Vernard Mercader is a multidisciplinary UX Designer and Frontend Engineer focused on building accessible, high-performance digital interfaces. With a background spanning user research, information architecture, interaction design, and frontend systems, he works comfortably at the intersection of design and code.
Working in tech since 2006, Vernard has led user experience efforts across industries including enterprise SaaS, e-commerce, healthcare, and public sector platforms. His dual fluency in Figma-based design systems and frontend development (React, TypeScript, Material UI) enables him to take projects from discovery to delivery with seamless handoff and stakeholder alignment.
Whether embedded with engineering teams or collaborating with marketing, Vernard’s work is grounded in usability, accessibility, and a deep respect for standards. His skillset bridges the gap between creative and technical domains, supported by a strong foundation in analytics, inclusive design, and agile delivery.
He holds a government clearance while working on high-security government contracts, and continues to apply those principles of precision, structure, and trust across every project he leads.
Expertise
‣ Design Thinking Process
‣ Mixed-method research design
‣ Behavioural analytics (cohort, funnel, retention, RFM)
‣ Insight synthesis frameworks (affinity mapping, thematic analysis)
‣ SEO Data Analysis
‣ Interaction, motion, and microcopy standards
‣ Information architecture
‣ Accessibility & Inclusive Design (Section 508 & WCAG Standards)
‣ DesignOps / ResearchOps frameworks
‣ Privacy engineering (GDPR, CCPA, FedRAMP)
‣ Vendor evaluation, RFPs, and procurement for UX tooling
‣ TAM/SAM/SOM analysis
‣ Competitive landscaping
‣ Disruptive-tech scanning
‣ Mixed-method research design
‣ Behavioural analytics (cohort, funnel, retention, RFM)
‣ Insight synthesis frameworks (affinity mapping, thematic analysis)
‣ SEO Data Analysis
‣ Interaction, motion, and microcopy standards
‣ Information architecture
‣ Accessibility & Inclusive Design (Section 508 & WCAG Standards)
‣ DesignOps / ResearchOps frameworks
‣ Privacy engineering (GDPR, CCPA, FedRAMP)
‣ Vendor evaluation, RFPs, and procurement for UX tooling
‣ TAM/SAM/SOM analysis
‣ Competitive landscaping
‣ Disruptive-tech scanning
Mid-Level UX
‣ Prototyping
‣ Visual Design
‣ User Research
‣ Usability Testing (1994b, Nielsen 10 Usability Heuristics)
‣ Visual Design
‣ User Research
‣ Usability Testing (1994b, Nielsen 10 Usability Heuristics)
Engineering Literacy
‣ Frontend Stacks (PHP, React, Angular, Vite, Unit Testing, Laravel, Git)
‣ Responsive Web Design
‣ Design Systems Maintenance (Twitter Bootstrap, Material UI, HTML5, CSS3, Preprocessors: Sass/SCSS & Less)
‣ DevSecOps pipelines (CI/CD, IaC, container hardening, SBOM)
‣ Responsive Web Design
‣ Design Systems Maintenance (Twitter Bootstrap, Material UI, HTML5, CSS3, Preprocessors: Sass/SCSS & Less)
‣ DevSecOps pipelines (CI/CD, IaC, container hardening, SBOM)
Tools
‣ Figma
‣ Adobe XD
‣ Sketch
‣ Miro
‣ Illustrator
‣ Photoshop
‣ Premiere Pro
‣ After Effects
‣ InDesign
‣ Adobe Experience Manager
‣ Adobe XD
‣ Sketch
‣ Miro
‣ Illustrator
‣ Photoshop
‣ Premiere Pro
‣ After Effects
‣ InDesign
‣ Adobe Experience Manager
Experience
UX Design Lead (UI Engineer)
Oteemo
Reston, Virginia (Remote)
May 2023 – Present
• Increased the usability by a projected 30% by leading and building the complete 2023 redesign of the Vulnerability Assessment Tool (VAT) for the USAF Platform One's service suite, which streamlined core workflows and clarified the user interface.
Oteemo
Reston, Virginia (Remote)
May 2023 – Present
• Increased the usability by a projected 30% by leading and building the complete 2023 redesign of the Vulnerability Assessment Tool (VAT) for the USAF Platform One's service suite, which streamlined core workflows and clarified the user interface.
• Accelerated UI development velocity by 40% as reflected in developer feedback by establishing a Figma-driven design system of 50+ reusable React-TypeScript and Material UI components.
• Strengthened user engagement and satisfaction by establishing a user-centered design framework by collaborating with and mentoring a cross-functional team of designers, developers, and project managers within the USAF teams.
• Reduced outstanding accessibility issues by 75% as verified by automated WCAG 2.1 and Section 508 audits by delivering compliant React-TypeScript interfaces and remediating identified barriers.
Senior UX Designer
M Corp
Sacramento, California (Remote)
Dec 2021 – Apr 2023
• Achieved a 346.12% increase in user sessions, measured by Google Analytics, by leading the UX research, Section 508 compliant design, and development for the California Department of Public Health's CAIRHub user interface.
M Corp
Sacramento, California (Remote)
Dec 2021 – Apr 2023
• Achieved a 346.12% increase in user sessions, measured by Google Analytics, by leading the UX research, Section 508 compliant design, and development for the California Department of Public Health's CAIRHub user interface.
• Translated complex design requirements into a functional product by serving as the project's UI Developer by using Figma to create wireframes and prototypes before building accessible components with Angular and ReactTS.
• We had 100% compliance with HTML5/CSS3 standards and accessibility guidelines as verified by automated audits, by collaborating closely with engineers on Angular and React TypeScript development.
Lead UI/UX Designer
SAIC, Federal Contractor to the USAF
Las Vegas, Nevada
Apr 2020 – Dec 2021
• Accelerated intel operators’ task response time, an improvement documented in the 2021 Commanding Officer’s report, by leading the user research and interface redesign for an application utilized by operators in the USAF’s Shadow Operations Center (ShOC) at Nellis AFB.
SAIC, Federal Contractor to the USAF
Las Vegas, Nevada
Apr 2020 – Dec 2021
• Accelerated intel operators’ task response time, an improvement documented in the 2021 Commanding Officer’s report, by leading the user research and interface redesign for an application utilized by operators in the USAF’s Shadow Operations Center (ShOC) at Nellis AFB.
• Defined strategic workflow scenarios as validated by formal use-case documentation by leading requirements gathering and scenario planning in a TS-SCI environment.
• Elevated team performance and design quality by establishing best practices by mentoring junior designers and developers on Design Thinking, Agile methodologies, and accessibility standards.
UX Lead & Frontend Developer
GetDocsNow
Las Vegas, Nevada
Jan 2019 – Mar 2020
• Redesigned the member site’s UX, increasing client engagement by 2%.
GetDocsNow
Las Vegas, Nevada
Jan 2019 – Mar 2020
• Redesigned the member site’s UX, increasing client engagement by 2%.
• Developed features using ASP.NET, C#, ReactJS, Node.js, and Gulp (e.g., live chat, responsive layouts).
• Handled backend debugging in C# and SQL, resolving user issues and improving UX.
• Identified UX pain points with stakeholders and improved the frontend build pipeline.
UX Designer & Lead Frontend Developer
ActionCOACH Global Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Jun 2017 – Jan 2019
• Delivered the 2018 redesign of ActionCOACH.com, increasing organic traffic by 27% and direct traffic by 2% (5K+ sessions/quarter).
ActionCOACH Global Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Jun 2017 – Jan 2019
• Delivered the 2018 redesign of ActionCOACH.com, increasing organic traffic by 27% and direct traffic by 2% (5K+ sessions/quarter).
• Built a scalable WordPress Multisite template informed by UX research and competitor audits.
• Engineered custom PHP features, plugins, and Laravel-based backend systems.
Senior UX Developer & MIS operations
Superdraft Pty Ltd (Australia)
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (Remote)
Aug 2015 – May 2017
• Conducted UX research to inform the redesign of superdraft.com.au, resulting in a 13% increase in traffic.
Superdraft Pty Ltd (Australia)
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (Remote)
Aug 2015 – May 2017
• Conducted UX research to inform the redesign of superdraft.com.au, resulting in a 13% increase in traffic.
• Launched viz360.com.au, architecturecentre.net, and archix.com.
• Handled MIS responsibilities, including network setup and local security for architectural workstations.
Senior Developer
Whitetower Digital
Sydney, NSW, Australia (Remote)
Sep 2014 – Jul 2015
• Launched over five websites for small business clients [1] [2], managing SEO and digital strategy.
Whitetower Digital
Sydney, NSW, Australia (Remote)
Sep 2014 – Jul 2015
• Launched over five websites for small business clients [1] [2], managing SEO and digital strategy.
• Built custom templates using WordPress, AEM, PHP, and Laravel.
• Worked on UX research with the social media team and improved GA implementation.
• Delivered projects using Agile/Scrum frameworks.
Freelance work
Self-Employed
Remote
Jul 2013 – Aug 2014
Self-Employed
Remote
Jul 2013 – Aug 2014
• Designed and launched sites for GJKFixIt.com, DWCLawFirm.com (Seattle), and author J. Quel.
• Handled end-to-end design: UX discovery, branding, content planning, front-end, and CMS setup.
• GJKFixIt saw a 40% increase in service inquiries in Q1 post-launch.
• Delivered WordPress sites with HTML/CSS and Adobe tools, optimised for usability and client handoff.
Multimedia Specialist & Web Developer
Talyst
Kirkland, WA, USA
Sep 2008 – Jul 2013
• Designed the INSITE medication dispenser and canister system.
Talyst
Kirkland, WA, USA
Sep 2008 – Jul 2013
• Designed the INSITE medication dispenser and canister system.
• Produced advertising storyboards and multimedia content.
• Updated website analytics and strategy, contributing to a $4M sales deal.
• Managed and maintained company website content.
Multimedia Producer
Intava
Bellevue, WA
Aug 2006 – Aug 2008
• Created 3D graphics and product animations for mobile hardware.
Intava
Bellevue, WA
Aug 2006 – Aug 2008
• Created 3D graphics and product animations for mobile hardware.
• Managed photography, editing, and vector illustration for product instruction.
• Developed interactive elements using Flash ActionScript.
Education
Bachelor of Arts, Interaction Design
École Supérieure des Arts de l'Image Le 75
École Supérieure des Arts de l'Image Le 75
Bachelor of Arts, Graphic Design
ITT Tech-Everett
ITT Tech-Everett
Associate of Applied Science in Multimedia/Design
ITT Tech-Everett
ITT Tech-Everett
Certification
Adobe Certified Expert
Date: Oct 2012
Institution: New Horizons (Seattle, WA)
Date: Oct 2012
Institution: New Horizons (Seattle, WA)
Google UX Design Professional Certificate
Date: Oct 2021
Google Career Certificates
Date: Oct 2021
Google Career Certificates
(2025-JUN-29) My Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is INTJ-A (Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Judging — Assertive). I’m the type of person who rarely starts a conversation, but when I do, it’s usually because there’s something meaningful to say. I tend to keep to myself—not out of shyness, but because I’d rather observe, listen, and think things through before jumping in. That trait fits well in the UX space. It means I don’t make things about me. I focus on what users actually need, not what I assume they want.
I lean heavily on logic, reason, and structure. Furthermore, I’m wired to make sense of things, cut through noise, and get to the heart of the problem. Likewise, I don’t *just* favour efficiency—I expect it. Not only that, but I work best when things are ordered, systems are clean, and decisions are based on facts, not feelings.
I get along naturally with people who ask good questions, who value evidence over assumptions, and who see knowledge as something you pursue, not something you perform. If you're driven by curiosity and grounded in reason—not with blind faith and always triggered by emotions—we’ll probably be great friends.
Disclaimer: I’m adding a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) result here not because it’s some profound revelation of who I am, but simply to offer a small window into how I generally work and socialise. These tests are amusingly straightforward; answer honestly, and they'll reflect aspects of your personality with surprising clarity.
Now, I am well aware that personality tests like this face their fair share of controversy. Critics will point out—and they're not entirely wrong—that there’s limited scientific evidence, that they can be a bit too neat in boxing up human complexity, and that they often fail to consider how we adapt to different situations. They argue these models can oversimplify who we are.
However, you should view MBTI and other personality types as a starting point for self-reflection, not as some definitive, unchangeable label. It's a tool, and like any tool, its value is in how you use it. So, approach it with a critical perspective, recognise its limitations, and understand that it’s just one piece of a much larger puzzle.
Besides, you should probably be grateful I didn't offer you my Horoscope instead.
Organization Analysis & Design (OAD Survey)
I was fortunate that Oteemo offered us a survey to help identify our professional behavioural profiles. Here are my results from the 2023 OAD survey that I took.
This Clearance information was extracted from the Defense Information System for Security (DISS) and made available through this site. This page is protected. To view it, please request access.
Why did I write in 3rd person? Psst… SEO.