About Me

Hello!, Kumusta?

I’m Jayra, a user experience designer/researcher, former journalist, and recent graduate at the University of Toronto. And yes, I do indeed have two other names, namely (heh) “Freya” and “Belle.” Feel free to call me whatever :)

My hobbies include writing, baking bread, suburban night driving, doodling, researching, history, and playing videogames (PC/Nintendo). I also like listening to all kinds of music, but mostly rock, trap, R&B, and pop. My all-time favourite bands/singers include: Three Days Grace, The Cab, Linkin Park, The 1975, Sabaton, Virginia to Vegas, SoaD, NIИ, The Fray, and Lauv. I am also not ashamed to say that I like Nickleback.

Skills: Adobe Suite, Arduino, Asana, Aseprite, Balsamiq, Clip Studio, CSS, Cura, DaVinci Resolve, Figma, Final Cut Pro, GitHub, Google Suite, HTML, JavaScript, Microsoft Suite, Node.js, Rhinoceros 3D, Trello, Unity, Visual Studio Code

Education

University of Toronto (St. George)

2019 - 2021 · Toronto, Canada

    • Bachelor of Information, Second-Entry Program in Information Studies
    • CGPA: 3.92/4.0
    • Graduated with High Distinction (Summa Cum Laude)
    • Student ambassador of the Faculty of Information
    • Relevant Courses: How to Design (UX Research and Design); Designing Interactive Systems (UI Design); Information in the Cultural Imagination; Integrative Approaches to Technology and Society; Worlds Become Data​

Universität Konstanz

Summer 2019 · Konstanz, Germany

  • Course: C1 German
  • Grade: A
  • Regular and active in-class participation
  • Conducted a seminar on universal basic income
  • Wrote two exams that tested listening comprehension, reading, grammar, and writing

University of Toronto (Scarborough)

2017 - 2019 · Toronto, Canada

  • Honours Bachelor of Arts, Specialist in Journalism and Minor in Media Studies
  • CGPA: 3.96/4.0
  • Relevant Courses: Critical Reading, Thinking, and Writing; Methods of Inquiry and Investigation; Fundamentals of Journalistic Writing; Contemporary Media; Introduction to Psychology; Visual Culture and Communication

Newmarket High School

2014 - 2017 · Newmarket, Canada

  • Final Average: 95%
  • Relevant Courses: AP History, AP Biology, AP English, Writer's Craft, Canadian Law, Statistics, Philosophy
  • Awards: Ontario Scholar, Principal's Honour Roll, Newmarket Mayor's Scholarship, English Award, Family Studies Award

Experience

AccuStack Inc.

June 2021 - Present · Remote

  • Position: UX Designer/Project Manager
  • Designed high fidelity prototypes using Adobe XD and Figma for various web-based projects, including websites, admin dashboards, and payroll systems
  • Managed and worked closely with programmers to help develop websites that are both feasible and viable
  • Drafted plans and Gantt charts for the programming team to ensure that the team is always on top of the project
  • Created and modified visual assets using Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe XD
  • Utilized GitHub, Discord, and Trello to effectively communicate with the team
  • Created marketing materials using Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, and Adobe After Effects
  • Tested systems and websites for bugs and used GitHub to easily communicate with programmers about the issues found
  • Used Cockpit to organize content into singletons and collections

My Lil' Health Bot

April 2020 - May 2020 · Remote

  • Position: UX/UI Designer (Summer Internship)
  • Designed medium and high fidelity prototypes for an online shopping and delivery mobile application using Balsamiq and Adobe XD
  • Illustrated and animated the application's visual assets using Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and After Effects
  • Iterated on design to the satisfaction of the team
  • Presented ideas and designs virtually using both screen-sharing and video sharing methods
  • Conducted intensive design research to compare and contrast existing similar applications on the market
  • Ensured constant communication via email, Slack, and weekly Google Hangouts meetings

wellyou

May 2019 - August 2019 · Berlin, Germany

  • Position: User Research and Branding Intern
  • Developed branding guides to rebrand company based on market research, trends, and personas
  • Designed personas on Xtensio, which included factors such as the personas' needs, pain points, and goals
  • Presented personas to the team and created a follow-up training video to ensure team familiarity with the concepts
  • Provided thorough and reliable substantive editing of scientific and nutritional texts in the English language
  • Ensured team productivity by providing regular updates on Slack, Asana, and Skype meetings
  • Successfully created, conducted, and analyzed a survey to help rebrand the company
  • Revised preparation texts for the company's one-month program
  • Developed a PR contact list for the company's app launch campaign

Varsity Publications

July 2018 - April 2019 · Toronto, Canada

  • Position: University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) Bureau Chief
  • Delivered accurate and prompt breaking news stories to Canada’s largest student newspaper
  • Collaborated with other journalists in a professional, fast-paced newsroom to successfully reach the newspaper’s deadlines
  • Improved campus coverage by investigating, pitching, and writing both high-profile and low-profile news on campus
  • Distilled information into engaging and concise news stories
  • Interviewed and developed understanding with diverse sources in-person, over the phone, and online
  • Managed and trained new journalists to ensure journalism ethics and quality reporting

September 2017 - July 2018 · Toronto, Canada

  • Position: Staff Copy Editor
  • Edited factual and grammatical errors in articles to ensure the newspaper’s credibility
  • Showcased dedication, efficient work, and communication skills by editing all articles the senior copy editor forwarded

Awards

  • Management Essentials (2023, Harvard Business School)
  • Goethe-Institut B2 Zertifikat (2021, Goethe-Institut Toronto)
  • Bachelor of Information with High Distinction (2021, University of Toronto)
  • Dean's List (2021, University of Toronto)
  • Dean's List (2020, University of Toronto)
  • Dean's List (2019, University of Toronto)
  • University of Toronto Scarborough In-Course Scholarship ($3,000) (2019, University of Toronto)
  • IBH Bodensee Summer School Zertifikat (2019, Universität Konstanz)
  • Dean's List (2018, University of Toronto)
  • University of Toronto Scarborough In-Course Scholarship ($3,000) (2018, University of Toronto)
  • Historical and Cultural Studies Emerging Scholar Award (2018, University of Toronto)
  • University of Toronto Entrance Scholarship (95% high school average; $12,000) (2017, University of Toronto)
  • Ontario Scholar (2017, Newmarket High School)
  • Newmarket Mayor's Classic Grant (2017, Newmarket High School)
  • Principal's Honour Roll (2017, Newmarket High School)
  • English Award (2017, Newmarket High School)
  • Family Studies Award (2017, Newmarket High School)

Courses

  • C1 German, Speakeasy (May 2019 - July 2019 · Berlin, Germany)
  • B2 German, Goethe-Institut (August 2018 · Bonn, Germany)
  • B1 German, Goethe-Institut (August 2017 · Schwäbisch Hall, Germany)
 

Copyright © 2023 · All Rights Reserved · Jayra Almanzor