WHAT I DO
The core of my professional experience is in user interaction design, focusing on web interfaces and desktop applications for consumer and small-business audiences. I have been in a lead design role for the past four years where I am defining the user experience along within a cross-functional team. I have some experience in managing other designers and their work, but I like to remain very involved in a hands-on design role. I have also directed the work of UI and visual design contractors, both on-site and outsourced internationally.
HOW I WORK
As a UI designer, I help the product manager to define the business requirements, feature set, and use cases which are summarized in a Product Requirements Document (PRD). I produce highly detailed functional specification documents through a process that includes brainstorming, user flow diagrams, rapid interation of wireframes, high- and low-fidelity mockups, and prototypes. The functional spec is reviewed by all stakeholders and feedback and revisions are incorporated into the document. Then I work very closely with a visual designer on the look and feel of the interface. Final visual design graphics and the functional spec are delivered to engineering where the front-end and back-end developers produce the production-level code based on the wireframes, functional and graphic specifications. Throughout the design and development process, usability testing is performed at several different levels as necessary.
WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR
Coming from small companies with compact design teams, I am capable of performing many roles within an organization as there is always overlaps in job functions between the product manager, project manager, UI designer, visual designer and front-end developer. I have experience with usability testing, prototyping, coding, visual design, marketing, content writing, and business requirements gathering, but I prefer collaborating with other people who are specialists in their field. In my ideal environment, the UI designer is allowed to focus efforts on the functionality and flow of the end-to-end user experience, but is not completely siloed and working in a design vacuum. Collaboration with smart people always improves the product as well as the work environment.
I also appreciate being able to express your personality and outside interests at work. Whether it's organizing a company-wide swap meet, doing a song-and-dance number for someone's birthday, or creating a cereal co-op, having fun with my team helps me to create stronger working relationships, and drives me to work better not harder.