Lead UX/UI Designer at Fusion92 in Chicago, IL

Company Description

We're an independent agency, made up of independent people. Thinkers, tinkerers, designers, writers, planners, poets, inventors, innovators and robot makers. Our independence defines us, not a holding company. Because while every agency can offer up the muscle, only a shop as independent as ours can put in the hustle necessary to create real results for your brand.

Job Description

We’re seeking a multi-discipline Lead UX/UI Designer to ensure Fusion92 delivers the most highly crafted work, impactful work in the market.

The Lead UX/UI Designer will lead projects through the product design lifecycle: in-depth research, user flows, user personas and journey maps, site architecture, design reviews, user testing, and client handoff. Therefore, the ideal candidate is data-driven, organized, and a master of design principles. You must be a problem-solver with a passion for working with consumer-facing brands, designing digital experiences, and simplifying the complex. In this role, your team members will look to you as a key leader and collaborator. To be successful, you must provide clear direction and a unique creative vision, bringing five-star, user-centric ideas and insights to the table every day. You’ll have to balance the needs of users and stakeholders while serving as an advocate for your team of strategists, designers, and developers. In order to guide brands to a place of real cultural value, our projects begin and end with the user in mind. Our in-house creative, strategy, and production teams collaborate directly with our clients on a huge range of projects, from branding to product development to digital experiences (and so much more).

Responsibilities:

• Define the architectural and digital design practice at Fusion92.
• Concept and create designs with a strong visual impact on projects that range from a brand and visual identity to data, UI/UX design, activations, and more.
• Proven track record in Information Architecture, interface design, service design and layout.
• Help manage client relationships through direct (often in-person) communication, while maintaining expectations around deliverables, timelines, design concepts.
• Collaboration and ownership of the technical translation of creative to development.
• Approach design problems conceptually, with a desire to be innovative and original while adhering to informed and industry best practices.
• Simultaneously create new, cutting-edge experiences in the digital space while often embracing tried-and-true best practices.
• Provide leadership/motivation and conveys the vision and values of the agency to staff.
• Partner with producers to provide detailed information and time and cost estimates to assure accurate data on which to plan and develop functional objectives and budgets.
• Collaborate with different disciplines across the company to bring design thinking to other disciplines such as new business, strategy, technology and innovation.
• Lead and/or participate in internal and client work-sessions.
• Lead and/or participate in creative ideation sessions.
• Presentation of design to product and client-facing teams to encourage feedback to further refine the approach and account for final opportunities for improvements prior to development.
• Work closely with our resource manager to schedule projects and coordinate production.
• Establish a common design process by deliverable and implement a modern toolset to deliver.
• Maintain cultural awareness of the design landscape with respect to current and future trends.
• Build wireframes, storyboards, walkthroughs and paper prototypes to communicate your design to the team. Iterate in low fidelity to arrive at the best possible design, then execute in high fidelity.
• Mentor other designers while advocating for a customer-focused, human-centered inclusive design process.
• Ensure a collaborative “one team” approach comprising both client and agency representatives
• Encourage progressive thinking and the pushing of boundaries
• Encourage state-of-the-art techniques and thought leadership activities to stimulate professional development and inspiration within the team

Qualifications

• Bring design thinking to the table. Craft work that matters.
• An exceptional portfolio showcasing innovative design solutions.
• A compelling design portfolio with examples of UI/UX digital design and information visualization.
• 10+ years design experience in a design firm or agency setting is required.
• 2+ years of supervisory experience required.
• Minimum +7 years of experience as a professional UX Product Designer and leader
• An understanding of print production, setting-up files for print and ink on paper.
• A strong understanding of grid systems, composition, and color; with a keen eye for typography, and meticulous attention to detail.
• A strong knowledge of digital and technology, understanding of what is technically feasible and reasonable
• Vast experience working on identity systems and establishing brand guidelines.
• Highly competent with Adobe Creative Cloud
• A design knowledge of PPT, Keynote, CMS and/or 3D design software is a plus.
• Have a holistic understanding of product design (including research, graphic design, experience design, and business strategies).
• Effective project management skills with an ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Strong knowledge and practice of core principals in brand strategy, conceptual design, execution
• Fearlessly, boundlessly creative and relentlessly attentive to detail

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.