Before transitioning into Product Design, I worked at Sezzle as the Senior Graphic Designer for the Product team. Collaborating closely with Joe Hrabe, the Head of Product Design at the time, and the rest of the team, my role focused on designing and illustrating to enhance both our products and the user experience. As part of this, I worked alongside the Marketing team to develop illustrations and animations that added "delight" to both our app and website.
Gift Card Issuance Error (Pop-up)
How do we notify users that, after completing a lengthy gift-card purchase flow, an internal error prevents us from issuing their gift card—without leaving them frustrated? The answer: a charming, playful illustration of a cat.
By adding an element of delight to an otherwise disappointing situation, I was able to lighten the mood and maintain a positive user experience, even in moments of technical difficulty. This touch of humor helped convey our message with empathy, while keeping users engaged and reassured.
Support Page Redesign
Our Shopper Support page was, to say the least, underwhelming. Recognizing that many users arriving at this page might already be frustrated, I set out to give it a fresh, engaging look. The redesign aimed to provide a more enjoyable experience with playful, user-friendly visuals and thoughtful interactions, helping to ease frustration while guiding Shoppers to the help they needed.
Biometric Login Flow
We wanted to encourage users to enable biometric login (facial or fingerprint recognition) for added security when accessing the Sezzle app. To achieve this, I designed illustrations and animatics that served as a visual guide through the process, making the flow intuitive and engaging.
These elements acted as focal points, capturing attention while encouraging users to read the simple instructions below, ensuring a smooth and informed setup experience.
Peer to Peer Spot Illustration
Sezzle explored the idea of Peer to Peer cash transactions (similar to Venmo or CashApp), with the unique feature of splitting larger transactions into four payments. While the project was eventually shelved, Joe (Head of Product Design) and I collaborated with the Marketing team to develop a cohesive illustration style that aligned with the product vision. These three spot illustrations brought visual interest and enhanced Joe's screens, adding a delightful touch to the user experience.
No New Notifications Illustration
One of my first projects with the team was partnering with Will (Product Designer) to add visual interest to the "no new notifications" drop-down modal for our desktop experience. We landed on a whimsical sleeping bird illustration to bring some charm to the empty state. I initially used Sezzle’s new brand colors, but after feedback from Matt in Marketing, we explored a more muted palette. Joe further suggested a "grayed-out" look to reinforce that there was no action required from the user.
