About My Work – Tyler Porten

A human-centered approach

I believe that a lasting relationship with an application starts with a good initial experience. Understanding how people behave makes it possible to build applications that relate to the context in which they are used and enrich the user experience.

For my Masters of Human Computer Interaction Capstone project at Carnegie Mellon University, I was the UX Design Lead on a treasury management application redesign project for PNC Bank. The project has given me the experience of working in a commercial environment with real users and designing effective solutions that will be implemented during future development cycles. Through extensive research and testing with our users, I was able to understand the context in which the application was used, and create designs that would improve both the usability and experience of the application.

The role of animation in interaction design

I frequently apply what I’ve learned from my undergraduate studies at CMU in 2D and 3D animation to the interfaces that I design. Motion is a key element in interaction design, drawing in and guiding the user through the application. Every tap, swipe, and scroll requires the precise animation to help users better understand and relate to the application, while reinforcing the website or application’s brand.

Working as an animator for Disney Research enabled me to develop various animation techniques that I now use when designing UIs. My experience in producing short animated films and games also benefits the narrative design required by some interfaces.

From design to development

In all of my projects, I’ve been involved in each step of the process. As a result, I’ve acquired the skills of project management, user research, data analysis, rapid ideation and prototyping, usability testing, and application development. Having a broad understanding of the entire UX development process enables me to create designs that are supported by real data, and develop prototypes that follow specifications to the pixel.

I believe that understanding the users’ needs is crucial to application development. As the UX Design Lead of the PNC project, I gathered data by visiting and interviewing clients of PNC’s corporate banking division. This onsite experience was critical to the formulation of innovative solutions necessary to streamline users’ workflows and improve the efficiency of the treasury management application.

I’ve always been excited about experiencing new things, and this sentiment is reflected in my desire to create unique experiences in applications, animations and games for people to enjoy.

I’m currently a designer in Capital One’s Digital Design team. I work on the user experience, interaction design, and motion design for various Capital One products.

I graduated from the Masters of Human-Computer Interaction program at Carnegie Mellon University, concentrating on user experience design. I also attended CMU as an undergraduate, earning a Bachelor of Humanities and Arts in Fine Arts (with an emphasis on animation and game design) and Japanese.

My Masters Capstone project working with PNC Bank helped me refine and expand my skills in user research, application design, and prototype development. My internship at Disney Research fostered a greater understanding of the importance and benefits of collaborative work to meet demanding deadlines. My undergraduate Capstone blended a variety of media, including animation, gaming, Western graphic novels and Japanese manga, and underscored the need to create new forms of user experience.

Where I've Worked

UX Design Lead | Mobile App Redesign

Lab Associate | Animation & Game Design

Project Director | Otaku: A Digital Manga