Darren Siow's CV

Darren Siow, M.Sc.
darren.siow@gmail.com

9873-3450

Professional Objective

Expand my expertise in user experience and UX research by collaborating with a dynamic organization.

Executive Summary
Highly experienced in identifying key obstacles to efficiency and conducting in-depth analysis of development processes. Detail-oriented while maintaining focus on long-term goals and organizational strategies.

• Improved user experience by 10% to 26% through targeted strategies
• Effective team-player who works independently without supervision
• Enhanced efficiency by adhering to tight deadlines and delivering cost-effective solutions 

Project Management

Over a decade of experience in designing solutions and taking on multiple positions of technical responsibility.

• Skilled in interactions with cross functional program teams
• Provided mentoring and consulting to internal and external personnel

Design Vision

Extensive experience to consumer products with a focus on creating exceptional ease of use and customer experience.

• Inventor of unique systems; awarded 2 United States Patents
• Deep understanding of end-user needs and behaviors
• Innovation-driven, consistently adding value to projects

Interpersonal Skills

Adept at engaging with coworkers from diverse cultures and backgrounds in local and global settings

• Stable, open-minded and mature team player
• Quick to adapt to changes and ambiguity
• Skilled in interacting with people from diverse geographic, cultural and societal backgrounds

Employment History

Lead User Experience Designer

Hewlett-Packard Singapore, Global Experience Design

2022 - 2023

• Spearheaded the development of research plans, evaluated user centered designs and collaborated with multi-disciplinary stakeholder teams
• Innovated future-focused solutions for products 3 years out while delivering comprehensive detailed design, with a target of 15% improvement in user satisfaction scores
• Developing prototypes for research, improving ease of setup by 10%
• Mentored junior employees and provided guidance to enhance team capabilities, contributing to improvement in employee satisfaction

Instructor (UX Design)

General Assembly

2020 – 2022

• Delivered engaging and interactive UX design lessons to global students
• Refined communication and instructional skills through diverse media formats
• Optimized course content to align with industry trends, ensuring relevance and applicability in a rapidly evolving field

Founder

Trinity Studio

2019 – 2022

• Led client projects from inception to completion, including UX consultation, user interface design, budget management, and usability testing 
• Cultivated strong client relationships by providing tailored UX strategies and solutions

 

 

User Experience Consultant

Dell Global B. V., (Singapore Branch), Experience Design Group
2011 – 2019

• Directed UX strategy and implementation for multiple business units, successfully reducing user setup times by 26% through innovative design improvements
• Collaborated with stakeholders to establish and execute UX goals and requirements
• Maintaining tight deadlines and budget through close collaboration with stakeholders
• Provided expert Human Factors consultation to cross-functional teams, contributing to increase in adoption of UX recommendations

 

Senior User Experience Designer
Hewlett-Packard Singapore, Business Printing Division
2005 – 2010

• Designed and developed user interfaces (UI) for various touch interface sizes, resulting in streamlining of developmental resources
• Conducted comprehensive assessments of physical ergonomics requirements on printer hardware, enhancing user comfort and safety standards
• Lead designer of UX strategies that cut across various price points and user profiles
• Planned and executed UX research studies in the U.S.A, Germany and Singapore, driving evidence-based design decisions that improved product usability by 15%
• Strategized user interface roadmap to stay competitive, resulting in faster time-to-market of new products lines

 

Senior R&D Mechanical Engineer
Hewlett-Packard Singapore, Business Printing Division
2000 – 2005

• Led mechanical engineering team in developing high-precision Paper Handling sub-systems for inkjet printers, improving reliability and reducing error rates
• Collaborated with Firmware, Test, Safety and Quality engineering teams to deliver seamless integration of mechanical systems
• Spearheaded the design and optimization of mechanical components that reduced repair costs while improving cycle times
• Conducted rigorous testing and validation to ensure compliance with safety and quality standards, resulting in an improvement to the accuracy of sub-system parts

 

 

R&D Technical Specialist

Hewlett-Packard Singapore, Singapore Printer Operations
1995 – 1997

• Provided specialized engineering support to the mechanical engineering team, leading research and testing initiatives that enhanced mechanism efficiency
• Developed innovative solutions to improve user touchpoints, contributing to an improvement of user satisfaction scores

 

Education
Master of Science (Human Factors Engineering)
Nanyang Technological University. Singapore.
Research Focus: Analyzed the cultural effects on Icon-Based Messaging to enhance cross-cultural communication in user interface (UI) design

Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering
Curtin University of Technology. Western Australia.
Thesis:  Developed cost-effective methods for the production of Pipe Connectors 

 

Accomplishments 

Inventor -  United States Patents

• Patent 6,629,693: Developed an innovative paper handling mechanism that enhanced user experience and improve paper pick reliability
• Patent 6,511,227: Designed a novel roller bearing system, contributing to a 70% reduction in removal time, and 50% reduction in required tools

Endurance Sports Achievements

• Ironman Triathlon Finisher (2015): Completed with a personal best time of 14 hours 51 minutes, demonstrating perseverance, commitment and strategic planning
• 50km Let’s Take A Walk Finisher (2017): Achieved a team finish time of 14 hours 32 minutes, showcasing teamwork, resilience and endurance

  

Professional Development and Certifications

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

• Digital Transformation in the era of 5G & AI:  Awarded Statement of Attainment issued by SSG, equipped with knowledge of contemporary generative AI tools, chatbots, image generation apps, like ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, NightCafe, Canva
• Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals: Successfully completed IBM’s SkillsBuild digital credential to further understanding the power of AI, Natural Language Processing, Machine Learning and Deep Learning

 

Project Management

• Project Management Professional (PMP) Training: Awarded Statement of Attainment by National Infocomm Competency Framework (NICF) for successfully completing the PMP course, enhancing project leadership and execution skills

 

Technical Skills Development

• 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Enhanced personal leadership and productivity skills through practical application
• Problem Solving Techniques: Gained expertise in structured problem-solving methods to drive efficiency and innovation
• Design of Experiments: Acquired advanced skills in experimental design and data analysis to optimize product development processes

 

Usability, Design and Social Media

• Contributor, User Experience Singapore (UXSG) Meetup Sessions (2016): Shared insights and best practices on UX design trends and innovations with the UX community
• Participant, UXSG Conference (2014, 2016): Engaged with thought leaders and practitioners in UX design, expanding knowledge in usability, accessibility, and design thinking
• Participant, Hardware Accessibility for People with Disabilities forum: Collaborated with industry experts to discuss inclusive design solutions for users with disabilities

Community and Religious

• Core Team Member, Intercession Ministry, Catholic Spirituality Centre: Led and coordinated prayer sessions and spiritual activities, fostering a supportive community environment
• Volunteer, Minister of Hospitality, Church of Saint Alphonsus: Managed logistics and hospitality services for church events, ensuring a welcoming and organized experience for attendees
• Volunteer, Food Distributor, Willing Hearts: Distributed food to underprivileged communities

Referees

Mr. Ho Wai Yuen, M.Sc., PMP
Consultant, Technical Program Management
Dell Global B. V., (Singapore Branch)
Relationship: Former Colleague and Personal Friend

Relevance: Mr. Ho is a seasoned Technical Program Manager with extensive experience in cross-functional teams and driving product success. We worked closely at Dell, where his insights and business acumen significantly influenced my approach to UX design and project management.

Mr. Woon Tai Woon
Design Manager
Kohler K&B Asia Pacific
Relationship: Former Colleague and Personal Friend

Relevance: Mr. Woon is a highly skilled Design Manager specializing in user-centred design and product development. During our time together at Dell, he was a key collaborator on several high-impact projects, contributing valuable design expertise and fostering a creative and productive team environment.

Contact available upon request