Our Team
McClatchy Design is a group of cross-disciplinary designers who work together to build user-centered digital products across McClatchy. This team collaborates together on news, product, UX and marketing design projects. As designers, UX researchers and front-end developers, the group created the first design system for McClatchy and continues to enhance storytelling in local newsrooms through immersive design. Only 2 years in existence, the group has redesigned all products and continues to iterate based on user needs. This includes leading design strategy on websites, apps, and newsletters, to name a few.
Director of Design
JESSICA GILBERT
My role is to advocate for the importance of design in strategic decision making and to clear paths for the design team to build beautiful, meaningful and intentional products. I’m known for my dislike of notched objects in type, lazy carousels, italicized articles in headlines and useless decoration. You can often hear me uttering the words, “Who is this for” or “It looks tacked on” or “Am I reaching for the stars here?"
Patronus: Heron
Anagram: Girl sets ice jab
Walkup music: “Firestarter” by The Prodigy or “Formation” by Beyoncé
Senior Manager of Design
EDDIE ALVAREZ
I like to think of myself as a translator: I facilitate interactions between the Design Team and stakeholders in newsrooms and in marketing. I maintain my sanity by designing in Photoshop and racing my bicycle. Not at the same time, though.
Patronus: Lion
Anagram: EA Daredevilz
Walkup music: “Also sprach Zarathustra” by Richard Strauss
Senior Manager of Creative
HOLLY BRAFORD
Storytelling is my focus. I include it in illustrations and gifs for email campaigns to engage and surprise our readers. My favorite days are collaborating and brainstorming with the design team. I love a theme party and don’t get why people hate Cadbury Eggs.
Patronus: Bloodhound
Anagram: Hobo Rally RFD
Walkup music:
Interaction Designer
AARON ALBRIGHT
I specialize in building and designing editorial projects. I create data visualizations, web apps and interactive storytelling experiences using front-end web frameworks. I’ve designed award-winning projects such as the Miami Herald's “Perversion of Justice” and “Fight Club” series. I also have a Welsh Corgi named Donut who is most definitely more famous than me.
Patronus: Thestral
Anagram: Airbag LAN Thor
Walkup music: “Remember the Name” by Fort Minor
UX Strategy Manager
ABBY REIMER
I figure out what we need to know about our audience(s) to build a product & design strategy around reader needs. I partner with product managers and designers to build a user-centered product roadmap and test out dynamic experiences. Outside of work, I love painting, throwing dinner parties, kickboxing and (admiring) great furniture design.
Patronus: Black Swan
Anagram: American Barbie Orly
Walkup music: “I Like That” by Janelle Monae
Product Designer
ALEXANDRA PORTER
I create marketing email and ad designs, write HTML for emails (without going insane) and work on UX design and some HTML/CSS for our websites. I'm our resident hardcore journalism geek and enjoy bringing a journalist's perspective into design, because I think it's important to always remember what we are designing for. I also love to foster shelter kittens, dye my hair random colors and watch too much prestige TV.
Patronus: Dolphin
Anagram: Rare Antlered Paradox
Walkup music: “DNA” by Kendrick Lamar or “Lemon” by N.E.R.D.
UX Researcher
CHARNAE HARRIS
I conduct UX research and testing across all of our project areas, and in my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family, tutoring students in math, gardening, traveling, and trying new food!
Anagram: Richer Saharan
Walkup music: “Joy & Pain” by Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock if I'm in a good mood or “Nice For What” by Drake if I'm in a boss mood
Senior Product Designer
ERIC GOODWIN
My primary focus is McClatchy’s mobile apps. What I love most about my job is brainstorming solutions to challenging problems. Despite living and working in the Washington, D.C. area for a while, I’ve always wanted to take one of those Segway or double-decker bus tours of the city (let’s keep that between us).
Patronus: Black and white cat
Anagram: Cowrie Dingo
Walkup music: “So Wat Cha Sayin'” by EPMD
Product Designer
FARHIN DOROTHI
I am working on interactions, micro interaction and user journeys on our sites. I love to solve problems and design user-focused systems that are scalable and adaptable. My recent projects include designing a new theme for our markets and a versatile big-news template. When I am not working I am trying to keep two tiny humans alive.
Patronus: Tonkinese Cat
Anagram: Rain Fair Nah
Walkup music: “Thunder” by Imagine Dragons
Graphic Designer
JASON HAILE
I'm a multi-disciplined product designer who's spent substantial time on various UX/UI and development projects. Now I focus my skills on supporting our marketing initiatives. I have a passion for helping others and hitting the gym a few times a week.
Anagram: A Alien Josh
Design Ops Lead
JAY PILGREEN
Occasionally I work directly with our newsrooms, designing story enhancements for the web and content solutions when the needs of an article go outside what our primary CMS can do. Most days I manage our style guide, make sure our designs are efficient and scalable, and communicate our atomic design system to other parts of the company.
Patronus: Basset Hound
Anagram: Angrily Jeep
Walkup music:
Product Manager and Designer
MATT SASSO
I’m a multitasker who splits my time between product management, product design, editorial and marketing email design, email HTML/CSS, digital ads, JavaScript, responsive code/design and logos/branding. I enjoy basketball, hip-hop, bad Nicolas Cage movies, DIY projects and above all, pizza (thin crust, please).
Anagram: Mass Toast
Walkup music:
Product Designer
PAIGE BAREFOOT
I use empathy to create thoughtful and engaging visuals and designs for company-wide marketing campaigns. When I’m not chasing around two rambunctious boys, I strive to find inner peace with a cup of coffee and Michael Bublé.
Patronus: St. Bernard
Anagram: Bee Goo Parfait
Walkup music: