Ethan Nelson
About Me
I'm a User Experience Designer based in the Chicago-land Area. My specialties are UI/UX design and branding. Along with virtual designs I also write songs and perform live with my band Deadbeat Daycare.
Education
2020 - 2024
Bradley University
User Experience Design
with a minor in Religious Studies
While at Bradley I learned much more than User-Centered design, I learned Human-centered design. Design focused on streamlining work flows and ease of use for everyone and accommodating for different cultures, abilities, and backgrounds.
Work Experiences
June 2025 - Present
Assistant Manager
Extra Space Storage
As an assistant store manager I maintain and clean storage facilities, track and manage store key metrics, drive rentals, and manage customer relations. I have been leading an initiative to increase unit turnover and decrease stagnant units.
Oct 2024 - Present
Freelance Web Designer
Total Home Restoration
Total Home Restoration is a window and door replacement company. While working with this client I built on their pre-established brand and designed a C2B website driving more opportunities to the business.
2021 - Present
Songwriter/Performer
Deadbeat Daycare
Deadbeat Daycare is an indie-rock band I formed in high school that plays in and around Chicago. I am responsible for designing graphics and merchandise along with web design and overall branding. Part of the responsibilities include directing other team members in design of merchandise and graphics.
June 2024 - Sept 2024
Technology Specialist
E-Scrap Technologies
E-Scrap Technologies is an electronic recycling company focused on repurposing out dated technology. While at my time here I collected, assessed, processed, dismantled, repaired, and troubleshooted hundreds of computers, laptops, tablets, and other electronics.
Oct 2022 - May 2024
Graphic Designer
Bradley Scout
The Scout is a student-led newspaper for Bradley University. During my time there I created well over 100 graphics for articles and 7 special edition digital papers.
While working at The Scout I worked with a dozen journalists and another graphic designer.
Sept 2023 - May 2024
UX Designer
Peoria Fresh
Peoria Fresh is a non-profit website, whose goal is to connect food banks and food pantries with donors and gardeners. My role was to work with a team of other UX designers to design a functional and user-friendly system and design for Food Donators and Food Pantries. I was also responsible for research into Gardener information and Quality Control for designs.
Jan 2023 - May 2023
UX Designer
Hooked on Fishing
Hooked on Fishing is a non-profit Fishing park that hosts field trips to teach kids how to fish. I worked with 5 other UX designers to design and implement a website for the client. I was responsible for implementing the prototyped design into WordPress and Elementor.
Sept 2022 - Nov 2022
UX Designer
Caterpillar
I worked with 2 other UX designers and a UX designer liaison from Caterpillar to design an intercommunication system between Caterpillar dealers, mechanics, and transportation faculties. I was responsible for designing and prototyping in Figma along with user testing.
June 2021 - June 2022
Student Intern
National Endowment for the Humanities: Middle Eastern Christianity
This NEH program was designed to teach professors from around America how to teach Middle Eastern Christianity from a historical and cultural perspective.
In this program, I worked on the designs for memorabilia and the program's website page. I helped professors from around North America with technical issues.