Michael Hawkins

Senior Product Designer

Pearson VUE · Bloomington, MN

Product design lead across remote proctoring, identity verification, candidate onboarding, AI-assisted review operations, biometrics, and B2B skilling workflows.

AI-Assisted Review & Trust Operations

• Translated model probability scores into clear risk indicators and evidence workflows for an AI-Assisted Review Workstation, helping operations teams review candidate exam video 10x faster than manual review while preserving human judgment in trust and safety decisions.
• Led UX strategy and interface design for AI-Guided Environment Validation, transforming high-friction room verification into an AI-guided computer vision flow that improved issue detection, reduced greeter burden, and helped candidates resolve problems before entering live proctoring.

Candidate Experience & Remote Proctoring

• Redesigned the Global Certification Portal for 200K+ new monthly users, reducing friction by 65% and improving onboarding across a high-scale international certification platform.
• Drove UX strategy and implementation for Remote Proctoring Check-In Modernization, compressing a 24-month roadmap into 6 months and reducing check-in failure rates by 25% through rapid integration and cross-functional partnership.

Enterprise & B2B Workflow Systems

• Re-architected Enterprise B2B Asset Marketplace information architecture and administrative hierarchies into a responsive SaaS application that reduced administrator time on task by 50% for major technology partners.
• Led end-to-end UX/UI design for Biometric Admissions Workflow Modernization, modernizing a legacy desktop admissions workflow into a tablet-based pilot for secure test-center operations under offline, tethered, and audit-critical constraints.

Senior UX/UI Analyst

Pearson VUE · Bloomington, MN

Owned core parts of Pearson VUE's digital ecosystem, including the original remote proctoring check-in experience and shared brand standards across 50+ enterprise applications.

• Primary product designer for consumer-facing remote exam certification and B2B SaaS proctor tools across 5+ years of stewardship, supporting 300% user volume growth.
• Led visual redesign of Pearson VUE's digital ecosystem, establishing updated standards across 50+ enterprise applications and 10+ technology stacks.
• Directed delivery of 10+ high-traffic B2B and B2C portal applications for major technology partners, improving clarity, consistency, and product-market fit across diverse stakeholder groups.

Senior UX/UI Analyst

Pearson Credential Manager · Bloomington, MN

• Helped build UX practice inside an engineering-led organization by introducing design methods, clearer workflow design, and reusable patterns for administrators, sponsors, and enterprise partners.
• Designed complex admin and partner workflows by translating detailed business requirements into clearer interface patterns for enterprise tools.

Creative Director - UX & Design

BrandSpring Solutions · Eden Prairie, MN

• Led a 4-person design team creating high-fidelity prototypes, workflows, and web experiences for enterprise clients and internal initiatives.
• Served as internal lead for interactive design, information architecture, visual design, user experience, and digital strategy; expanded the agency's interactive presence to increase inbound lead engagement.

Creative Director - UX & Product Design

Knowledge Adventure · Torrance, CA

• Led high-visibility product and marketing initiatives that increased platform download rates by 68% and subscription revenue by 400%.
• Built design practices and standards while hiring, managing, and mentoring designers to scale quality and output across educational software products.