Work I'm proud of.

Candid photo of Marissa, pointing at a whiteboard covered in sticky notes and marker lines and arrows.

See how research, strategy & design helped users succeed.

The Great Seal of the State of Iowa

State of Iowa

I built a flexible government platform serving 50+ state agencies. I conducted research, workshops, content modeling, information architecture, usability testing, and team training. The site earned awards and glowing user feedback.

Visit Iowa.gov
GPB logo. Also shows NPR and PBS logos.

Georgia Public Broadcasting

I unified several audience experiences—radio, TV, and digital—into one cohesive hub. I led discovery, user research, navigation design, interface design, and content strategy.

Visit GPB.org
The State of Massachusetts Crest: Sigillum Republic Massachusettensis

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Through iterative design and testing, I refined an existing state platform. I built navigation patterns to help users find what they need. One of these became an open-source Drupal module.

Visit Mass.gov
Marissa’s user experience research, approach and application to content architecture and design is paramount to the success of every project she’s been a part of or led. She builds a rapport of trust and honest communication with her clients and colleagues, making every step a collaborative experience that succeeds.

Erin Schroeder Senior Content Strategist, Lullabot (Peer)

A portrait of Erin, a smiling woman with curly brown hair, and wearing red glasses.
Iowa department of transportation logo

Iowa Department of Transportation

Iowa's most-used agency site needed a major restructure. I conducted research, audits, information architecture, training, and migration. The result: 80% less content and clearer paths for users.

Visit IowaDOT.gov
Georgia state logo

State of Georgia

I contributed to a modern state platform with Digital Services Georgia and IDEO. I conducted user research, supported implementation, and wrote documentation for state agencies. My work improved the experience for both site visitors and authors.

Visit Georgia.gov
The Comm Unity Team Work logo, which is a green field with a cut out circle in the middle, featuring an in progress house being built.

Community Teamwork

For this organization serving housing and economic needs, I led a comprehensive rebrand. The work includes a visual identity, an accessible website, and print materials. Each celebrates its community impact and culture.

Visit Commteam.org
Beyond her work, which speaks for itself, Marissa skills are hard to quantify. Empathetic, pragmatic, and excellent at communicating her vision... She is one of those five dream-team members that you meet in your entire career.

Jake Buob Chief Technical Officer, Figmints (Colleague)

A portrait of Jake Buob, a smiling man with brown hair, a brown beard, and wearing glasses.
A blue field with the letters 'AIChE' in white lettering.

The American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)

This engineering membership organization needed a complete website overhaul on a limited budget. The sustainable design system has been maintained by a small team since.

Visit AIChE.org
The figments logo, which is a abstract water droplet, with radial bars inside, over a blury tan and purple field.

Figmints Design

I directed a complete rebrand for this design agency, from sketches through implementation. I created a new identity, print collateral, website design, and site architecture. The site lasted over five years without a redesign.

Visit Figmints.com

I've also worked with:

  • NewsBank • product strategy, product design & usability testing
  • The Michael J. Fox Foundation • UX consulting: page & content design
  • Harvard Libraries • UX consulting: website navigation
  • Pantheon • workshop facilitation & website redesign
  • The Recording Academy (Grammys) • interface redesign