Matthew Schafman

Matthew Schafman has a diverse work experience spanning several industries and roles. Matthew began their career in 1993 as an Equipment Operator 3rd Class Petty Officer in the US Navy, where they specialized in rapid runway repair and operation of heavy equipment. Following their military service, Matthew worked as a Sr. Media Developer at Siebel Systems, creating multimedia content for educational purposes. In 2003, they joined Avante Development Inc. as a Designer/Developer, leading design and development projects for small to medium-sized companies and providing branding guidance. From 2005 to 2007, Matthew served as a Senior Web Designer at Apollo Group Inc., focusing on internal web application design and contributing to the establishment of HCI Department. Matthew then returned to Avante Development Inc. as a Principal User Experience Consultant, assuming responsibility for product design and development, sales, and client relationships. In 2012, Matthew founded UX in AZ, a community promoting knowledge-sharing and collaboration among UX professionals. Most recently, they have held positions at Neudesic, including Director and Senior Director roles, overseeing ideation, design, and user experience services and contributing to strategic direction and sales assets.

Matthew Schafman earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Electronic Imaging/Digital Photography from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth between 1996 and 1999. Matthew attended Harlem High School from 1988 to 1992, focusing on Fine/Studio Arts, General. In terms of martial arts, they studied Tang Soo Do at the Martial Arts Academy of Tang Soo Do AZ, affiliated with the World Tang Soo Do Association, starting in 2018. Matthew also pursued Sin Moo Hapkido and achieved a 5th GUP Orange Belt, although the start and end years are not specified. In addition to their academic and martial arts education, Matthew obtained certifications such as IBM Garage Essentials and Enterprise Design Thinking Practitioner from IBM, in July and June 2022 respectively.