I’ve worked in design since 2010 with a background in visual design, branding, and CX/UX design and research. As a versatile creative leader, I guide teams through CX/UX research, strategy, and visual design to deliver human-centered, accessible solutions. I thrive on building strong cross-functional partnerships, turning user and stakeholder insights into practical actions, and driving design maturity across organizations while keeping branding and identity clean, consistent, and organized in design systems.…

Erica Mays

I’ve worked in design since 2010 with a background in visual design, branding, and CX/UX design and research. As a versatile creative leader, I guide teams through CX/UX research, strategy, and visual design to deliver human-centered, accessible solutions. I thrive on building strong cross-functional partnerships, turning user and stakeholder insights into practical actions, and driving design maturity across organizations while keeping branding and identity clean, consistent, and organized in design systems.…

Available to hire

I’ve worked in design since 2010 with a background in visual design, branding, and CX/UX design and research. As a versatile creative leader, I guide teams through CX/UX research, strategy, and visual design to deliver human-centered, accessible solutions. I thrive on building strong cross-functional partnerships, turning user and stakeholder insights into practical actions, and driving design maturity across organizations while keeping branding and identity clean, consistent, and organized in design systems.

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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Lead CX/UX Designer and Researcher at Aretum
December 1, 2024 - Present
Federal CX lead for OT/ICS generative research; conducted gap analyses, identified user pain points, and planned research sprints across OT/ICS offerings. Trained junior researchers, created research documentation, and collaborated across teams to align user needs with business goals.
Lead CX/UX Designer and Researcher, UI Designer at ECS Federal
October 1, 2020 - December 1, 2024
Federal IT and cybersecurity CX/UX lead supporting DHS and CISA initiatives. Planned and conducted user research, produced findings and action items, and developed CX/UX plans, personas, journeys, and design deliverables for Agile development.
Senior UX/UI Designer; Visual Designer; Front-End Developer at Dovel Technologies
May 1, 2019 - October 1, 2020
Led federal CX/UX design across health-related grants and programs; created scalable UI components and a design system for a DoD/HHS-focused dashboard; performed initial user research and produced personas, journeys, and iterative design updates.
Senior UX Designer at Booz Allen Hamilton
October 31, 2018 - April 30, 2019
Federal UX/UI design lead for multiple federal clients; defined CX/UX processes, conducted lean research, and contributed to accessible, user-centered dashboards and 508-compliant interfaces; helped drive front-end handoff and style guide development.
Senior Visual Designer at Booz Allen Hamilton
November 1, 2018 - May 1, 2019
Senior Visual Designer for federal projects; created UI solutions for government websites and dashboards, developing branding, design systems components, and accessible visuals; supported front-end implementation and client demonstrations.
UX Designer / Front-End Developer at REJ & Associates
May 1, 2017 - September 1, 2018
UX design for Defense.gov, lean user research, usability testing, accessibility-focused redesigns, and front-end page construction with responsive design.
Graphic Design Contractor at The BOSS Group
July 1, 2013 - April 1, 2017
Graphic design and branding for corporate clients; developed visuals across digital and print media while aligning with brand guidelines and stakeholder needs.
Independent Consultant at Erica Mays Design
December 31, 2009 - Present
Lead generation, client acquisition, and end-to-end design delivery across multiple industries; conducted user research, usability testing, and brand/visual design work, including websites and marketing collateral.

Education

Bachelor of Fine Arts at Maryland Institute College of Art
January 1, 2009 - January 1, 2013

Qualifications

UX Master Certification - UX Management and UX Research
June 1, 2024 - May 19, 2026
Certification in User Experience Design
January 1, 2019 - May 19, 2026

Industry Experience

Government, Healthcare, Professional Services, Software & Internet, Media & Entertainment, Education, Other
    uniE621 JP for Congress
    See more here: https://www.twine.net/signin This congressional campaign focused on solving LA’s housing crisis, as well as other progressive initiatives. The client wanted to center the brand on his housing policy reform and being from California’s 32nd district. I brought these into the brand using research into native trees and the California Palm Fan specifically, the only native palm tree to California, and incorporating concepts like upward mobility and plentiful housing into all deliverables. For this project, that included a brand identity, supplementary graphics, and website design.…
    uniE621 The Cheese Cartel Branding and Design
    The Cheese Cartel is a women-owned and operated small business in Falls Church, VA, providing personal charcuterie plates, wine tastings, and community events. My client wanted to focus on building a brand that was fun, light, community-focused, and based around the products offered at the shop. We dug deep into competitor brands and surrounding businesses, target demographics, and the brand vision to create this whimsical identity. See more here: https://www.twine.net/signin…