Available for work
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Shawn Willings
Product Designer
Pro
Career preferences
Role
Content Designer
Director
Founder
Graphic Designer
Information Architect
Interaction Designer
Mobile Designer
Product Designer
UX/UI Designer
Web Designer
Desired Locations
Canada
Desired Salary
$ 110k
Seniority Level
Senior
Job Type
Full-time
Contract
Part-time
Workplace Type
Remote
On-Site
Hybrid
Industry
Education
Energy
Government
Healthcare
Media
Science
Technology
Video Streaming
Company Size
Seed 1-10
Early 11-50
Mid-size 51-200
Work experience
Interactive Media Director at IMCBA
Apr 2021 - Sep 2024
Toronto, Canada
- Directed the redesign of complex digital products across regulatory, e-commerce, financial, and healthcare sectors, aligning strategy with user needs and business goals.
- Provided empathy-driven design solutions that met compliance standards and elevated customer experience benchmarks.
- Coordinated the development of qualification standards for personnel, monitoring their performance through routine assessments and audits.
- Improved user satisfaction by 25% for CPA Ontario through strategic UX overhauls and stakeholder engagement.
- Streamlined project workflows by implementing a custom, variable-driven design system, reducing design timelines by 20% and increasing scalability across platforms.
- Collaborated with stakeholders to translate regulatory requirements into accessible, user-friendly digital interfaces.
- Clients include: Scotiabank, RBC, CPA Ontario, Wellwise, Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario, Canadian Opera Company
Player Experience Lead at Dibs Studio
May 2020 - Apr 2021
Toronto, Canada
- Designed and implemented intuitive, scalable UI patterns to support engaging and responsive game mechanics.
- Provided ongoing feedback, mentorship, and training to design and development teams to elevate player-centric thinking and technical execution.
- Led collaborative usability testing and behavioural research, increasing player engagement through iterative design, feedback loops, and data-driven improvements.
- Directed the creation of interactive prototypes and immersive digital touchpoints, ensuring a consistent and seamless player experience.
- Synthesized qualitative insights and quantitative data to deliver actionable player experience recommendations and guide product strategy.
- Silver medal winner in the Niantic Real World platform competition.
Creative Director at MXM Inc.
Sep 2018 - Jan 2020
Uxbridge, Canada
- Managed the strategic vision and execution of a decentralized, influencer-driven e-commerce platform integrating blockchain technology and digital currency (SponsorCoin).
- Led a cross-functional team to define business goals, establish UX/UI frameworks, and develop web-based direct-to-consumer marketplaces with loyalty-driven incentives.
- Oversaw content strategy and content management systems to maintain brand consistency and scalable operations across product verticals.
- Managed product lifecycle and agile workflows, providing leadership across creative, marketing, and technical teams to meet sprint deliverables and product milestones.
- Delivered stakeholder reports and presented digital growth strategies to optimize customer retention, streamline platform usability, and drive user participation.
Senior Producer at Swappz Interactive
Nov 2012 - Dec 2013
Toronto, Canada
- Oversaw cross-functional teams through the full production lifecycle of licensed mobile games featuring Augmented Reality (AR) and Object Recognition (OR), ensuring on-time and on-budget delivery.
- Managed business operations including project scoping, budgeting, financing, and resource allocation
- Led creative and technical teams in the development of mobile games for globally recognized licensed properties, including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Smurfs, Power Rangers, and WWE.
- Collaborated closely with licensors, stakeholders, and internal teams to align product vision with brand standards and user expectations.
- Successfully brought the first AR-enabled toy line to market, combining physical play with immersive digital experiences.
- Partnered with marketing teams to plan launch strategies, develop promotional assets, and ensure consistent brand messaging across digital channels.
Co-Founder & Creative Director at Pixelnomial Studios Inc.
May 2012 - Present
Orono, Canada
- Directed the end-to-end development of interactive experiences blending digital media, physical installations, AR, and emerging technologies.
- Managed business operations including project scoping, budgeting, financing, and resource allocation
- Secured new business through relationship-building, proposal development, and successful pitching to clients and stakeholders.
- Developed and maintained project timelines, production schedules, and milestone tracking for multiple concurrent initiatives.
- Patented a digitally interactive board gaming platform. Patent: US10610773B2.
Lead UI/UX Designer at Ganz Studios
Mar 2011 - Sep 2012
Woodbridge, Canada
- Led the UI/UX strategy for browser-based games Amazing World and Tail Towns Friends, integrating physical-to-digital play through collectible toy integration.
- Developed scalable design systems and reusable UI components, reducing layout-to-delivery time by 35% and improving team efficiency and consistency.
- Conducted user testing and analysis to optimize user flows, significantly improving on-boarding and in-game retention rates.
- Ensured compliance with WCAG accessibility standards, maintaining inclusive and accessible experiences across platforms.
- Collaborated closely with developers, product managers, and creative teams to align visual design with gameplay mechanics and user needs.
- Pioneered innovative toy-to-game experiences, setting new benchmarks for interactive play within the digital toy industry.
Education
Ryerson Polytechnic University
Sep 1996 - Jun 2000