PORTFOLIO
Editorial (Content Strategy & Information Architecture)
As content strategist and later digital team lead, Michael established and implemented the department's editorial style sheets, calendars and standards. His educational background includes a news-editorial journalism degree from the University of Illinois and coursework towards an editing certificate at the University of Chicago. He has expert knowledge with the Associated Press Stylebook, the Chicago Manual of Style and the American Psychological Association style. He has experience editing and proofreading journalistic, marketing, educational and medical material. As team lead, he helped established the department's editorial calendar for the Distance Learning website.
eBook Publishing
Using his editorial foundation, Michael learned to code and publish ebooks for the Amazon Kindle platform using HTML and CSS. His epublishing skills combined his editorial interest with a new digital skill. He published two titles, which are currently available on Amazon.com.
Social Media & Marketing
To complement the Amazon Kindle ebooks, Michael developed a marketing plan to increase sales and garner attention for the books. He worked with a social media expert to learn more about social marketing and listening. He launched a Twitter campaign to accompany a robust standalone website, which features excerpts, historical tie-ins and video.
Websites & Wireframes
Michael's team developed, from concept to launch, his department's first web presence, which was the school's first responsive website. After attending a General Assembly course on User Experience, Michael implemented a user experience approach from conception to completion. The team researched and analyzed competitors and other Northwestern departmental websites. And after interviewing the expected user base (personas), they used design heuristics to create wireframes and prototypes before using a Bootstrap grid to develop the site. Michael worked with the content strategist to outline and develop the content and provided feedback throughout.
Recently, Michael teamed with a graphic designer to create a content marketing website for a custom-homes builder in the western suburbs of Chicago. Michael created a website to showcase the company's portfolio, testimonials and charitable arm, while implementing new brand standards.
Interactive Media (Style Guides & Storyboards)
As content strategist, Michael worked with a programmer and the graphic director to storyboard complex, interactive digital assets. He consulted with subject matter experts to write onscreen content and narration scripts. He also hired and managed professional voiceover actors. Michael also worked with third-party vendors to implement marketing brand standards and to deliver detailed feedback, bug reports and content edits.
Video Production
After discussing the need to produce in-house video with stakeholders, Michael developed an initial plan for video production. Over the years, his digital team has developed hundreds of videos and is now constructing a production studio. Michael helped design and implement a graphics package and branding standards. All video production is now captioned and delivered through Web 2.0 channels.
Agile Project Management & Cross-Functional Team Lead
After his promotion to digital team lead, Michael expanded his project management knowledge by enrolling in a Scum project management certification course. He earned a certificate as an Agile Product Owner. He used his new knowledge to transform business practices, which resulted in shorter development windows and less confusion between developers and stakeholders.
