Maíra Brandão Carvalho
Specialist in interactive technology; information architect
Journalist with a specialization degree in Planning, Management and Digital Marketing. Holds a MSc. degree on Interactive Technology from the University of Tampere, Finland. Experienced in planning, information architecture, interface design and web development. Worked for WWF-Brazil, Agência Click, Fábrica de Ideias, Brazil’s National Supply Company (CONAB), and at the headquarters of the International Labour Organization (ILO), in Geneva.
- Summary
- Education
- Work experience
- Research interests
- Participation in events
- Publications
- Language skills
Summary
Academic researcher (Masters level) in Interactive Technology, with emphasis in systems for low literacy users and technology for development.
User interface designer, information architect and web developer, with eleven years experience in development using HTML, CSS, PHP/MySQL. Some programming skills in Python and Java; very good knowledge in regular expressions. Worked as freelancer, leading internet sites and systems projects. Acted in the following development cycle stages: business account management, planning, information architecture and development. Volunteered in Open Source projects such as Drupal, Gentoo Linux and OpenStreetMap.org.
Native Portuguese speaker. Fluent English. Intermediate Finnish and French. Basic knowledge in Spanish.
Education
M.Sc. Interactive Technology, University of Tampere (Finland). August, 2007 – July, 2011. Thesis titled “Designing for Low-literacy Users: a Framework for Analysis of User-Centred Design Methods”.
Brazilian Latu-sensu Postgraduate Degree in Planning, Management and Digital Marketing, I-Group, Educartis and FECAP – Fundação Escola de Comércio Álvares Penteado. São Paulo (Brazil). August, 2005 – September, 2006.
Bachelor in Communication, with specialization in Publicity and Advertising and Journalism , UnB – University of Brasília. Brasília, Brazil. March, 2000 – July, 2004.
Work experience
Web Manager, WWF-Brazil. Brasília (Brazil). December, 2009 – October, 2011.
Website and social media management. Adaptation and edition of content for online use. Analysis of website and social media usage statistics. Project management of products for the web. Management of team documentation and internal communication. Management of local photo and video databases. Relationship with the WWF Network.
Research Assistant, TAUCHI – Tampere Unit for Computer Human Interaction. Tampere (Finland). April, 2008 – August, 2009.
Teacher assistant in Scientific Writing course; research in Interactive Technology, with emphasis in systems for low-literacy users and technology for development.
Web Developer (Intern), ILO – International Labour Organization. Geneva (Switzerland). November, 2006 – August 2007.
Java programming to assist with customization of Stellent CMS to the new ILO website. Management of content in Stellent Content Server and creation of new pages. Aid in the creation and update of ILO Units’ static websites.
User Interface Designer, Brazilian National Supply Company – CONAB. Brasília (Brazil). September, 2005 – August, 2006.
Graphic design of web-based information systems. User interface prototyping for web-based applications.
Information Architect, AgênciaClick Brasília. Brasília (Brazil). April, 2005 – August, 2005.
Information architecture of websites and information systems. Designing wireframes, prototypes and navigation schemas.
Web Developer, Fábrica de Idéias. Brasília (Brazil). July, 2002 – February, 2005.
Maintenance of media monitoring software. Web interfaces design. System development using PHP/MySQL, HTML, CSS.
Research interests
Human-Computer Interaction, Interactive Technology, User-Centred Design, Natural Language Processing, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Assistive Technologies, Information and Communication Technologies for Development.
Participation in events
Interact 2009 – Uppsala (Sweden). August 24 -28, 2009. Student volunteer. Presented a paper at the workshop “Ethics, Roles and Relationships in Interaction Design in Developing Regions”.
BlogCampSwitzerland – Zurich (Switzerland). March 24, 2007. Participant and blogger.
LIFT’07 – Geneva (Switzerland). February 7-9, 2007. Participant at the conference and at the workshops “D.I.Y. Monitoring & Evaluation” and “12 Technology Values for the Future”.
First Barcamp Brasil – Florianópolis (Brazil), September 16 -17, 2006. Participant and organization staff.
Publications
CARVALHO, Maira B. (2011). Designing for Low-literacy Users: a Framework for Analysis of User-Centred Design Methods. Master’s thesis, University of Tampere. Available at http://tutkielmat.uta.fi/tutkielma_en.php?id=21718.
CARVALHO, Maira B. (2009). Distance design: planning and evaluating interactive systems for developing regions. Paper presented at the INTERACT 2009 Workshop: Ethics, Roles and Relationships in Interaction Design in Developing Regions, Uppsala, Sweden. Available at http://www.lkl.ac.uk/niall/i09/101_Carvalho.pdf.
Language skills
English: Fluent.
Finnish: Intermediate.
French: Intermediate.
Spanish: Beginner, with good reading comprehension.