JOB: Senior UX Architect, and UX Architect, for Hot Studio SF/NY

Senior User Experience Architect sf/ny

Hot Studio is a leading experience design company with offices in San Francisco and New York. Dedicated to creating elegant solutions for complex design challenges, we collaborate with business leaders, innovative organizations, and emerging companies to create breakthrough products and services that have global reach and local impact. Our clients include Cisco, Dow Jones, Warner Music Group, Palm, Gap, eBay, Zinio, Ancestry.com, SFMOMA, and California Academy of Sciences.

The ideal UXA candidate will be an experienced practitioner who is willing to take creative risks, experiment with ideas and approaches, and do whatever it takes to do the best work possible. You can also be a practical-minded perfectionist with the ability to create both compelling concepts and work through complex details when you need to. With skills in information architecture, interaction design, and user  research, you can handle a range of project types – some of them simultaneously – from discovery to concept to design to writing. You should enjoy working independently, taking initiative, and being innovative.

Responsibilities

• Design the information architecture and interaction models for client projects. This may include websites, mobile experiences, kiosks, or other touchpoints
• Work in close collaboration with clients and internal teams to develop initial strategy—addressing product, brand, marketing, content, and overall user experience
• Manage user research efforts including designing a research plan, writing screeners, overseeing recruiting, conducting research (i.e. contextual interviews and usability testing)
• Lead client workshops and meetings
• Create internal and external deliverables including conceptual diagrams, site maps, interaction flows, storyboards, page/screen schematics/wireframes, content inventories, media-appropriate copy, and detailed functional specifications
• Work iteratively; develop ideas from sketches to prototypes
• Develop new types of deliverables, workshops, or presentations as necessary
• Collaborate with visual designers, design engineers, technical partners and project managers to generate superb design work and happy clients
• Occasionally direct the work of contractors or other UXAs in a supporting role
• Contribute to Hot’s positive internal atmosphere, quality of work, and growth into new fields or industries
• Speak and write about your work

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years experience in UX
• Experience designing and conducting user research, including contextual inquiry and usability testing
• Superb writing and presentation skills
• An outstanding portfolio that demonstrates your approach to projects, quality thought, storytelling, and an ability to bring your ideas to life
• Excellent deliverables including prototypes, detailed page schematics, sketches, interaction flows, site maps, navigation systems, and web-appropriate writing
• Ability and willingness to sketch/use whiteboard in front of clients
• Ability to articulate business strategy and branding issues, and to balance these with user needs and technological constraints
• Demonstrated ability to manage clients, communicate persuasively, and resolve issues
• Experience working in small collaborative teams
• Familiarity with technical issues and ability to work constructively with engineering teams
• Great attitude and ability to handle change
• Ability to work independently, prioritize, and solve problems proactively
• Creativity and attention to detail

Relevant Experience

• Background in graphic design, writing, product and business strategy
• Experience with experiences beyond the browser—mobile, audio interfaces, multi-touch, widgets, desktop software
• Experience with rich internet applications
• Prototyping skills

Please send resumes to: ux.jobs@hotstudio.com

Resumes should be sent as a PDF or plain text document. Please include URLs of relevant work samples.

Hot Studio is an Equal Opportunity Employer