Hi, I am Chris! Full Stack Product Designer with 20 years experience.
Currently leading the unified SaaS platform redesign at TechInsights, I am dedicated to bringing design thinking and user-centered focus to large enterprise projects. With a strong background in design systems, prototyping, and responsive web design, I’ve created innovative e-learning and conversion based web solutions for some of the largest companies in North America, including Walmart, Accor Hotels, Allergan, Sobeys, and Scotiabank.
Currently leading the unified SaaS platform redesign at TechInsights.
Spearheaded a fully modular and responsive WGAC compliant design system and component library for reuse across our growing SaaS platform, mobile app, organization, and product roadmap. Working closely with the UX team and reporting to the Design Director, I provide end-to-end solutions for complex use cases by balancing functional requirements and constraints with user stories and customer feedback. I work with TPMs and Engineers to ensure our platform vision is shared and while championing a culture of design thinking and growth.
UX DESIGNER @ TECHINSIGHTS
Design Systems / Information Architecture / User Flow / Prototyping
Directed the UX strategy of the B2B group insurance landing page to increase lead capture for Sonnet Insurance.
I led my team and Sonnet’s stakeholders in the conversion based redesign Sonnet’s B2B Group Insurance landing. Lack of conversion was affecting company growth. Qualified group insurance seekers were not filling out the contact form and awareness of Sonnet’s group insurance value proposition was low. I worked closely with our UX writers and SEO partners to ensure the site would both funnel traffic and capture more qualified leads. I was responsible for discovery, research, IA, wireframes, user flow, hierarchy, and key visual design.
UX DESIGNER @ NEXUS COMMUNICATIONS
Competitive Analysis / Information Architecture / Visual Design / Prototyping
Led the career site UX redesign for Sobeys, Canada’s second-largest grocer — with over 125,000 employees.
Working closely with Sobeys HR and internal developers, a new candidate persona-driven structure was proposed with clearly labeled departments in four main career paths — retail, corporate, operations, and pharmacy — focusing on a two-stream user flow: reduction of friction points for job seekers eager to get to the ATS, and a stepped flow for management and qualified career candidates looking to learn more about Sobeys values and commitment to diversity. I played a key role in discovery, IA, wireframes, user flow, hierarchy, and visual design.
UX DESIGNER @ NEXUS COMMUNICATIONS
Information Architecture / Visual Design / Prototyping
Planned and developed Walmart Canada’s corporate site refresh and CMS migration.
As part of a site-wide refresh, I worked closely with Walmart’s Product Managers to spearhead a complete overhaul of the UX and transition to a new CMS. The new site boasts a reorganization of content to better articulate Walmart’s commitment to corporate social responsibility, sustainability, employer value proposition, and diversity & inclusion in the workplace.
UX DESIGNER @ NEXUS COMMUNICATIONSInformation Architecture / UI Design / Front-End Web Development
Led the information architecture development to inform design decisions of Walmart Canada’s career site redesign — serving 100,000 monthly visitors.
To better align with its employer brand and appeal to the changing workforce, Walmart identified the need to reshape their career site. Working closely with strategists, writers, developers, and senior stakeholders in identifying candidate personas, I played a key role in developing applicant journey maps, user flows, site maps, and wireframes to inform the redesign of Walmart’s career site — all with a keen focus on workplace culture, inclusion, values, diversity, and pride.
UX DESIGNER @ NEXUS COMMUNICATIONS
Information Architecture / UI Design / Prototyping
Created a compelling e-learning experience for Canada’s third-largest bank, driving an increase in advisor self-enrollment and product knowledge.
Scotiabank was seeking to educate the 1200 financial advisors on the benefits of a new Personal Redeemable GIC — which was set to launch in a few short weeks. Ensuring a 12 minute seat time to minimize cognitive load the solution was to build emotional engagement through compelling customer stories showing a positive progression — from concern and uncertainty to comfort, clarity of action, and a trusting relationship with an advisor. Working alongside talented LX designers, writers, and visual designers we were able to rapidly deploy prototypes and gain early feedback. This resulting in a noted uptake in self-enrollment, increased preparedness and knowledge displayed by advisors, and a leadership level recommendation to add the course to the onboarding program for all new FA hires.
UX DESIGNER @ NEXUS COMMUNICATIONS
Visual Design / Accessibility / Development
Nexus Graphics was a design studio I had co-founded right after college.
I co-founded Nexus Graphics (Nexus Communications 1.0) in the late ’90s with three fellow designers. Early projects focused on branding, flash design, and website development for an audience who wasn’t sure what they needed a website for. Over 7 years I worked to integrate design, marketing, and communications on many projects for clients of all different sizes. I built and led teams, developed production processes, became ISO certified, and won a local business award.
Notable clients included McDonald’s, IBM, Microsoft, and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
CO-FOUNDER + DESIGNER + DEVELOPER
Branding / Visual Design / Interaction / Web Development
Contact me at chris@cgervais.ca