STEPHEN PIAZZA
Houston, TX 77388
E: steve@soulfishdesign.com | Ph: 415.497.8922
ABOUT
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I am a UX leader with over 20 years of experience designing and delivering enterprise applications that drive business transformation. As part of my role at Infosys, I spent nearly two years onsite at various client locations such as, the ExxonMobil, Verizon, Norfolk Southern and many more.
With deep expertise in UX/UI, I apply user-centered methodologies and UX research to create innovative digital and service design solutions that meet evolving business and user needs. A self-motivated problem solver, I continuously seek insights and opportunities to enhance user experiences and drive meaningful impact.
With deep expertise in UX/UI, I apply user-centered methodologies and UX research to create innovative digital and service design solutions that meet evolving business and user needs. A self-motivated problem solver, I continuously seek insights and opportunities to enhance user experiences and drive meaningful impact.
I bring a strategic mindset and hands-on approach, operating as both an individual contributor and UX mentor to junior designers and cross-functional teams. Leveraging UX strategy, design thinking, storytelling, and human-centered design, I craft intuitive digital experiences that seamlessly guide users from concept to execution. My process involves defining user flows, requirements, and personas, conducting SME interviews, and translating insights into wireframes and high-fidelity designs.
My expertise lies in quickly adapting to diverse industries while learning emerging technologies like Generative AI, leveraging cutting-edge tools to enhance user experiences, streamline workflows, and create intelligent, adaptive interfaces.
With experience mentoring design teams, being hands on and overseeing projects in a fast-paced, Agile environment, I excel at balancing collaboration, and execution. I work closely with clients, SMEs, designers, developers, and product leaders to turn research insights into actionable strategies that enhance usability, engagement, and efficiency—while driving continuous innovation in enterprise applications.
EXPERIENCE
Senior UX – User Experience
ExxonMobil / Aquent - Contract - Houston, TX - Onsite
April 2025 - Present
Responsibilities
Downstream Team: Leading, managing and being hands on for downstream products supporting ExxonMobil globally. Working with End-users, SMEs and stack holders to evaluate in flight projects as well as innovation leading UX first approach.
ExxonMobil / Aquent - Contract - Houston, TX - Onsite
April 2025 - Present
Responsibilities
Downstream Team: Leading, managing and being hands on for downstream products supporting ExxonMobil globally. Working with End-users, SMEs and stack holders to evaluate in flight projects as well as innovation leading UX first approach.
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Senior Principal Consultant – UX Strategist, User Experience Director
Infosys ltd. / WongDoody - Remote/Client Onsite - North Americas
November 2014 - March 2025
Responsibilities
Drive Enterprise UX Research & Strategy: I bring expertise in user experience to lead initiatives that improve efficiency, engagement, and business impact. Focus on creating seamless, intuitive experiences that solve complex business challenges at scale.
UX Design: Hands on design, formally trained in creating stunning design that is both beautiful and functional.
Leading UX: Work closely with leadership and cross-functional teams to align business goals with user needs. Support decision-making by shaping UX strategy, optimizing workflows, and driving product innovation.
Mentor Designers: Guide, mentor junior designers, to help them grow and develop their skills. Manage single or multiple pods while fostering a culture of collaboration, learning, and innovation.
Balance Independence with Collaboration: Take initiative and drive UX projects forward while staying highly connected with teams and management. Success comes from working across disciplines, sharing insights, and ensuring alignment with broader business objectives. Stay self-motivated and self-driving both. I never work in a silo, team collaboration is crucial to a well-balanced solution.
Specialize in Enterprise UX: With 20+ years of experience designing enterprise applications, bring deep expertise in translating complex requirements into user-centered solutions that deliver real business impact.
Specialties
UX & UI Design: I use tools like MURAL, Miro, Keynote, Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Tools to map out UX processes, from research and ideation through to prototyping and testing.
User-Centered Design: I leverage Design Thinking, Persona Creation, and Customer Affinity Mapping to ensure every project puts users first.
UX Research & Testing: I have conducted usability testing and user research, writing user stories, and overseeing various A-B and lab based testing phases, including UAT, integration, regression, and stress testing.
Project & Stakeholder Management: I gather and translate business and technical requirements into UX solutions while tracking milestones using Confluence and Jira.
See the Big Picture: I specialize being able to see the larger picture while working on projects, I have a keen ability to see the patterns in the data and being able to design and direct the team towards a solution that fulfills the greater objectives.
Beyond my technical skills, I love running UX discovery sessions and design thinking workshops, to help gather the data needed for successful designs. I have integrated both Agile and Lean UX into multiple projects, ensuring that design and development stay in sync. Many of my dashboard designs focus on data-heavy metrics, using visualization techniques to make data more meaningful and actionable. At the end of the day, I’m passionate about creating digital experiences that aren’t just functional, but also intuitive and impactful for users
Domains Worked in: Energy - Petroleum / Financial / Healthcare / Logistics - Rail & Truck Consumer Goods Industry / Telecommunication / Government / Education / Distribution / Insurance
Client List: ExxonMobil / Carefirst / Blue Shield / Citibank / XPO / Norfolk Southern Rail / Mercedes / Rich’s Products / Southern California Edison / BHP Billington / Verizon / Cisco
Applications Used: Figma / Sketch / Adobe Creative Suite (XD, Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Premiere, etc) / Microsoft 360 Suite (Word, Excel, Power Point, Teams, etc) / Axure / Miro / Mural / Jira / Workday / Etc
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UI/UX ARCHITECT
Office Depot / Insight Global - Contract / Boca Raton, FL - Onsite
July 2014 / December 2014
Office Depot / Insight Global - Contract / Boca Raton, FL - Onsite
July 2014 / December 2014
Responsibilities
In this role, I lead the design and scoping of large-scale Agile teams focused on homepage and main site navigation. I collaborate closely with the Cloud services team to create a consumer-friendly, on-demand file sharing and printing service tool, ensuring the experience is intuitive and seamless. I also provide strategic guidance in designing solutions for both onshore and offshore development teams, ensuring alignment across all stages of the process while maintaining a strong focus on user-centric design.
In this role, I lead the design and scoping of large-scale Agile teams focused on homepage and main site navigation. I collaborate closely with the Cloud services team to create a consumer-friendly, on-demand file sharing and printing service tool, ensuring the experience is intuitive and seamless. I also provide strategic guidance in designing solutions for both onshore and offshore development teams, ensuring alignment across all stages of the process while maintaining a strong focus on user-centric design.
Specialties
CRC Cloud services, Working within a large-scale Agile development model – SDLC, Jira scrum management tools, Axure interactive wire framing, Usability testing and consumer feedback
CRC Cloud services, Working within a large-scale Agile development model – SDLC, Jira scrum management tools, Axure interactive wire framing, Usability testing and consumer feedback
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UI ARCHITECT
TD SYNNEX - Clearwater, FL - Onsite
June 2010 / May 2014
TD SYNNEX - Clearwater, FL - Onsite
June 2010 / May 2014
Responsibilities
Create UI/UX standards and guidelines supporting both mobile and desktop-based applications worldwide. Work with global stakeholders to plan, design and build web-based solutions for the reseller market. Aid in the planning/scoping of new projects to better ensure standard UI/UX methodology is adhered to when developing an app or site. Design/Create wire frames outlining functionality and project scope to hand off to front end developers. Manage the creative process with on-site front-end developers and contractors, guiding and supporting them throughout the visual design process. Develop and practice usability testing methods to quantify good UI design is being deployed. Act as a bridge between Clients, Marketing and IT to ensure successful projects.
Specialties
Cloud Services UX Design & Usability testing for Stream One, CSS, UCD Focused design for responsive platforms - SMB, Agile SDLC, Project planning, Wire frames, Usability Testing, Managing Front End Developers from prototypes through to deployment.
Cloud Services UX Design & Usability testing for Stream One, CSS, UCD Focused design for responsive platforms - SMB, Agile SDLC, Project planning, Wire frames, Usability Testing, Managing Front End Developers from prototypes through to deployment.
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UX DESIGNER
VERTIGO SOFTWARE - San Francisco - Onsite
April 2008 / June 2010
VERTIGO SOFTWARE - San Francisco - Onsite
April 2008 / June 2010
Responsibilities
Designing both the visual design and the user workflow within applications. Working in a cutting-edge work environment using the agile workflow method instead of traditional waterfall methods. Creating and managing UX workflow timelines. Creating unique user solutions replacing traditional client applications. Design/Deploy application UI controls from within Blend or Visual Studio.
Designing both the visual design and the user workflow within applications. Working in a cutting-edge work environment using the agile workflow method instead of traditional waterfall methods. Creating and managing UX workflow timelines. Creating unique user solutions replacing traditional client applications. Design/Deploy application UI controls from within Blend or Visual Studio.
Specialties
Experienced in the Microsoft Expressions Toolkit (Expression Blend, Design, Encoder). Experienced with XAML based WPF & Silverlight applications (Set top, Web & Touch applications). Familiar with Visual Studio and the process of deploying controls within the project build. Experienced in delivering wire frame specs and application MRDs
Experienced in the Microsoft Expressions Toolkit (Expression Blend, Design, Encoder). Experienced with XAML based WPF & Silverlight applications (Set top, Web & Touch applications). Familiar with Visual Studio and the process of deploying controls within the project build. Experienced in delivering wire frame specs and application MRDs
Client List: Microsoft Traditional And Touch Applications / MTV-Viacom / NBC-NFL / Sony / CBS / Hard Rock Cafe / Pinnacle, Bondi - Rolling Stone
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EDUCATION
MIDDLE TENNESS STATE UNIVERSITY – Bachelor of Science
Focus: Graphic Design, Computer Graphics, Mass Com, Marketing
MIDDLE TENNESS STATE UNIVERSITY – Bachelor of Science
Focus: Graphic Design, Computer Graphics, Mass Com, Marketing
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AWARDS
TECHNOLOGY EMMY NOMINATION – Sunday Night Football 2009 / NBC
The Sports Emmy Awards recognize outstanding achievement in sports television coverage.
TECHNOLOGY EMMY NOMINATION – Sunday Night Football 2009 / NBC
The Sports Emmy Awards recognize outstanding achievement in sports television coverage.
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CERTIFICATIONS
CERTIFIED SAFe 5 PRACTITIONER – Scaled Agile
Cert No. 75933891-6279 / 2022
CERTIFIED SAFe 5 PRACTITIONER – Scaled Agile
Cert No. 75933891-6279 / 2022