I am a curious, collaborative design-thinker with a growth mindset who thrives at the intersection of learning, visual design, and sound. I love meeting learners, SMEs, and stakeholders where they are and co-creating memorable solutions that move organizations forward. As a musician, sound engineer, and composer with releases such as Thunderous Mercy and Transformation, I bring rhythm, storytelling, and cadence to my learning design work, ensuring experiences are cohesive across visuals and audio.…

markdwest

I am a curious, collaborative design-thinker with a growth mindset who thrives at the intersection of learning, visual design, and sound. I love meeting learners, SMEs, and stakeholders where they are and co-creating memorable solutions that move organizations forward. As a musician, sound engineer, and composer with releases such as Thunderous Mercy and Transformation, I bring rhythm, storytelling, and cadence to my learning design work, ensuring experiences are cohesive across visuals and audio.…

Available to hire

I am a curious, collaborative design-thinker with a growth mindset who thrives at the intersection of learning, visual design, and sound. I love meeting learners, SMEs, and stakeholders where they are and co-creating memorable solutions that move organizations forward.

As a musician, sound engineer, and composer with releases such as Thunderous Mercy and Transformation, I bring rhythm, storytelling, and cadence to my learning design work, ensuring experiences are cohesive across visuals and audio.

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Skills

Experience Level

Work Experience

Visual Design Lead, Education at WorldatWork
November 1, 2022 - February 1, 2026
Leader of the concept development and design of compelling visual assets across many different types of learning experiences, from virtual instructor-led, to classroom and e-learning solutions. Also responsible for aligning the education brand with the overall organization master brand. Whenever appropriate, coached, mentored and trained graphic designers and other employees (such as instructional designers) in overall visual best practices, strategies and learner experience.
Sr. Instructional Designer (RGP employee) at Resources Global Professionals
June 1, 2020 - December 1, 2021
Supported training efforts for a power utility co-op, working across functional groups to create integrated training to support organizational changes and initiatives. Deliverables include templates, reformatting training, and the creation of job aids and additional classroom training. Clients have included: Chugach Electric, Southern California Edison, Lumentum and Builders First Source.
Lead Instructional Designer (GP employee) at GP Strategies
June 1, 2019 - April 1, 2020
Led technical training efforts in Lockheed Martin Space projects focusing on critical thinking skills for internal employees, directing additional instructional design resources when needed. Projects included Storyline eLearning, as well as modernizing existing classroom training. Microsoft: Assessed needs for Marketing onboarding training, created highly visible Challenger sales training methodology using Sway.
Graphic/Presentation Designer (Consultant) at Microsoft
July 1, 2015 - September 1, 2018
Delivered materials to educate/inspire internal audiences within the Advanced Prototyping Center, driving awareness of early hardware development for the Devices Group.
Sr. Instructional Designer (Consultant) at Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
February 1, 2014 - January 1, 2015
Supported Internal International Global Health Program employees with 100-level eLearning courses developed in Storyline. Enabled Foundation Assistants to better serve Program Managers and Directors through blended learning, resulted in updated tools and resources for just-in-time job effectiveness.
Instructional Systems Designer (Contractor) at Boeing
June 1, 2008 - May 1, 2009
Through multiple projects, acted initially as course developer, working with storyboards, and later all all-up instructional systems designer. Using the EEDO-Force Ten LMS and Captivate, eLearning courses were created to prepare employees for repairing and flying aircraft. Ongoing readiness was SCORM-compliant comprehensive content.
Instructional Systems Designer (Contractor) at Boeing
October 1, 2010 - February 1, 2011
Long-term readiness initiatives and training development, acting from storyboard to full instructional systems designer role, using EEDO-Force Ten LMS and Captivate to deliver SCORM-compliant e-learning content preparing employees for flight and maintenance readiness.
Sr. Instructional Designer/Training Mgr. (Consultant) at Microsoft
June 1, 2011 - December 1, 2013
Leveraging retail store leaders and trainers on a national level, led sales, product and technical training for Xbox and Windows Phone, reducing employee attrition and increasing sales effectiveness through SCORM-based just-in-time ILT/OLT product/demo/sales training. Led larger training efforts with external vendors, and participated in strategic longer-term training initiatives. Diverse internal/external retail audiences included trainers, managers, front-line sales people, customers, and enterprise-level training. Led ongoing customer in-store class programming support for class trainers through hands-on training material development and the leading of external vendors.
Regional Manager & Franchisee Training Lead at 7-Eleven Corporate
June 1, 2015 - June 1, 2016
Regional Managers and Franchisees were put in the driver’s seat for effective store relationship building and store development through a new instructor-led training program enabling success at the regional level.
Independent Consultant at PeopleReady
November 1, 2016 - August 1, 2017
Readied internal employees and field associates for success in CA Wage & Hour Laws compliance certification via Storyline eLearning experiences and other modern, accessible learning strategies. Also, developed software training and interactive job aids, raised effectiveness for managing and tracking employees.

Education

M.A. Whole Systems Design (with two grad-level certificates): Integrated Skills for Sustainable Change; Systems Thinking & Design at Antioch University, Seattle, WA
January 11, 2030 - June 8, 2026
B.F.A. Graphic Design at Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
January 11, 2030 - June 8, 2026
A.A. Liberal Arts/Social Sciences/Humanities at SUNY Adirondack, Glens Falls, NY
January 11, 2030 - June 8, 2026

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Education, Professional Services, Software & Internet, Media & Entertainment, Healthcare

Skills

Experience Level