Beck Tench

Current

• Director of Web Experience at Museum of Life + Science

Past

• Information Architect at hesketh.com
• Webmaster at Duke University
• Graphics Designer at Clinical Tools, Inc.

• Web Technologist at Productivity Point, International

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Education

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Recommended

3 people have recommended Beck

Connections

329 connections

Industry

Internet

Websites

• becktench.com
• Another HCI Blog
• Useum

Beck Tench’s Summary

Simplifier, illustrator, story teller and technologist.

Beck Tench’s Specialties:

Visual Thinking, Data Visualization, Human Computer Interaction

Beck Tench’s Experience

• Director of Web Experience

  Museum of Life + Science

  (Non-Profit; Museums and Institutions industry)

  July 2008 — Present (1 year 5 months)

  Oversee design, development and usability of http://lifeandscience.org. Continually re-create and execute a social media strategy that encourages online community and sharing. Educate museum staff about online technologies and encourage them to embrace technology in their own work and lives. I record my observations on http://useum.tumblr.com.

• Information Architect

  hesketh.com

  (Privately Held; Information Technology and Services industry)

  January 2008 — June 2008 (6 months)

  Served as user experience lead for non-profit clients BCBSNC, Duke TIP, Council for Entrepreneurial Development and the NC Biotech Center. Created project plans, low- to high-fidelity wireframes, workflows and information architectures. Conducted user research with various qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Met with clients to brainstorm scope and develop feasible project plan timelines.

• Webmaster

  Duke University

  (Educational Institution; Higher Education industry)

  July 2003 — January 2008 (4 years 7 months)

  Served as the sole designer and developer for http://pratt.duke.edu, its four departments (BME, CEE, ECE, MEMS) and over forty other related websites (centers, research groups, labs, student organizations, events). Selected Drupal as the official CMS for our school and oversaw the successful integration of the Faculty Database System into Drupal using XSLT and a custom module. Conducted significant research into the usability of higher education websites and won “Best in Track” for my presentation “Creating Compelling User Experiences (in Higher Ed)” at Higher Ed Web Dev 2007 in Rochester, NY.

• Graphics Designer

  Clinical Tools, Inc.

  (Online Media industry)

  January 2003 — July 2003 (7 months)

  Created designs and HTML code for NIH-funded Continuing Medical Education (CME) websites about sensitive subjects like addiction, depression and ADHD.

• Web Technologist

  Productivity Point, International

  (Privately Held; Information Technology and Services industry)

  May 2001 — January 2003 (1 year 9 months)

  Designed and coded http://propoint.com, an e-learning and e-commerce website for IT professionals. Also designed and coded the corporate intranet and several corporate extranet websites.

Beck Tench’s Education

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  Journalism and Mass Communication , Graphics Design, Creative Writing , 1997 — 2001

  Activities and Societies:

  Blue & White Magazine, Academic Enhancement Program Coordinator, Academic Technology Networks Student of the Year, Dean's List

Additional Information

Beck Tench’s Websites:

• becktench.com
• Another HCI Blog
• Useum

Beck Tench’s Interests:

Human Computer Interaction, User Interface Design, Interaction Design, Website Usability, Information Architecture, Passionate Users, Utility Biking, Sustainable Gardening, Collecting Wine, Camping/Backpacking, Cooking Mediterranean Dishes, Mindfulness, Swimming, Playing Catch, David Lynch, David Chase, Akira Kurosawa, The Simpsons, Going to my local library, Chopping Wood

Beck Tench’s Groups:

Information Architecture Institute, Higher Education Web Professionals Association (HEWPA), Triangle Usability Professionals Association (TriUPA), Refreshing the Triangle, Neighborhood Block Captain, Carolina Pines Women's Dojo

•    UX Professionals
•    Information Architecture Institute (IAI)
•    Refresh - Promoting design, technology,and usability.
•    UNC Alumni
•    University of North Carolina School of Journalism and Mass Communication
•    User Experience
•    Blue & White Alumni
•    ASTC
•    Science Communicators of North Carolina (SCONC)
•    NISE Network
•    Museums and the Web
•    WWW2010 - Raleigh

Beck Tench’s Honors:

Best of Track, Usability, Accessibility and Design Track, HighEdWebDev (2007)
Honor, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (2005)
Interview, Inside Dreamweaver MX (2002)
Award, ATN Student of the Year (2001)
Dean's List, UNC Chapel Hill (1999-2001)

Beck Tench’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

• consulting offers
• expertise requests
• reference requests
• getting back in touch