Catalyst Group is seeking a Visual Designer to design Web and mobile sites and other digital applications for clients that include global brands, start-ups, not-for-profits, and many others. Working alongside Catalyst Group's Principal Creative Director and our team of visual and interaction designers, you'll develop original design concepts, execute designs based on design directions and style guides, create design specifications, and develop and deliver both internal and client-facing presentations.
Essential Functions
- Create original design concepts and design systems for Web, mobile sites, and applications at all stages of the design process, from conceptual to final design.
- Creates other design deliverables, including icons and logos.
- Applies visual designs and design systems to wireframes.
- Creates style guides and other production-ready design deliverables for use as specifications by designers and developers.
- Creates storyboards for time-based interactions.
- Develops and delivers internal and client-facing presentations.
- Participates in ongoing evaluations of our work to improve the quality and effectiveness of our services.
Education
Bachelor's degree or equivalent. Degree in visual communications, graphic design or a related field preferred.
Experience
Two or more years experience as a visual designer. Agency experience preferred.
Skills
- Understanding of visual design systems, hierarchy, typography, aesthetics, illustration, photography and composition.
- Knowledge of interaction design patterns, site architecture, user interfaces and navigation.
- Competent in the use of PhotoShop and Illustrator; experience with other applications in the Adobe Creative Suite (Fireworks, InDesign, Flash).
- Understanding of the capabilities and limitations of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
- Understanding of the physical, cognitive, cultural and social factors that affect design decisions.
- Ability to generate design ideas on the fly in a fast-paced, collaborative, and innovative environment, while balancing user experience, brand and business focuses.
- Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to work independently and in teams across multiple projects simultaneously.
- Ability to collaborate in a creative, cooperative environment.
Portfolio
Exceptional portfolio of visual design work required.
Catalyst Group, a leading user experience strategy, research and design firm based in New York City, is seeking an experienced Senior User Experience Researcher to join our growing team of world-class user experience specialists. The ideal candidate is one who shares our passion for helping organizations create highly desirable, useful, and easy-to-use products and services and who will actively contribute to a culture of innovation, excellence and accountability.
The Senior User Experience Researcher works with clients to develop and execute original usability and user research studies that enable clients to improve their products and services and that advance Catalyst Group's usability and research practice.
Essential Functions
- Work directly with clients to develop, plan and execute research studies of varying degrees of complexity.
- Build and support the organization's user research practice by being a practice leader in one or more specific research areas, techniques, or tools; e.g., quantitative research, online research, eye tracking.
- Moderate own and other researchers' studies; may occasional play a supporting role for another senior researcher.
- Create client-ready summary and detailed reports that provide original study observations and insightful recommendations; edit other researchers' studies and prepare final client deliverables.
- Create recruiting screeners and moderator guides.
- Mentors and coach team members.
- Attend meetings with current and prospective clients.
Education
Master's degree or equivalent in disciplines that include interaction design, human factors, computer human interaction, ethnography, and experimental or cognitive psychology.
Skills
- Exceptional verbal and written communication ability.
- Exceptional presentation and public speaking skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook).
- Experience with common usability research tools such as Morae.
- Familiarity with and comfort around a variety of technologies including personal computers, tablet computers, mobile devices, e-book readers and other types of current and emerging consumer and professional electronics, hardware, and software.
- Experience with eye tracking products such as Tobii Studio.
- Understanding of trends in interaction and interface design.
- Understanding of the physical, cognitive, cultural and social factors that affect interactive design decisions.
- Ability to make informative and engaging formal and informal presentations.
- Ability to work independently and in teams across multiple projects simultaneously.
- Ability to collaborate in a creative, cooperative environment.
Other Requirements
- Proven experience of converting client-articulated needs into a methodologically and strategically. sound proposed package of research activities.
- Strategic thinker with strong analytical skills.
- Demonstrated thought-leadership in user research, including published work.
Experience
Five or more years experience as User Experience Researcher or the equivalent.
Hands-on experience with research techniques that include contextual inquiry, eye-tracking, one-on-one usability studies, on-site testing, collaborative design sessions, questionnaire design, and focus groups.
Body of prior research work. Published work in usability, user research, or a relevant post-graduate field a plus.
The User Experience Consultant defines the user experience for our clients' digital products, solving client design problems using a variety of tools and techniques. They typically collaborate with a Senior User Experience Consultant on projects (in addition to other Catalyst team members).
Essential Functions
- Defines user interfaces and interaction flows for interactive digital products and services, for Web, mobile, tablet, and other applications.
- Responds to requirements and design objectives through the creation of artifacts that could include strategic vision briefs, site maps, conceptual sketches, wireframes, content inventories, and other artifacts.
- Presents design solutions to internal teams and clients.
- Plans and conducts a range of primary and secondary research activities, using a variety of research techniques and tools.
- Analyzes and synthesizes research data in order to develop a compelling and strategic vision for clients.
- Conducts application reviews, competitor reviews, content inventories, and contextual interviews.
- Acts as a thought leader by participating in the company's blogging, tweeting, conference presentations, and the like.
- Performs some or all of the functions of a researcher or senior researcher.
Essential Requirements
Educational Requirements
Bachelor's degree or equivalent required. Master's degree preferred. Degree in user experience, interaction design or a related field preferred.
Experience
Two or more years' experience as an interaction designer, user experience designer, user interface designer, information architect, usability researcher or the equivalent.
Other Requirements
- Experience working in a collaborative team environment, working with business and development teams to define and implement design solutions.
- Familiarity with current and emerging techniques in interaction design, information architecture, user research and UX strategy.
- Strong ability designing experiences across a variety of platforms and screen sizes. Responsive design experience is an asset.
- Understanding of the technical capabilities and limitations of Web and application interface development languages.
- Ability to generate strategic insights and develop concepts that yield compelling experiences.
- Understanding of the physical, cognitive, cultural and social factors that affect interactive design decisions.
- Ability to assist with a range of primary and secondary research activities using a variety of techniques.
- Exceptional interpersonal, verbal and written communication, and presentation skills.
- Proficiency with standard UX diagramming and prototyping tools, as well as Microsoft Office suite.
- A portfolio that reflects the range of your skills.
About Catalyst
We offer a fun, entrepreneurial and business-casual work environment, with a team atmosphere and competitive salaries. Your benefits include health, vision, dental and life insurance. We offer company matched 401k and an incredible work environment with a cadre of the industry's top talent.
The Senior User Experience Consultant defines the user experience for our clients' digital products, solving client design problems using a variety of tools and techniques.
Essential Functions
- Defines user interfaces and interaction flows for interactive digital products and services, for Web, mobile, tablet, and other applications.
- Responds to requirements and design objectives through the creation of artifacts that could include strategic vision briefs, site maps, conceptual sketches, wireframes, content inventories, and other artifacts.
- Presents design solutions to internal teams and clients.
- Acts as a 'project owner', coordinating the work of an interdisciplinary team, fostering a positive relationship with clients, and maintaining awareness of project scope and budget.
- Mentors and contributes to the professional growth of Catalyst team members, particularly User Experience Consultants.
- Plans and conducts a range of primary and secondary research activities, using a variety of research techniques and tools.
- Analyzes and synthesizes research data in order to develop a compelling and strategic vision for clients.
- Conducts application reviews, competitor reviews, content inventories, and contextual interviews.
- Acts as a thought leader by participating in the company's blogging, tweeting, conference presentations, and the like.
- Performs some or all of the functions of a researcher or senior researcher.
Essential Requirements
Educational Requirements
Bachelor's degree or equivalent required. Master's degree preferred. Degree in user experience, interaction design or a related field preferred.
Experience
Five or more years' experience as an interaction designer, user experience designer, user interface designer, information architect, usability researcher or the equivalent.
Other Requirements
- Experience working in a collaborative team environment, working with business and development teams to define and implement design solutions. Prior experience working with clients in a consulting capacity is an asset.
- Familiarity with current and emerging techniques in interaction design, information architecture, user research and UX strategy.
- Expert ability designing experiences across a variety of platforms and screen sizes. Responsive design experience is an asset.
- Understanding of the technical capabilities and limitations of Web and application interface development languages.
- Ability to generate strategic insights and develop concepts that yield compelling experiences.
- Understanding of the physical, cognitive, cultural and social factors that affect interactive design decisions.
- Ability to plan and conduct a range of primary and secondary research activities using a variety of techniques.
- Exceptional interpersonal, verbal and written communication, and presentation skills.
- Proficiency with standard UX diagramming and prototyping tools, as well as Microsoft Office suite.
- Demonstrated thought leadership in the user experience community.
- A portfolio that reflects the range of your skills.
About Catalyst
We offer a fun, entrepreneurial and business-casual work environment, with a team atmosphere and competitive salaries. Your benefits include health, vision, dental and life insurance. We offer company matched 401k and an incredible work environment with a cadre of the industry's top talent.