User Experience Architect: Interactive Agency

Studiocom is a rapidly-growing, full-service interactive agency that creates engaging online experiences for the world’s leading brands. Our portfolio of work includes groundbreaking websites, innovative marketing campaigns and successful online brand loyalty programs created for Fortune 500 clientele across the CPG, Retail and Entertainment sectors. Studiocom’s numerous awards speak to the creativity, passion and talent of our employees, who come from all over the world.

 

We have an opportunity for a Usability Experience (UX) Architect. The UX Architect’s primary responsibility will be to strategize, create and design the user experience for Studiocom clients’ web sites and interactive applications. This will include, but isn’t limited to, interactive features, functionalities, information presentations, navigational structures, and data. You will work with clients to understand their business models and goals and help define strategy, content, and features for design of their web sites. This role also requires the ability to work effectively with a variety of disciplines and business groups including sales, marketing, design, and development teams and must be adept at applying and “selling” UX solutions throughout the organization. You will be responsible for strategizing, developing and conducting user research and testing procedures including, but not limited to, focus groups and usability tests.

 

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

Essential Functions

·  Design site structure, navigation, functionality and page layout within the frameworks of high ease-of-use, good consistency and branding, and simple feature interactions

·  Map project requirements into clear process flows with the ability to propose new innovative solutions

·  Provide usability guidance and support during development process

·  Lead user-centered design and customer experience activities for both interdisciplinary groups and clients. Educate and serve as a resource for best practices

· Perform heuristic evaluations and competitive analysis relating to site hierarchy, flow and navigation

· Analyze customer needs and define strategies for meeting them

· Organize large bodies of information

· Able to interface and interact with internal and external groups to gauge requirements on various initiatives and translate into information architecture and interaction design schematics, possibly to include the following:

o Site maps

o Concept diagrams

o User profiles & user scenarios

o Schematics/wire-frames

o Content requirements & matrices

o Flow diagrams

· Ability to work with design and technical teams in a collaborative, dynamic environment

· Strategize, develop, facilitate usability testing and other user validation exercises

· Create and maintain templates for Information Architecture deliverables

· Conduct research or work on internal projects as needed

 

Experience

· Background in human factors, HCI, information architecture, user interface design, interaction design, industrial design or related area strongly preferred

· 3 to 4 years experience designing for environments that leverage XHTML, CSS,

· JavaScript.

· 5+ years experience working in either an Internet consulting company or an ebusiness/

· Web communications area of a large corporation

· 3 to 4 years formalized client requirements gathering experience

· A portfolio of existing applications or sites

 

Education

 Bachelor's degree or Master's degree, preferably in a related discipline

 

Competencies

· Deep knowledge of information design/architecture, user interface design principles, and usability principles, issues and techniques

· Demonstrated proficiency in common diagramming software such as Microsoft Visio, Omnigraffle or Adobe InDesign

· Excellent problem-solving, analytical and critical thinking skills

· Strong human factors and usability analysis skills as well as ability to profile user patterns for site usage

· Excellent written, communication, organization, presentation and research skills

· Able to juggle several tasks and projects simultaneously without jeopardizing deadlines

· Ability to conduct usability testing, analyze results, and present to various interdisciplinary groups is desirable but not required

· Experience with one or more of the following applications and technologies is a plus: Adobe Photoshop, Visual SourceSafe, ASP, CGI, Java, JSP Visual Basic or PHP, XHTML, CSS, JavaScript, Dreamweaver, Plumtree or other CMS.

· Familiar with Web site tracking and other analytics tools

· Strong interpersonal skills and able to work well in a diverse, multi-cultural team environment

· Provide leadership for clients and colleagues in areas of expertise

· Team leader, team builder and player

· Strong client relationship skills

· Industry involvement

 

In addition to a fun and rewarding environment Studiocom offers a competitive salary and benefits package which includes paid vacation & holidays, comprehensive medical and dental plans, 401K and company bonus plan.

If interested, please apply here: http://careers.vurvexpress.com/default.cfm?szWID=16028&szCid=72128&szSiteID=1501 .