Content Design
portfolio
Elissa Lan Murray
about me
Words + design. As a content designer and editor, I create seamless product journeys that help users get things done. With a background in journalism and tech, I’m skilled at simplifying complex information, working collaboratively, and crafting engaging, inclusive, and error-free copy.
Elissa Lan Murray
Content designer
Work
Experience
Previously at social media platform Nextdoor, media tech startup Hoodline, and Pulitzer Prize-winning newspapers.
Content designer
Writer + Editor
Strategist
PROJECT 1:
EVENTS
New product rolled out in fall 2022 focused on lightweight, hyperlocal gatherings that bring small groups of people together.
CONTRIBUTIONS
Wrote copy for event creation, invites, RSVPs, coachmarks, and other in-product surfaces. Optimized event discoverability with customized emails for hosts and guests. Created logic for in-app and push notifications.
PROJECT 2:
Post Insights
Posters are able to see the total views per post and receive immediate feedback that their post is being viewed.
CONTRIBUTIONS
Inspired future post creation by providing users with tips on how to get more views. Revised research survey to determine the most appealing color commentary. Wrote all in-app copy.
PROJECT 3:
USER AWARDS
Users are recognized for their contributions with awards that can be displayed on their profile.
CONTRIBUTIONS
Assisted in naming awards, developing value propositions, and creating principles for attainability and scalability. Wrote award descriptions and other in-app copy.
OTHER UX WORK
#SummerFun email (top center), Nextdoor anniversary announcement and modal for new Discover feature (top right), coachmarks for new agency composer (bottom).
Local stories
In-app prompts
Post inspiration
Neighbor Month campaign
This campaign highlighted how neighbors around the country have built deeper connections and a sense of belonging with those nearby. The posts and prompts inspired them to do the same in their own neighborhoods.
Professional
RESUME
Content leader with expertise in UX writing, content design, and editorial strategy. Creates elegant digital content solutions that put consumers’ needs at the forefront of product development. Experience with Figma, Looker, Coda, Jira, and Databricks.
Content designer and strategist
Nextdoor, San Francisco, 8/19 – 1/23
- Wrote, tested, and refined UX content across the product to ensure clarity, a consistent brand voice, and an intuitive, user-friendly experience.
- Collaborated with product managers, designers, engineers, and marketing for roadmap planning, feature development, and GTM strategy.
- Led the creation of a weekly events digest email, resulting in a 46% open rate and 10% click-through rate (CTR), which was over three times higher than similar emails.
- Contributed to ever-evolving in-house stylebook and standards.
Lead editor
Hoodline, San Francisco, 3/18 – 8/19
- Managed and mentored two dozen remote freelance editors who produced semi-automated stories that were syndicated across the country by local media outlets.
- Edited stories and tracked and reported metrics, including areas for improvement, positive trends, and whether goals were met.
Senior copy editor
Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, Ohio 12/04 – 4/17
- Edited stories for spelling, grammar, and accuracy for print and online.
- Wrote compelling headlines, breaking-news items, and photo captions in a deadline-driven environment.
- Named best in Ohio for headline writing by the Cleveland Press Club and awarded the Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism for editing a series about economic challenges.
