Experience Architect - Associate - LBi- London

Experience Architect - Associate

LBi- London (London, United Kingdom)

Job Description

Through smart acquisition/integration and organic growth strategies, LBi has emerged as the UK’s leading pure play digital agency. We are continuously developing our broad portfolio of services and working toward becoming a £100m+ agency, unrivalled in scale, quality and talent.


The Associate User Experience Architect’s (EA) role is to design web based business applications that are easy and satisfying for the target audience to use.
They are experienced in user centred design methodology and will be involved in all aspects of user research and usability testing (e.g. focus groups, prototyping, usability testing). The role is often client facing and requires effective collaboration with multi-disciplinary teams including business analysts, strategists, engineers, visual designers and content strategists.


Delivery

• Support project efforts by contributing to EA analysis in the following areas:
o Contribution to user scenarios with direction from a senior EA
o Ownership of low complexity site maps and contribution to complex site maps
o Assist in the development of UML use cases, (in collaboration with technical or Senior EAs)
o Ownership of simple page/task flows and contribution to complex page/task flows (in collaboration with technical or Senior EAs)
o Ownership of section of user interface specifications with direction from a senior EA (including template specifications and functional specifications)
o Prototyping with direction from a senior EA, (as appropriate for each phase of design, including paper prototypes, vision wire frames and HTML)
o Participation in the development of usability/user research plans, reports and supporting materials including screeners, questionnaires, scripts etc
• Performs work under established procedures and using existing document templates
• Work with business analysts, visual designers, content strategists and software engineers to ensure deliverables meet specified quality requirements and deadlines
• Conducts timely, fair and accurate project reviews for team members, using the standard templates, where appropriate and as agreed with Project Manager (PM)
• Manages own time and schedule
• Conducts self, and communicates, professionally with clients and colleagues
• Works proactively with the Senior Associate /Leader EA to ensure completion of project reviews for self assessment
• Provides feedback for team members where appropriate as agreed with PMs
• Designers work within the context of a creative brief, and therefore must be familiar with reading and responding briefing documentation

Company
• Attends and presents knowledge sharing sessions to the EA team
• Provides research and EA support on internal projects or thought-leadership activities such as white-papers
• Identifies small areas for process improvement within either a project or the office and present solutions
• Mentors junior colleagues on an informal basis offering opinions and input in a supportive manner
• Endeavours to complete objectives identified with line manager in CPR form
• Welcomes and makes improvements based on constructive feedback
• Makes use of appropriate research materials (Internet, publications etc.) to ensure skills and knowledge remain current
• Maintains an up to date resume detailing client project experience
• Maximises billable hours through making oneself available for client work. Makes best use of non-billable hours by working on internal initiatives, business development and self development

Desired Skills & Experience

A degree (or similar) in human computer interaction, ergonomics, human factors, psychology, library information science or IT/Computer Science degree would be an advantage
• Experience as an experience architect or similar role in consulting or industry
• Experience of several system development / web design projects

Information and user interface design
Apply an iterative user centred design methodology to the design of the navigation, user interface and content structure of systems.
Understand project business requirements.
Author high quality EA deliverables including UML use cases, process flows, site maps, wireframes, user interface specifications, user research plans and reports.
Capable of producing multiple visual diagramming styles in documenting system and UI designs (e.g. high fidelity wireframes, thumbnail sketches of screen flow, process mapping etc)
Work closely with visual designers to develop design options that are on brand and meet business and user needs.
Good knowledge of Usability and Accessibility.
User research Use primary and secondary research methods to gather data on user needs (e.g. stakeholder meetings, card sorting, focus groups, usability testing, and competitor analysis).
Communication Self-confidence to participate in client-facing situations.
Good oral and written skills.
Evidence of strong attention to detail.
Ability to learn, and assimilate new ideas quickly and gain the respect of fellow team members and clients.
Teamwork Good interpersonal skills to allow active participation as a team member.
Ability to work independently on narrow areas with initiative and enthusiasm.
Flexibility and willingness to help out in areas that may not specifically fall within an EA role (e.g. business analysis or content strategy).
Technical Prototyping tools – paper techniques, Freehand & Fireworks MX, Dreamweaver, Flash (some basic knowledge desirable).
Diagramming tools – Visio, Omnigraffle (some basic knowledge desirable)
MS Office suite
Can operate portable audio and video recording equipment.

Company Description

Descriptor: LBi is a global marketing and technology agency, blending, strategic, creative, media and technical expertise to create business value. Why do we exist? In this always-on, hyper-connected digital world in which we live, the relationship between people and brands is constantly changing. Today’s customers expect more from brands than ever before. They look behind promises, seeking out content and services that makes those promises real. They expect constant innovation from the brands in their lives, rewarding those that deliver and punishing those that don’t. This is why we think businesses need a special kind of agency to partner with them. One that has the strategic, creative, media and technology credentials to make their brands desirable wherever, whenever and however people choose to engage with them. At LBi we help companies of all shapes and sizes decide what’s next for their business ... and then we take them there. We’re expert at navigating the digital landscape to help add value, richness and fun to people’s lives in a way that makes brands irresistible. We work with all types of organisations – from famous global brands to disruptive start-ups; from healthcare giants to entertainment firms; from those still plugging in their computers to those at the bleeding edge of technology. But what unifies all of our clients is a belief that mastering digital content and services is essential to success.

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