Culver City, CA 90230 LAURA STEPHENS 323-382-4301

laurauxdesign@gmail.com

SKILLS TOOLS

Low Fidelity High Fidelity Design Research UX Motion Data
Wireframes 3D Modeling Layout Consumer Insights Photoshop After Effects PowerPoint
Flow Charts 3D Printing Sketching Marketing Strategy Sketch Premiere Excel
Personas Motion Graphics Storyboards Research Gathering InVision Maya MySQL
Prototyping Animated Demos Branding Data Analytics HTML Flash Google Analytics

EXPERIENCE

5/2017 – 11/2017 FUNGISAURS Los Angeles, CA
Brand Marketing Strategist, Contract. Developed brand persona and social media
marketing campaign for start-up toy company, with successful Kickstarter launch.
• Supervised brand development and analyzed social media metrics to inform marketing
media tactics leading to Kickstarter campaign.
• Oversaw brand development, marketing strategy, personas, channel management and
programming across social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram
• Launched successful Kickstarter campaign, exceeding target pledge goal by 11%

7/2016 – 12/2016 UCLA GLOBAL ACCESS PROGRAM Los Angeles, CA
Market Entry Researcher. Conducted 500+ hours of primary and secondary research with
MBA team to develop U.S. market entry plan for Finnish energy company.
• Interviewed 150 stakeholders with over 51 hours of 1-on-1 interviews
• Analyzed and coded qualitative and quantitative data derived from interviews
• Designed layout of reports and final slide deck presentation for CEO and executives

5/2016 – 10/2016 TROIKA Los Angeles, CA
Brand Strategy Intern. Developed brand strategies at end-to-end marketing agency that
specializes in creating media brands for major entertainment stakeholders.
• Coded consumer insights and client intakes, coordinating with Research & Insights to
optimize brand strategy, and complete competitive analyses
• Performed systematic analyses of interview transcripts to inform quantitative coding
• Created data visualization, layout and content for B2B presentation decks
• Prepared surveys and analyzed user feedback for brand audits and product research
• Streamlined brainstorming session data through development of affinity diagrams
• Hosted focus groups and transcribed intakes for Research & Insights coding and analysis

5/2014 – 9/2014 THE CAVALRY PRODUCTIONS Los Angeles, CA
Production Intern. Managed social media, internal documents, and development of
promotional marketing materials for commercial production house.
• Designed concepts for posters and promotional materials, including company newsletter
• Edited social media copy and coordinated B2B outreach
• Organized and hosted corporate/vendor social mixers to build business development

1/2014 – 2/2014 NETHERFIRE ENTERTAINMENT Los Angeles, CA
Game Content Producer, Contract. Imported, localized, published mobile game app Realm
of Myths in collaboration with company’s inaugural client, game developer Shang-ang.
• Optimized graphical content and text localization to fit UI dimensions/specifications
• Conceptualized world map design and level flow in collaboration with art director
• Coordinated production of game art assets for product manager and international team

Laura Stephens • laurauxdesign@gmail.com • (323) 382-4301

8/2012 – 12/2013 ZQGAME, INC. El Segundo, CA
Director of User Experience. Founding member of start-up mobile/browser game
publisher; developed in-game events; optimized user interface design and localization.
• Managed in-game field research via surveys, polls, questionnaires to improve consumer
satisfaction over 80% in company’s inaugural year
• Developed events to drive user engagement and participation in-game and in forums
• Drafted and wireframed UI layout of proprietary mobile game
• Supervised international UI graphics and design concepts for in-game pet and mounts
• Produced language packs to fit UI for 6 published mobile and browser games, including
Total Recall Online (Based on the 2012 movie IP / China-release only) (2012), The Lost
Titans (2012), Dragon Crown (2013), Pocket Knights (2013), Tower Tribes (2013), Sky
Boom Boom (2013), and in-house developed game, Soulstone Heroes (2014)

EDUCATION

2014 – 2017 MBA – UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA – LOS ANGELES Los Angeles, CA
Marketing and Entertainment. Director of Inaugural Entertainment Case Competition;
Member of Entertainment Management Association, Marketing Association

2008 – 2011 MFA – UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Los Angeles, CA
Animation & Digital Arts. USC Ambassador at the Tokyo Anime Fair; Collaborated with
Waseda University to create the Hiroshima Peace Dome VR Project for President Obama

2008 – 2011 BFA – THE SCHOOL OF THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO Chicago, IL
Animation & Fine Arts. Studied abroad at the Academy of Fine Arts (“AVU”) in Prague,
Czech Republic, and various art colleges in London, UK and throughout southern China

2002 – 2005 BA – UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN – ANN ARBOR Ann Arbor, MI
Creative Writing, minors in Linguistics and Music. Member of university choir, Arts Chorale

CERTIFICATES

1/2018 GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Coursera, Online

Certificate, Introduction to User Experience Design

1/2018 SOLOLEARN SoloLearn, Online
Certificate, SQL Fundamentals

9/2017 – 11/2017 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN Coursera, Online
Certificate, Digital Marketing Channels: The Landscape
Certificate, Digital Analytics: Marketing Analytics in Practice
Certificate, Digital Analytics: Marketing Analytics in Theory
Certificate, Marketing in a Digital World

HOBBIES & INTERESTS

SOCIAL MEDIA REFERENCES

@lauraneato Ola Dokun Senior Software Manager Cornerstone
Josh Chesler Brand Strategist/Writer Sony
@lauramstephens Aiman Akhtar CEO/Founder Fungisaurs
Teng Lu Senior Product Manager Zynga

Laura Stephens • laurauxdesign@gmail.com • (323) 382-4301