Chris Lorensson

Product Design since 1999
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Design Leadership

I’ve spent most of my career as some type of design leader. My passion for collaboration, people, technology, strategy and operations has always pointed me upward into leadership.

I try to be the leader I would want to follow; someone with the expertise to speak credibly, who values my own perspective, and who I can learn from.

I’ve been fortunate to have these leaders on my path. Of course, the journey always feels like it’s just beginning, because learning never really ends.

Design Technology

I learned to code very early in my career, and I’ve never stopped. (I’ve even been the front-end developer on many projects.) Understanding the technologies behind the design is critical to good design.

I believe every designer should have at least a rudimentary understanding of the platforms for which they’re designing (and vice-versa).

I’m committed to keeping design intrinsically linked to technology, because in digital products, one can’t thrive without the other.

Design Operations

At the macro level, healthy production organizations have deep integrations between business, design and development. These integrations must been created, fostered and shared as Design Ops ↓

At the micro level, living artifacts such as Design Systems ↓, thoughtful technology stacks and good tools for communication and collaboration make the path toward innovation unencumbered.

I believe operations are critical to the success of both a business and the products they make.

Articles

Case Studies

A photograph of three poster designs hanging on a wall

Synth Studio

A passion project marrying my love for design and music production. I designed the artworks, the brand and setup the online presence. Visit synthstudio.art

Output: Poster designs, eCommerce site
Practices: UX / UI / IX Design, Graphic Design
Tools: Figma

Fizika Flex

I designed and developed the front end of this app for the senior wellness program partnered with fitbit. The end-to-end project also entailed market research, competitive analysis, focus groups, user testing and a back end administration portal. Visit fizikaflex.com

Output: Responsive web-app, web-based management portal, prototype, UI kit
Practices: UX / UI / IX Design, Prototyping, Research, Front-end Development
Tools: Sketch, InVision, HTML, CSS, jQuery

Lifespeed

Ideated, designed and prototyped this proof of concept for Active for Good showing how a separate brand and experience can motivate physical activity using a bring-your-own-device model.

Output: Interactive Prototype
Practices: UX / UI Design, Prototype
Tools: Sketch, InVision

Design Systems

I’ve crafted several dynamic, responsive and component-based design systems using Adobe XD, Sketch and Figma. Perhaps more importantly, integrating those systems deeply with developers using tools like Storybook and Frontify help keep everyone aligned with these living systems.

Output: Design Systems, Design Documentation
Practices: UX / UI / IX Design
Tools: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, Storybook

UNICEF Kid Power

I led the User Experience and Interface Design for the Kid Power ecosystem of hardware & software experiences that help kids get active and save lives through physical activity. Read the case study on Medium or visit unicefkidpower.org

Output: Design system, 3 web-based management dashboards, native iOS / Android / Apple Watch apps, Wearable UI
Practices: UX / UI / IX Design, Prototyping, Wireframes, User Journey Mapping
Tools: Sketch, Figma, Illustrator, Photoshop, InVision

Design Ops

Optimizing design operations can be as obvious as technical component documentation, or as tactical as standardizing a design resource that helps developers navigate designs. Taking an iterative and collaborative approach to developing integrated Design Ops is the right way to approach this living process.

Output: Integrated and Highly Functional Design Operations
Practices: Collaboration, Active Listening, Iteration
Tools: Work sessions and collaborative critiques

HEFCE “KIS“

I worked with PureUsability to test and redesign this Federally mandated universal web widget which lives on the web page of every British higher education course. Visit nationalarchives.gov.uk

Output: Responsive set of HTML Web Widgets
Practices: UI Design, Front End Development
Tools: Sublime, Photoshop, InDesign, HTML, CSS, Javascript

Active for Good

I led the User Experience and visual design for this consumer and enterprise wellness program that converts employees’ physical activity into life-saving packets of RUTF, which treat kids suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition. Read the case study on Medium or visit activeforgood.com

Output: Web App, iOS app
Practices: UX / UI Design, Front-end Web Development, Wireframes, Requirements Gathering, User Testing
Tools: Sketch, Figma, InVision, HTML, CSS, jQuery

American Cancer Society

I led the User Experience design for the new volunteer community based on the Salesforce platform and guidelines for American Cancer Society. Visit cancer.org

Output: Web-based Salesforce Community
Practices: UX Design, Wireframes, Requirements Gathering, User Interviews
Tools: Sketch, InVision, Salesforce

Pearson

I led the User Experience design of this interactive prototype of Pearson’s new online & blended learning platform, based upon Salesforce. Visit pearson.com

Output: Web-based Salesforce Education System
Practices: UX Design, Wireframes, Requirements Gathering, Prototype Development
Tools: Sketch, InVision, Salesforce

Photochute

I named and designed the brand and web-app of this end-to-end service for professional photographers while working within the developer environment to code the front end. Read the case study on Medium

Output: Web-app, Brand Guide
Practices: Branding, UX / UI Design, Front End Development, Requirements Gathering
Tools: Photoshop, Illustrator, Github, HTML, CSS, jQuery

Zimmer Biomet

I designed this proof-of-concept prototype for medical device leader Zimmer Biomet assuming a Salesforce platform implementation for field sales agents. Visit zimmerbiomet.com

Output: InVision Prototype
Practices: UX / UI Design, Prototype
Tools: Sketch, InVision

Providence

I designed the brand and web experience within a developer environment for this non-profit thought leader in orphan care. Visit providenceworld.com

Output: Website, Brand Guide
Practices: Branding, Web Design, Front End Development
Tools: Photoshop, Illustrator

Various Branding

Designing logos is how I got started in design. I’ve designed many brand marks over the years, and I love the simplicity and analog nature of this practice. A good brand can flex when needed, but also be the grounding element in an experience.

Output: Web, Print, Marketing, Products
Practices: Branding, Logo Design, Design Systems
Tools: Illustrator, Photoshop