Cassidy James Blaede
Objective
To design, implement, and continuously improve excellent user experiences, especially using and related to open source software.
Experience
Twelve years of front-end web development, eight years of open source collaboration, and eight years of user experience design and architecture.
elementary, Inc. 2011–present
Co-founder, Chief Experience Officer (CXO)
Responsibilities:
Achievements:
System76 2014–2018
UX Architect, Front-end Web Developer
Responsibilities:
- UX research, modeling, design, and testing
- Front-end web development of System76.com (2014–2017)
- Working directly with marketing team to turn concepts & designs into code
- Communicating with and translating between designers, engineers, stakeholders, and customers
- Photo manipulation & video compositing
- Front-end desktop development in Vala and GTK+
- Constant collaborative design and development using git and GitHub
Achievements:
- Researched, initiated, and documented an effort to offer HiDPI displays and improve the HiDPI experience on System76 products
- Coordinated efforts working with upstream open source projects
- Attended and documented GNOME UX Hackfest 2017, helping to design future improvements to GNOME Shell and GDM
- Designed several critical customer-facing interfaces (Product Configurator, OS Installer, USB Flasher, GPU Switching) and helped bring them to life in code
- Accepted as a member of the GNOME Foundation for work on GNOME and downstream projects
- Attended and documented GUADEC 2018, helping to represent System76 and Pop!_OS interests while building closer relationships with upstreams
Visual Logic Group 2012–2013
User Experience Intern
- UX research & user testing
- Designing time-tracking software with a team
- Icon design
- Front-end web development
University of Northern Iowa 2011–2012
Network Engineer Assistant (ITS Network Services)
- Configured and maintained switch firmware & configuration
- Managed Wi-Fi monitoring service
- Performed wireless site surveys
- Provisioned and configured wireless APs
- Handled RMA procedures
- Utilized various consoles for network and AP management
- Created and managed wireless heatmaps
- Tracked tasks and progress in a ticketing system
LCS 2010–2011
Technical Support Analyst
- Provided support to internal staff and external clients via help desk
- Assisted staff/clients with password resets, software installation, etc.
- Wrote and maintained documentation through Sharepoint
- Communicated technical concepts to facilitate understanding
- Rapidly learned and mastered varied internal systems and programs
- Tracked tasks and progress in a ticketing system
Webspec Design, LLC. 2007–2010
Web Developer
- Front-end web development of small client websites
- Training and supporting clients
- Installing, configuring, developing, and supporting custom Wordpress-based websites and plugins
- High-fidelity web design slicing & implementation
Education
University of Northern Iowa 2012–2014
Interactive Digital Studies
DMACC 2010–2012
Liberal Arts