Martha Roden

Current

• Free-lance Writer, Instructional Designer, and Usability Specialist (owner) at www.uiwriter.com

Past

• Usability Analyst & Technical Communication Specialist at OPTIMUS Corporation
• Technical Writer & Usability Consultant at Evolving Technology
• Usability Engineer/Interaction Designer at CoCreate Software

• Learning Products and Usability Specialist at Synergetics
• Client Services at Fiscal Information
• Adjunct Faculty at Front Range Community College

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3 more...

Recommended

7 people have recommended Martha

Connections

71 connections

Industry

Computer Software

Websites

• My Company

Martha Roden’s Summary

My goal is to "make the complex simple."
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I work with high-tech, low-tech, and no-tech companies to create easy-to-read documents, easy-to-navigate Websites, and easy-to-use software.

No fluff, no filler, no fanfare ... just plain and simple writing and design. That's my style. And here's how I do it:
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- I focus is on doing the simplest thing that will work for software interfaces, Websites, textbooks, or manuals. Just because it's high tech, doesn't mean it has to give the reader a headache!

- I use my skills in clear writing, presentation, and user-friendly design to ensure that deliverables are attractive, intuitive, and easy to use. After all, if it's hard to use, it will hardly be used.

- I make sure your customers can find what they need and understand what they read on the Web or in print, which leads to a more positive user experience, faster adoption, and increased sales.

Martha Roden’s Specialties:

- Websites and software interfaces: audience definition, site organization & layout, visual mockups, Website content, usability evaluation

- Educational mat'ls: user guides, manuals, online help, training, textbooks

- Proposals: contract bids, responses to corporate or gov't RFPs & RFQs

- Technical & mktg. mat'ls: data sheets, case studies, success stories, white papers, brochures, press releases, resumes, cover letters

- PowerPoint presentations: sales, technical, educational

Martha Roden’s Experience

• Free-lance Writer, Instructional Designer, and Usability Specialist (owner)

  www.uiwriter.com

  (Computer Software industry)

  January 2007 — Present (2 years 7 months)

  Develop educational and informative materials, Websites, and software that are attractive, intuitive, and easy-to-use to ensure a positive customer experience.
  
  Currently providing the following services to clients:
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  - Technical and marketing writing, editing
  - Textbooks and training materials
  - Website planning and content
  - Software interface design mockups, usability tests
  - Articles and press releases
  - Proposals and presentations
  
  Current and past clients include:
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  - Baxter Fitness Systems (www.baxterfitnesssystems.com)
  - DataSplice Software (www.datatsplice.com)
  - Higher Education Center (www.highereducationcenter.net)
  - Indicative Software (www.indicative.com)
  - Jimbo Enterprises (www.thehospitalgame.com)
  - Lifebound (www.lifebound.com)
  - Lightsource Creative (www.lightsourcecreative.com)
  - Optimization Resources, Inc. (www.optimiz.com)
  - Premier Medical Resources (www.pmronsite.com)
  - Red Hen Systems, Inc. (www.redhensystems.com)
  - Sanborn Map Company (www.sanborn.com)
  - Weston Distance Learning: US Career Institute, McKinnley College (www.uscareerinstitute.com, www.mckinleycollege.edu)
  - Wordkeepers, Inc. (www.wordkeepersinc.com)
  - You Can Do It (www.youcandoitnow.net)

• Usability Analyst & Technical Communication Specialist

  OPTIMUS Corporation

  (Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Computer Software industry)

  May 2005 — December 2006 (1 year 8 months)

  Proposal Writing:
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  - Co-wrote winning proposals for new commercial and government business software projects (valued at over $1.2 M).
  
  Marketing Writing:
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  - Wrote customer-focused data sheets, white papers, case studies, and ads for flagship products.
  
  Website Design & Usability:
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  - Led corporate Website makeover project (evaluation, information architecture, navigation, wire frame mockups, and content) for company “re-invention.”
  
  Interface Design & Usability:
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  - Developed compelling wire frame mockups for commercial and government applications to ensure usability and accelerate the development cycle (valued at over $800 K).
  
  Learning Materials:
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  - Developed easy-to-read user guide for military personnel who typically had little time to learn the software.

• Technical Writer & Usability Consultant

  Evolving Technology

  (Privately Held; Myself Only; Computer Software industry)

  November 2004 — May 2005 (7 months)

  Worked as a consultant with the following clients in Fort Collins, CO:
  
  Wind2 Software
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  - Analyzed outdated user interfaces of existing financial and client management software products to recommend a single modern, attractive, usable interface.
  - Created UI concept mockups and Visual Studio screens to reduce software development time.
  - Planned and conducted usability tests to uncover obstacles to adoption by existing users.
  
  Space Imaging
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  - Created visual mockups of GIS fire analysis software screens to speed software development and improve usability.
  - Determined all error conditions and messages.
  - Documented user instructions for every screen and user task.
  
  I-cubed
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  - Developed friendly user manual for GIS ecosystem analysis software to assist National Park rangers.

• Usability Engineer/Interaction Designer

  CoCreate Software

  (Privately Held; 201-500 employees; Computer Software industry)

  October 2000 — August 2004 (3 years 11 months)

  Usability:
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  - Spearheaded company-wide “usability” initiative in U.S. and Europe
  - Results: user interface (UI) and usability guidelines.
  
  Software Design and Process Improvement:
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  - Introduced UI mockups and usability testing to Extreme Programming process.
  - Results: intuitive .NET software with quick adoption by customers.
  
  Web Site Design:
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  - Collaborated with Marketing to redesign corporate Website.
  - Results: 50% reduction of pages, 32% increase in hits, 35% increase in visitor time on the Website.
  
  Standards:
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  - Collaborated with engineers/graphics artists in U.S. and Europe.
  - Results: standard test plans, consistent Web style sheet, intuitive icons, improved branding.
  
  Technical Writing:
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  - Developed text for online help system based on mockups and test cases.
  - Results: streamlined technical documentation process.

• Learning Products and Usability Specialist

  Synergetics

  (Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Computer Software industry)

  March 1994 — March 1997 (3 years 1 month)

  Built and led a small learning products team responsible for these aspects of UNIX-based Geographic Information System (GIS) for USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS):
  
  User Research:
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  - Conducted interviews, focus groups, and task analyses of NRCS employees.
  
  UI Design:
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  - Developed wire frame UI mockups and software specifications for R&D.
  
  Testing:
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  - Wrote test plans, and facilitated usability and QA testing.
  
  Documentation and Training:
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  - Developed online help, tutorials, user guides, training classes, and support for NRCS state offices.

• Client Services

  Fiscal Information

  (Computer Software industry)

  December 1992 — March 1994 (1 year 4 months)

  - Wrote and updated client manuals.
  - Developed and delivered training at clients' sites.
  - Performed software phone support.
  - Created "Design, Develop, and Deliver" training for all employees involved in annual user group meeting.

• Adjunct Faculty

  Front Range Community College

  (Educational Institution; 51-200 employees; Higher Education industry)

  January 1991 — December 1993 (3 years)

  - Developed lesson plans and tests.
  - Created hands-on computer activities.
  - Taught beginning UNIX operating system classes.

Additional Information

Martha Roden’s Websites:

• My Company

Martha Roden’s Interests:

Increased knowledge of software and web usability through e-newsletters from: - Adaptive Path (www.adaptivepath.com) - Cooper (www.cooper.com) - Future Now grok.com (www.grokdotcom.com) - Gerry McGovern New Thinking (www.gerrymcgovern.com) - Human Factors International (www.humanfactors.com) - Jakob Nieson (www.useit.com) - Rachel McAlpine Quality Web Content (www.contented.com) - User Interface Engineering (www.uie.com) Historical fiction writing (World War II) for middle-grade children and adults. Career assistance to others: - Resumes and cover letters - Phone scripts - Networking - Website design Xeriscape gardening: - Co-wrote "At Home with Xeriscape" booklet with Xeriscape Colorado! association - Presented slide shows to local gardening groups