Scott finlayson

About Me

I am an extremely detail-oriented creative individual. No, seriously!

I know they all say that, but I obsess over the details without getting lost in them.

While I am well versed in the process and deliverables of user experience design, my passion is the execution of visual design to meet the needs of the product.

In my spare time, I like to expand my knowledge of 3D modeling (primarily Blender right now), video editing, and audio production (performing, engineering, recording, mixing, and producing). Before COVID, I often played in a classic rock cover band, playing the drums and providing lead vocals.

But don't take my word for it...

Working with Scott spoiled me. He's the basis for which I judge all other visual designers and creatives, and nobody ever matches up. I absolutely 100% recommend him. He has both talent, and the ability to both give and take constructive criticism. He thinks, and can listen, and can take what you ask for, and give you what you need. All while providing an extremely high level of quality work, and work ethic.“

Sayf Sharif

“I've always admired professionalism, especially in the areas I have no chance of mastering. Scott's ability to create beautiful, functional and easy to use UI's is second to none.

His creativity and attention to detail has been a huge asset to our team. It has been extremely gratifying seeing concepts and ideas transform into a polished user experience that customers are excited about. Scott is a true professional, an all-around creative spirit and a great team player. I've truly enjoyed working alongside him and I hope our paths cross again in the future.“

Boris Gaber

“In the course of a career, we each build a set of expectations about our colleagues, and we value those who meet those expectations. But every so often, we may be lucky enough to encounter that sort of person who so embodies excellence, that they don't just exceed those expectations, they challenge us to redefine them, and raise the bar for everyone else. Scott is one of those people.

His talent goes beyond the simple visual, to encompass all aspects of the user experience, so that instead of a system which merely looks attractive, he truly delivers that blend of form and function that serves the full need of the client. And he does it while bringing a fun, intelligent, and engaging presence to the team that few can match. When it comes to user experience, there are few who can match what Scott can and will deliver, and none with whom I would prefer to work.“

Tim Kutz
For additional recommendations,
please visit my LinkedIn profile.
Things I've done & for whom
Fidelity | Eliassen Group
Remote
Senior UX Designer
July 2022 – Present

Contract User Experience Designer.

Contracting as a UX Designer for Fidelity through the staffing firm Eliassen Group. I am primarily working on their Wealthscape product and helping to craft new features and evolve the UI to adopt future platform enhancements.

Freelance | Self
Amherst, NH
Senior Visual Designer
May 2021 – July 2022

Acting as a Freelance Designer for select UI/Design projects.

Ericsson | GlobalLogic
Manchester, NH
Senior Visual/UI Designer
APRIL 2016 – MAY 2021

Sole Visual/UI Designer for the Ericsson Adaptive Inventory product working within the on-site UX Team.

  • Managed all aspects of the product's visual design and brand compliance.
  • Delivered high-quality visual assets and specifications to various development teams during overlapping endeavors.
  • Designed & created a large library (+1,000) interface/object icons in .SVG format.
  • Provided low/hi-fidelity mockups & click-throughs when needed for various project features.
  • Involved in high-level UX discussions & decisions regarding functionality and workflow with senior management and stakeholders.
Cimpress | Vistaprint
Waltham, MA
UI Designer/Developer
MARCH 2015 – APRIL 2016

Supported the UX team to bring cohesion to a legacy monolithic software suite (internal); that leveraged multiple front-end technologies.

  • Traveled to numerous worldwide manufacturing plants to assess the users' interactions with the various screens used to perform their jobs in order to find ways to improve the user experience.
  • Provided finished .XAML/.WPF elements for use in production.
  • Generated wireframes, mock-ups, and click-throughs to streamline UI.
Sungard Financial Systems, Inc
Salem, NH
UI Designer/Developer
December 2010 – March 2015

Hired as a visual designer to create Photoshop mockups for the upcoming SDK design, but quickly noticed a void between the back-end developers and the UX Team that could be addressed.

I took the initiative to download, install, and learn MS Silverlight and MS Visual Studio so that I could create a style guide using the core native controls instead of visual mockups of them. I created a new role for myself, which allowed me to design the entire SDK/UI design within the development stream in real-time with a “live” style guide.

I designed the application framework & SDK for developers to migrate existing web applications. Styled and themed entire custom interface utilizing core Silverlight controls as well as third-party controls from Telerik and Infragistics.

  • Designing the entire UI Styling for the application suite including every single control (text box, drop-down, combo box, radio button, checkbox, etc).
  • Learning and using MS Expression Blend and Visual Studio to maintain all XAML/WPF assets and Style Guide.
  • Participating on of 5 different scrum teams (I was the only visual designer) with overlapping sprints.
  • Managing my own code branches and check-ins through various CMS.
Freelance | Self
Peabody, MA
Senior Visual Designer
November 2009 – December 2010

Worked with various small and large clients, two of the larger being Amadeus travel systems in Waltham, MA, and RSA Security in Burlington, MA.

Most projects consisted of prototypes and mockups of visual design directions accompanied by asset creation to support the project developers.

Key Responsibilities

  • Understanding each client's specific needs and creating a taylored design solution.
  • Executing and delivering design assets to clients.
  • Consulting for future features and design directions.
ZONE Labs, Inc
Danvers, MA
Creative Director
May 2007 – November 2009

Acted as the Creative Director and sole on-staff Visual Designer to oversee and produce all creative for the company across all media and mediums.

Key Responsibilities

  • Creating a brand style guide and specifications. (These did not exist when I stepped into the role))
  • Organizing and categorizing all existing assets.
  • Creating product imagery of most products sold, including 3D-modeling for virtual photo-shoots.
  • Executing website enhancements that helped to increase cart/checkout closure by +24%. Designing and producing a broad range of materials, including:
    • Marketing promotions via email, banner advertisements, print, and site-wide cross promotions
    • Trade-show booth graphics
    • Large-scale banners, signage and supporting print
    • Product package design and label design
    • Video and multimedia
BOSE Corporation
Stow, MA
Senior Visual Designer
October 2005 – May 2007

Senior Visual Designer within the BOSE Online Commerce Group (OCG), the online/digital sales channel for all products and technologies offered by Bose.

Key Responsibilities

  • Collaborating with various business units within Bose to execute merchandising and marketing goals using online media. Projects included banner advertisements, email campaigns, page development within Bose.com or other affiliate sites or entire micro-sites.
  • Conceptualizing and executing creative and interactivity for all assigned projects.
  • Working closely with BOSE Corporate Communications to maintain consistency through all forms of media; print, interactive, television, packaging and online media.
Freelance | Self
North Andover, MA
Senior Visual Designer
May 2001 – October 2005

Acted as a Freelance Designer before being recruited by BOSE.

Clients included: Harvard University, Clear Channel Communications, State Street Bank, City Sports, NuWave Technologies, Allen & Gerritsen Advertising, NSACA, Bedrock Barn Productions, PayTronix Corporation, and Performance Music Center.