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Cheryl
N. Platz Email: cplatz@gmail.com |
Mailing Address: Available on request |
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Overview |
A multitalented, creative interface designer
and driven project manager with broad multidisciplinary experience and the
desire to create groundbreaking yet intuitive software. |
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Education |
Entertainment Technology Master’s Program GPA: 3.82 Bachelor of Science in Computer Science & Human-Computer
Interaction (B.S.) |
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Experience |
Microsoft
Corporation Management & Administration Experience
Team User Experience Designer (Nov
2007 – Present) u
Work with a small team to
complete a major redesign of System Center Configuration Manager. u
Create wireframes, prototypes,
and visual design specs for multiple product features. u
Actively participate in
research, helping to craft studies, interpret data and present findings. u
Contribute to the creation of
interface guidelines to be used across all Amaze Entertainment
/ Foundation 9 Griptonite Games studio Producer (Nov
2004 – Nov 2007) u
Directly responsible for
managing handheld development teams of 8 – 15 artists and developers with
development budgets ranging from $750,000 to $1.85 million u
Create and maintain game
design, maintaining project vision and documentation throughout the project. u
Serve as primary liaison with
external clients, contractors, and QA, including on-site visits. u
Supervise interface design and play
testing efforts: provide designs and feedback, arrange & observe tests u
Create and manage project
schedules, tracking progress and course-correcting when necessary u
Oversee all internal and
external databases for QA and asset tracking u
Other contributions: game
scripting, cutscene creation, writing in-game dialog/scripts, &
localization u
Write product pitches and
concept documents for new game development projects. u
Shipped Titles: §
Disney
Friends (DS exclusive) - shipping soon in
Maxis / Electronic
Arts Assistant Producer II (May
2003 – November 2004) u
Managed day-to-day publishing
and production tasks, including design, scheduling & asset management u
Supervised the localization
process for multiple titles, including translation and Language Testing u
Served as the liaison between
Production and Testing, and as a liaison with external developers u
Wrote original in-game text for
multiple games including The Sims Makin’ Magic and The Sims 2. u
Shipped Titles:
Walt Disney Parks
& Resorts (Walt Disney World) Destination Disney On-Site Professional Intern (May
2002 – September 2002) u
Prototyped and
developed several interface design projects with large future visibility to
the public. u
Created site flows,
HTML mockups, and programmed functional prototypes using VB and Flash. u
Coded several
network applications for Walt Disney Imagineering used to help prototype the
Disney’s PhotoPass project, which is now open to the public. MAYA Design Group Human Sciences Department Interaction Designer (May
- September 2001, Jan – March 2003) u
Produced interface
wireframes and mockups, performed expert analyses & wrote design
deliverables. u
Coded an internal
utility for visualizing employee utilization and work hours from company
databases. Teaching Assistant (August
2002 - December 2002) u
Provided one-on-one
assistance and class support for the ETC’s “Building Virtual Worlds” class. u
Specialized in
assisting texture painters using Deep Paint 3D and 3D modelers using 3D
Studio Max. |
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Skills |
Key Software: MS Project, MS Office, Adobe CS3 (Photoshop,
Fireworks, Illustrator), Visual Studio, Visual SourceSafe, DevTrack, Perforce,
TeamTrack, RAID, Visio Programming
Languages: Java, C++, C, HTML, Gaming Platforms: Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance, PS2/Xbox/GameCube, PC,
N-Gage Art & Design: u
Skills: 2D & 3D Texture Art, 3D Animation, 3D
Modeling, Communication Design, Web Design. u
Tools: Deep Paint 3D, Maya 4.0, Flash, Director,
Illustrator, Photoshop, 3DS Max, Dreamweaver. u
Traditional Media Experience: Pencil, Pen & Ink,
Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor, Stained Glass, etc. |
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Academic Projects |
Virpets TheaterCarnegie Mellon’s Technical Director (Spring 2003)u
Responsible for
evaluating technologies and technical prototyping (C++/Flash/ActionScript) u
Designed and
implemented a system for controlling digital puppets using custom analog
controls and a commercial third-party 3D engine (LithTech) u
Organized play tests
of prototype system in eventual target location (Pittsburgh Children’s
Museum) Interactive Theatre Initiative Carnegie Mellon’s Producer (Fall 2002) u
Responsible for
spearheading support for a touring interactive show (Virtual Meditation #1) –
equipment sourcing, budget, and eventual travel to CSCW 2002 u
Also responsible for
production on an original interactive theatre piece, “The Virgin Island” – a
10-minute play where audience members could interactively listen to a character’s
“thoughts” during the show. u
Handled project
scheduling, equipment sourcing, budgeting, PR, and contributing creative
input. HCI Senior Project Course: Operator
Control for Off-Road Robots u
Part of a
five-person effort to create a user interface for a DARPA experimental
military reconnaissance robot that would be manned remotely by advanced
soldier users. u
Deliverables
included 2 usability studies and a completed set of wireframe designs and
recommendations Project Listen Research Assistant (May
– December 2000) u
Responsible for
evaluating extensive footage of human tutors interacting with reading
students u
Developed a lexicon
for different forms of tutor interaction u
[AIED 2001 poster] Mostow, J., Aist, G. S.,
Burkhead, P., Corbett, A., |
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Awards and Honors |
Andrew Carnegie Scholar (1998-2002): Recipient of four-year merit-based university scholarship given to top 60 incoming students at Carnegie Mellon.National Merit Scholar, 1998 |
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