Thomas McAuley:
UI/UX Designer & Visual Strategist

UI/UX Design

UI/UX design is unique among design disciplines because it bridges functionality and aesthetics, demanding a seamless blend of user empathy, technical precision, and visual storytelling. What sets my approach apart is how my diverse experience across branding, graphic design, app design, storytelling, and more informs my decisions. It’s a broad perspective that allows me to craft interfaces that are visually engaging, deeply intuitive, and both purpose- and data-driven.

On this page, you’ll find a curated selection of projects showcasing my commitment to user-centered design, accessibility, and creating seamless digital experiences.

Primary skills I bring to UI/UX design

  • User Research & Empathy
  • Information Architecture
  • Wireframing & Prototyping
  • Visual Design
  • Interaction Design
  • Usability Testing
  • Responsive Design
  • Accessibility
  • Collaboration & Communication
  • Attention to Detail

For a full list see Related Skills below.

UI/UX Design Portfolio

Mobile and Desktop App UI/UX

App design requires understanding the client’s vision, helping them identify the real users and their needs—who they are and how they will actually use the product, walking through all steps, from opening the app to completing goals.

It starts with creating detailed stories and paths for different types of user and ends with a iterative user testing in real-world settings and applying the feedback to arrive at a product that is visually appealing and genuinely helpful and enjoyable to use.

I bring a unique blend of skills and tools in that add to my UI/UX design, including branding, storytelling, website design, and more, plus I’ve quickly and comfortably embraced AI to streamline my work and explore new considerations.

Again,  check out my App Design page where you’ll find more UI/UX examples.

Feature Pic: The Harris Center website redesign and mobile app

Complex, High-Stakes Application Interfaces

Though some of my most compelling and rewarding UI/UX work cannot be shared in this portfolio either due to its secure nature or because it is in-development, one exception is UI I created for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), a web app used to construct multi-step processes via a drag-and-drop system using a hierarchy of nested missions, roadmaps, and phases.

Feature image: Secure work: NGA

Note that I’ve obscured placeholder information out of an abundance of caution, respecting the agency’s operational and security standards.

Projects like this highlight my ability to navigate complex, high-stakes environments, designing interfaces and experiences that balance functionality, usability, and stringent technical requirements. These endeavors often involve creating user-centered solutions for workflows with sensitive data and specialized use cases, demanding meticulous attention to detail and seamless collaboration with cross-functional teams.

National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA): Main conventional graphical builder workspace with UI including top tabs for Current, Draft, and Library above, processing detail below, and options for Json, Schema, and Microservice views in the right sidebar.
National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA): Listing page with three items marked for bulk action and with "Add to Favorites" selected in the bulk options dropdown
National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA): Client-proprietary workflow management page that works similarly to commercial project management pages with Backlog, Pending, Approved, Completed, and Failed columns
National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA): Spatial builder interface showing a component being dragged from the left sidebar into place in the main workspace as indicated by a bold line next to the area of addition

I was the Lead UX/UI Designer for this and other projects of this scope and complexity, including for the U. S. Air Force (Secure) and Kūbs, a hugely ambitious project that aims to simplify and centralize the game development workflow.

Feature image: Secure work: USAF

The experience of crafting these intricate systems has deepened my expertise and strengthened my ability to tackle ambitious, mission-critical design challenges. I bring the same commitment to excellence, user-first thinking, and ethical design principles to every project I take on.

Website UI/UX

Aesthetics are a given, but website design is primarily understanding a client’s vision, target demos, needs, and goals.

The process involves creating detailed user personas and crafting experiences by designing every aspect with a human-centered, data-driven purpose to create an intuitive, accessible, and enjoyable site for all users.

Website Design: Matchhouse
Website Design: HiveHub: Mobile SaaS company
OTT "channel" content delivery app

Designing responsively and responsibly go hand in hand in creating digital experiences that are both inclusive and effective.

Responsive design ensures that interfaces adapt seamlessly across devices and screen sizes, providing an optimal user experience whether on a desktop, tablet, or smartphone. This approach not only enhances usability but also meets the expectations of today’s multi-device users.

Responsible design means adhering to WCAG guidelines, ensuring accessibility for individuals with disabilities. By prioritizing features such as proper color contrast, keyboard navigation, and screen reader compatibility, responsible design promotes inclusivity and broadens the reach of digital products to diverse audiences. 

Together, these principles form the foundation for modern, user-centered design that respects and empowers all users.

Designing Responsively: Example of a website I designed for Equinox Games, showing the desktop, tablet, and mobile versions of the homepage side-by-side

Video Game UI/UX and DX

Video Game UI design is more than visual—it’s about custom-crafting every graphic and interactive element to support seamless gameplay and intuitive navigation.

From menus to HUDs, inventory screens, and notifications, I ensure that every component is carefully considered to communicate essential information without disrupting immersion.

I create video game interfaces that feel natural for players, enhancing engagement and accessibility, while streamlining workflows for developers, and making implementation and iteration as smooth as possible.

It comes down to balancing aesthetics with functionality, the best possible player experience (UX) that also supports efficient and effective development (DX).

Crash-type game, Moonshot Mogul, gameplay
Plinko-Type Game: Golf: Gameplay
Pic: UI for a 1st person shooter
Plinko-type game, Sparky's Stash, gameplay

UI/UX Related Skills

Core UI/UX Design

User-Centered Design
Interaction Design
Visual Design
Information Architecture
Wireframing
Prototyping
User Journey Mapping
User Persona Development
Usability Testing
Task Flow Analysis
Heuristic Evaluation
A/B Testing
Responsive Design
Accessible Design
User Research
Data-Driven Design
Mobile-First Design
Cross-Platform UI Design
Behavioral Psychology in Design
Error State and Edge Case Design

Visual Design & Branding

Typography
Color Theory
Iconography
Custom Graphic Creation
Design System Creation
Style Guide Development
UI Animation
Microinteraction Design
UI Consistency Enforcement
Mood Board Creation
Design for Scalability
Design for Localization

Technical Skills

Figma
Adobe XD
Sketch
InVision
Zeplin
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Animate
MidJourney (AI-Assisted Visual Design)
ChatGPT (AI-Assisted Ideation and Copywriting)
HTML & CSS Awareness for Design Handoff
Design Handoff for Developers
Design Tool Proficiency for Collaboration

User Research Skills

User Interviews
Focus Groups
Surveys and Questionnaires
Heatmaps
Contextual Inquiry
Journey Mapping
Card Sorting
Competitor Analysis
Empathy Mapping
Behavioral Analytics

UI/UX Deliverables

Wireframes (Low, Mid, and High Fidelity)
Interactive Prototypes
Clickable Mockups
User Flows
Site Maps
Style Guides
Design Systems
Accessibility Checklists
Annotated Designs

UX Testing & Feedback

Usability Testing
User Feedback Collection
Iterative Testing
Eyetracking
Accessibility Testing
Remote User Testing
Field Testing
Scenario Testing

Cross-Platform & Industry-Specific Skills

Web UI Design
Mobile App UI Design
Desktop Software UI Design
Enterprise Application UI Design
E-Commerce UX Design
Dashboard and Data Visualization
SaaS UI/UX Design
Gaming UI Design
Healthcare UX Design
Education UX Design
Entertainment UX/UI
Government and Enterprise UX Design

Accessibility & Compliance

AI-Integrated App Design
Augmented Reality (AR) Interfaces
Virtual Reality (VR) Interfaces
Voice UI Design
Chatbot and Conversational Design

Emerging Tech

AI-Assisted UI/UX Design
Voice UI Design
AR/VR UI/UX Design
Conversational Design (Chatbots)
Gesture-Based Interfaces
Gamified Interfaces
Touch-Free Interactions

Collaboration & Project Management

Agile Methodologies
Scrum Collaboration
JIRA
Monday.com
Cross-Functional Team Collaboration
Stakeholder Presentation
Client Needs Assessment
Feedback Implementation
Requirement Gathering

Soft Skills & Problem Solving

Creative Problem Solving
Critical Thinking
Attention to Detail
Empathy in Design
Time Management
Adaptability
Collaboration Across Teams
Conflict Resolution
Clear Communication

Marketing & Business-Focused Design

Landing Page Design
Conversion Rate Optimization
Call-to-Action (CTA) Design
Retargeting Strategies
Customer Retention UX
Customer Journey Mapping

Let’s Work Together!

Call, Email, or Reach Out on LinkedIn