems to build consistently beautiful experiences, recommending updates to client systems as necessary; assisted in building systems for large-scale projects and/or where no pre-existing system was available
  • Designed and led research activities including user research and usability testing; current experience audits; and competitive landscape research
  • Mentored junior team members with 1:1 and group feedback sessions on work and coaching for client presentations
  • Presented Experience Design team deliverables to clients, preparing presentations according to clients’ level of knowledge and comfort; assisted account services with client relationship management
  • Assisted senior leadership with scoping for new business pitches

Selected clients: Meta, LinkedIn, Boston University Questrom School of Business, BFGoodrich, Teddie Peanut Butter, Beyond Meat, Southwest Airlines

iFactory

Senior IA/UX Designer

February 2017 – December 2019

IA/UX Designer

April 2014 – February 2017

Honors & awards

MITX Education Marketing Nominee
MASSART · May 2018

MITX Education Marketing Winner
Bennington College · May 2017

Lead IA/UX for projects from concept to launch, collaborating with teammates in client services, content strategy, visual design, and development. Work encompassed public websites, intranets, and enterprise applications across higher education, healthcare, publishing, and not-for profits.

  • Developed wireframes, interaction design, and functional specifications with an eye towards UX best practices, strategic project goals, and CMS capabilities
  • Developed detailed information architecture, including sitemaps and taxonomies
  • Designed and led research activities, including 1:1 moderated usability tests; focus groups; persona development; and remote qualitative tests, including card sorts and sitemap tests
  • Supervised the IA/UX co-op program, acting as both manager and mentor; developed educational opportunities to suit each individual co-op’s interests and abilities

Selected clients: Rutgers University, VCUarts, Baker Library at Harvard Business School, Colorado State, MASSART, Bennington College

Liberty Mutual Insurance

Information Architect

September 2012 – April 2014

Lead IA/UX for projects spanning all of Liberty’s Personal Markets websites and applications, including but not limited to Auto quoting and purchasing, Home insurance, and the eServices customer portal.

  • Developed user flows and interactive wireframes; created detailed interactive prototypes for usability testing
  • Conducted competitive market analysis and preliminary user research to assist in developing project strategy
  • Supported the user research team during 1:1 moderated usability tests