Derek Bressler

UX designer, Graphic designer

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Bressler Creative

Creative service provider

2014-Current

Providing a range of creative services—including consultation, strategy, design, and illustration—for clients of all sizes. Guiding projects and crafting unique outcomes from concept to completion. Skilled in applying empathy and collaboration to ensure results align with client goals.

Essential skills: Client relationship management, creative consultation, visual design, web design.

IBM Cloud

UX Design Lead

2019–2024

Led design strategy and prioritized tasks for 3-7 simultaneous projects across two teams, balancing workloads and ensuring timely delivery. Partnered with stakeholders (product managers, sales representatives, software engineers, designers, researchers and marketers) to create innovative solutions that met business and customer needs. Notably, reduced average customer deployment time for multi-product solutions by 96%—from 3 months to 3 days.

Essential skills: Project management, user research, collaboration.

IBM Cloud

Software Product Designer (UX, UI, Visual)

2015–2019

Worked directly on six product teams and two organization wide initiatives. Quickly established technical domain knowledge and designed novel solutions while maintaining internal brand guidlines. Created designs based on user and business needs. Executed deliverables on time and within an agile development environment, using IBM enterprise design thinking methods. Simplified complex cloud technologies, making them intuitive and accessible for all users. Partnered with research to test wireframes, prototypes, and experiences. Assisted in creation of user personas. Ensured consistency by leveraging internal guidance and design systems when creating prototypes and final screens. Worked with development throughout the design process to ensure technical viability and implement designs to specification. Contributed design assets that impacted more than 250 products.

Essential skills: IBM enterprise design thinking, user experience design, prototyping, accessibility, visual design, rapid iteration.

IBM Maelstrom

Design intern

2015

Provided design talent to a multi-disciplinary team that included user research, development, and project management. Learned and implemented IBM Design Thinking methods. Assisted with user interviews, product testing, and design thinking exercises. Created wireframes, prototypes, and presentations. Crafted compelling narratives based on user journeys. Presented research findings and design concepts in slide decks to internal executives. These presentations built empathy for users and aligned business opportunities with user needs. Practiced radical, inter-organizational, cross-functional collaboration. Gained valuable insights into the business impact of UX design and contributed to work that positively influenced cutting-edge products.

Essential skills: Concept development, presentation, design sprints, competitive analysis.

Catapult Marketing

Design intern

2014

Designed print materials such as brochures, flyers, and promotional mailers, as well as digital assets including social media graphics and web banners, to support client marketing efforts. Collaborated with clients and account managers to ensure deliverables met expectations and deadlines. Coordinated with the print production team to prepare final files to specifications. Contributed to internal rebranding initiatives. Audited and documented the website’s information architecture, proposing multiple structural options and collaborating with internal leadership to implement updates. Partnered with external clients to create branded elements and assisted with the design, strategy, and production of branded materials.

Essential skills: Graphic design, print design, design operations, information architecture mapping.

Franke+Fiorella

Design intern

2014

Designed brand assets (logos, typography, color schemes, & marketing materials) with a focus on functionality. Created impactful designs to connect with target audiences. Worked on 5 accounts and collaborated with designers and project managers to bring client visions to life. Contributed to the beatuiful St. Paul Saints stadium with a custom logotype for CHS Field.

Essential skills: Graphic design, concept development, identity design, brand systems.

College Pro Painters

Franchise Owner

2012

Owned and operated a College Pro Painters franchise. Provided high-quality exterior residential painting services for home owners in the greater Minneapolis and Saint Paul metro area. Oversaw all aspects of the business. Hired, trained, and managed painting crews. Created and implemented marketing campaigns. Managed new customer acquisition and client relationships. Ensured operational efficiency and profitability. Converted more than 80% of free estimates into signed contracts.

Essential skills: Client relationship management, team building, negotiation, conflict resolution, sales.

Skills

Experience design (UX)

Interface design (UI)

Visual design

Illustration

Brand + Identity design

Prototyping

Trend analysis

Design systems

Competitive analysis

Design Ops

Human centered design (HCD)

IBM Enterprise Design Thinking

Project planning

Responsive design

Journey mapping

Information architecture

Agile development

Design sprints

HTML + CSS

Accessibility (A11Y)

Wireframing

tools

Figma

Sketch

Adobe Creative Cloud

Adobe XD

Illustrator

Photoshop

InDesign

Miro (InVision)

Mural

Sketch

Keynote + Powerpoint

Google forms

Amplitude

Visual studio code

Github

Monday

Aha!

Trello

Slack

Box

Post-it notes

Pencil & paper

Awards & certifications

IBM watsonx AI Essentials badge, 2024

IBM Cloud Technical Advocate certification, 2024

GOOD Design Award, 2019

Enterprise Design Thinking Practitioner certification, 2017

IBM Cloud Advocate badge, 2017

AIGA Design Show award, 2014

Education

Bachelor of Arts,
Graphic design emphasis.
Concordia University,
2014

BFA Coursework,
Design emphasis.
College of Visual Arts,
2010–2013

References

J. Pollard
Design Manager

G. Mendel
Development Lead

T. Tyner
Design Manager

Contact info available upon request.