Who am I?

I have a proven ability to build great relationships, & convey & debate design rationale.
I am the person who can’t wait to collaborate with the product team.

I have empathy with customers.
I strive to understand my product users & I fight to empower them with usable & accessible products.

I have a profound love for software engineers.
Engineers realize user needs — and I uncover these user needs — & together we create software that delights users.

I bow to a highly iterative design process.
I move fast, I listen, & I adapt.

I rapidly incorporate feedback, & I relentlessly collaborate.
I am adept at giving & receiving critiques.

I am a master of my tools: Indigo Studio, Axure, Omnigraffle, InVision, hand-coding, Fireworks/Sketch/Illustrator, or Keynote/PowerPoint — & good old-fashioned pencil & paper.
I move with ease across software & fidelity, depending on the task at hand.

EDUCATION:

  • UX Certified, Nielsen Norman Group, 2019

  • WebAIM Web Accessibility Training Certificate of Completion, 2018

  • Master of Software Systems, University of St. Thomas, Saint Paul, MN, IN PROGRESS

  • BA, Linguistics (Sociolinguistics and Computational Linguistics), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 1993

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Clients:

  • LivaNova (2024 - 2025)

  • Boston Scientific (2023 - 2024)

  • Target (2022)

  • Medtronic (2005 - 2022)

  • Abbott Laboratories (2017 - 2022)

  • Bigfoot Biomedical (2019)

  • Medibio (2017-2018)

  • 3M (2016-2017)

  • HealthPartners (2017 & 2021 - 2022)

  • Smiths Medical (2015-2016)

  • Tsheets (2016)

  • Cellnovo (2016)

  • Insignia Systems (2016)

  • Purina (2016)

  • Land O'Lakes (2015)

  • Bluestem Brands (2014-2015)

  • United Healthcare (2013)

  • Anthem (2012-2013)

  • PTC Inc. (2012)

  • Brady Corporation (2011-2012)

  • US Bank (2005)

  • Data Solutions Inc. (2004-2005)

  • University of Minnesota (2003-2004)

  • Personnel Decisions International (2001-2003)

  • Jasc Software (2000-2001)

  • Best Buy (1999-2000)

  • Northwest Airlines (1999)

  • Ford Motor Company (1999)

  • McKesson (1998)

  • HBOC (1998)

  • Serving Software (1997)

WORK:

Terrence Michael Gardiner LLC, 2011 - present
Freelance Principal UX, Product Design, Accessibility & Human Factors Consultant

I’ve worked with a diverse group of clients leading User Experience, Product Design, Accessibility & Human Factors Engineering for web applications, mobile applications, & medical devices. My most recent projects represent my best work, the most efficient, effective, & accessible designs for customers. I have thrived in different Agile software development environments. I have extensive experience designing for the regulatory rigor of FDA medical device validation (AAMI Human Factors Certification, Member of AAMI Advisory Group), & designing/auditing for compliance with WCAG 2.0/2.1 compliance (WebAIM Accessibility Certification). Tools used: Axure, Figma, Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Design Suite, Omnigraffle, Miro, Sketch, Balsmiq.

Medtronic 2005 - 2020
Engineering Manager & Principal Human Factors Scientist, Cardiac Rhythm Disease Management

I managed a team of Human Factors scientists including Cognitive Psychology PhDs, recent graduate interns, software developers, and external contractors. I contributed as Core Team Member for cardiac device hardware & software applications. I led the product User Experience (UX) & Human Factors Engineering (HFE) design processes to obtain FDA approval for cardiac devices.

theTEAMCompany.com 1998 - 2005
Freelance User Experience Consultant

My UX work included web-based interactive training applications, Business-to-Business (B2B) web applications, shrink-wrapped graphic design software, web applications, Internet & Intranet websites. Consulting included contributing as an individual contributor within large user experience teams, & acting as the only UX role within small startup companies. 

Serving Software, HBOC, McKesson 1997 - 1998
Medical Software Trainer & Computer-Based Training Designer

Designed & delivered train-the-trainer medical device scheduling software education to lead hospital nurses (until they demanded Computer-Based-Training (CBT)). Designed & developed CBT & web-based training (WBT) software training modules in Macromedia Authorware (acquired by Adobe).

Peace Corps Volunteer: Turkmenistan 1995 - 1997
English as a Second Language Instructor

Member of the second group of Peace Corps volunteers to live in the then recently independent former Soviet Republic of Turkmenistan. English as a Second Language (ESL) instructor at the Turkmen State University located in Ashgabat.

Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program 1993 - 1995
English Instructor & International Relations Coordinator

English Instructor at 7 High Schools in the Yawatahama region of Ehime Prefecture, Japan. Provided international relations coordination for businesses in the Yawatahama region.