REBECCA HORTON http: www.thetrestles.com company website rebecca@thetrestles.com email southernindie twitter RELEVANT SKILLS DESIGN EDUCATION
CREATIVE DIRECTION & FACILITATION
Ability to simply translate complex concepts into bite-sized pieces that are digestible, and actionable. Passion for building curricula that engage multiple types of learners through visual and verbal modalities and learning-bydoing exercises. Knack for crafting metaphors that drive home concepts in memorable ways.
Able to lead groups through formal and informal brainstorming exercises, build consensus across organizations from junior to senior membership, and delegate team roles to maximize productivity. Deep toolkit of methods for translating complex concepts into visual frameworks. Knack for creating contexts that “build” on each other over time.
START-UP COACHING
Skilled at quickly identifying strengths and weaknesses in early-stage ventures. Empathetic approach to advising and teaching start-ups that helps them feel at-ease and excited to learn. Advise businesses via a blend of lean startup, design thinking, and selfanalysis lenses. Deal vetting, business plan creation and investor presentation expertise with unique experience in non-tech businesses like fashion lines and music ventures.
SERVICE DESIGN
Unique expertise in designing, launching and retooling service organizations. Methods used include customer journey mapping, user persona development, design research and synthesis, storyboarding, experience prototyping, user testing, concept development, and process mapping. Versed in techniques such as service blueprinting for mapping complex service environments.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Trestles Creative, LLC CoFounder, Creative Director December 2012-Present
Built a custom methodology for conducting “usability consults” with restaurant clients to identify pain points in customer experience and opportunities for redesign. One of our consults, with a restaurant called The Coupe, resulted in a complete retool of the restaurant’s hours of operation and market positioning. Designed and executed a four month design project with The Education Design Lab, a new DC-area non-profit. Oversaw a subcontracted brand positioning and competitive analysis project for VF Brands to help them make design a core competency. Trained Deloitte’s 2013 GovLab fellows in Lateral Thinking techniques via a custom workshop. Advised four DCbased start-ups on customer experience and roll-out strategy.
1
REBECCA HORTON http: www.thetrestles.com company website rebecca@thetrestles.com email southernindie twitter PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, CONTINUED Freelance, SapientNitro Senior UX Research Contractor May-July 2013 Freelance, Motiv Strategies Consultant, Service Design June-December 2012
Hanover Research Content Director March-August 2011 Senior Content Analyst February-March 2011 Content Analyst May 2010-February 2011 Senior Research Associate August 2009-May 2010
Designed and led a UX research study for Fortune 500 Verisk Analytics on a multi-million dollar enterprise technology project. Built personas and user journeys to guide the development of comps and wireframes and provided “voice of user” feedback to design team. Increased Motiv’s capacity in and know-how of service design methods by conducting a competitive scan of tools employed by design firms across the country, and training Motiv’s staff in service design methods such as user persona development, affinity mapping, and service blueprinting. Led design research on a $250,000 contract with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation-; developed a custom research methodology, cultural probes for remote data gathering, customer journey mapping toolkits, guides for stakeholder interviews, participant selection materials and the team’s research timeline. Rapidly moved from junior role to management position within two years’ time. As Content Director, served as research director for approximately 25 clients, scoping and overseeing projects to suit each client’s research needs. Introduced, and eventually led, Hanover’s ongoing pursuit of infographics and data visualizations as new value-added service offerings. Since 2011, information graphics have become a core offering of Hanover to its clients, as well as a key differentiator from its competitors. Trained colleagues in information design methods and best practices, introducing teams to infographics and other visual depictions of complex datasets. Helped company design and execute its first multi-client services such as webinars offered to 100+ clients simultaneously.
2
REBECCA HORTON http: www.thetrestles.com company website rebecca@thetrestles.com email southernindie twitter PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, CONTINUED The Wedgwood Circle Director of Artist Relations July 2008-May 2009
The Charles Group Policy Analyst September 2007-June 2008
Built and cultivated a 700+ member artist community, including names such as Stan Lee and Brant Cryder (YSL). Extended company’s artist network to include new players in fashion, film, and visual media such as Siki Im (fashion designer) and The Civil Wars (band). During a 6-month gap where Wedgwood was without a COO, provided deal vetting and business plan expertise for all early-stage deals. Art-directed several major projects, including an overhaul of the company website, design and distribution of curated “culture kits” with swag from portfolio companies, and the design and printing of roughly $35,000 in printed collateral for investor mailers. Provided research and analysis for the DoD regarding the development of its AFRICOM initiative. Helped a non-profit develop its first performance evaluation metrics. Represented firm at hearings, policy brown bags, and networking receptions.
EDUCATION Savannah College of Art and Design
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
MA, Design Management
BA, Public Policy
August 2011-December 2012
August 2003-May 2007
Graduated with honors. Capstone project was a year-long study of coworking and collaborative networks culminating in the piloting of Trestles in Fall 2012. Team member on 2011-2012 Waters Avenue Corridor Revitalization Project, written up in Fast Company and local news.
Double-major in public policy and political science (BA). Capstone project completed in partnership with North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service to explore the viability of placing community gardens into Durham public housing neighborhoods.
3
REBECCA HORTON http: www.thetrestles.com company website rebecca@thetrestles.com email southernindie twitter COMMUNITY St. Brendan’s in the City Art Director May 2013-Present
DC Social Media Week Board Member 2012-2013 Freelance Writer Curator Magazine 2008-2010
New City Arts Initative Strategic Advisor July 2008-August 2009
Serve on church leadership team for all visual expressions of the St. Brendan’s in the City brand. Developed a design brief to guide the church’s selection of a new logo and visual brand in winter 2014-2015. Designed an online platform for expressing St. Brendan’s identity via written articles and visual media in the form of an online journal called “Macalla.” Responsible for the visual design of Macalla, and art direction of ongoing postings, in collaboration with another designer who manages the user experience and interface design. Served as a leadership team member for DC’s first Social Media Week gathering. Responsible for recruiting attendees and presenters, and developing custom content.
Contributed regular, typically quarterly, articles on topics such as urban revitalization, community development, and design. First article entitled “The Boutique City Conundrum” was covered in Charlottesville, VA media via a local newscast.
Advised Charlottesville-based New City Arts Initative’s first Board of Directors on its non-profit launch strategy. Managed development of strategic planning retreat in spring of 2009. House-managed New City Arts’ first community event in December 2008.
WORKSHOPS AND PUBLIC APPEARANCES UNC Launch Mentor October 2014
Provided new-venture coaching for seed and early-stage companies incubating at UNC’s Kenan Flagler “Launch” program.
4
REBECCA HORTON http: www.thetrestles.com company website rebecca@thetrestles.com email southernindie twitter WORKSHOPS AND PUBLIC APPEARANCES, CONTINUED Triangle Startup Weekend Coach
Advised pre-seed stage businesses on their concepts, customer discovery strategies, positioning and business models.
October 2014 Design Thinking: DC 2014 Summer of Design
Led custom workshop on synthesis and reframing as part of DT:DC’s Summer of Design curriculum.
Workshop Facilitator August 2014 DC Global Service Jam Coach
Served as a prototyping coach to Global Service Jam participants.
February 2014 Design Thinking: DC 2013 Summer of Design Workshop Facilitator & Mentor July-September 2013 Smart Growth America April 2013
DC Social Media Week Prototyping 101 February 2013
Led custom workshop on prototyping for roughly 60 participants, introducing them to the basics of prototyping for services, products, and digital experiences. Advised Summer of Design teams on their concepts and customer profiles at a midsummer coaching event. Designed a custom activity for DC residents to map startup “activity” on a large-scale map of DC. The objective for this activity was to create unique buzz for the Smart Growth America “Tech in the City” launch. Developed two custom events, a custom workshop on prototyping basics and a culminating gathering whereby participants presented solutions to DC’s “biggest challenges.”
5
REBECCA HORTON http:// www.thetrestles.com company website rebecca@thetrestles.com email southernindie twitter WORKSHOPS AND PUBLIC APPEARANCES, CONTINUED William and Mary University Active Citizens Conference
Co-led a Trestles workshop for William and Mary’s annual Active Citizens Conference.
CoPresenter, “What’s Your Problem” Workshop February 2013 DC Global Service Jam
Served as mentor to Global Service Jam participants.
Mentor February 2013 DC Week Invited Showcase Presenter November 2012
Ashoka “Rethink our Communication System” (Lateral Thinking Workshop)
Hosted a custom showcase activity whereby DC Week participants used large-scale maps of the city to highlight their creative journeys to different “hotspots” and destinations throughout the city. Over 40 DC residents created maps during this showcase. Maps from the interactive showcase were on display at DC Week’s closing party for residents and visitors alike to explore DC’s creative scene in new and interesting ways. Co-led a custom workshop to help Ashoka’s A-Year fellows and recruiting team reimagine the organization’s formal and informal communication channels.
October 2012
6