Position: UI/UX Designer
Reports to: Head of Digital
Classification: Full-Time
Location: Manchester Center, VT
POSITION DESCRIPTION
The UI/UX Designer will partner with Head of Digital to drive the evolution of the Customer Experience & shopping path for all VCS Digital channels, including social and mobile. This is a new and transformational role with the potential to influence the overall future of our business. The right candidate with thrive and generate enthusiasm and passion for our Digital experience across our customer base and our company as a whole.
Transform a family owned, 65+ year old brand with an extraordinary loyal customer following and rich history into an engaging and leading edge Digital experience. Be the lead web designer across all of our digital storefronts, developing templates and concepts with an eye to performance & ease of use. Follow through with prototyping/usability/testing to land on solutions that drive revenue and engagement. Bring the expertise and creativity to organize/distill information and objectives across business functions into a highly effective and engaging customer experience.
Partner closely with our Digital Capabilities team, Content/Creative Team & external developers to set & maintain digital standards for accurate, platform-independent versions of designed layouts & functionality. Help in Identifying best-in-class functionality from the competition to design and test new experiences.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Architecture, Functionality & Template Enhancements
Innovate & propose functional solutions to enhance the customer experience
Determine overall information architecture & drive innovation
Develop templates with an eye to performance & ease of use
Evolve the look & feel of our digital storefronts
Optimize the shopping path
Support the maintenance of the UI Inventory: develop, maintain & organize all UI templates & functionality
Work closely with our development team to set & maintain standards for accurate, platform-independent versions of designed layouts & functionality
Create process flow documentation & wireframes as needed
Digital Standards
Support the maintenance of the VCS Digital Style Guide (wiki)
Design & produce examples of all standards for easy communication across functions
Support the delivery of clear communication/awareness of standards to all working partners
Bring great attention to detail and strive to define & adhere to the highest of standards
Component Development
Design interactive components (ex. merchandising features, video players, etc.) to streamline site content production & enhance the customer experience
Interaction Prototypes & Motion Tests
Generate ideas to optimize conversion and build the brand
Produce demos for usability sessions & internal presentations
Explore variations in site motion & effects to achieve ultimate clarity throughout the shopping path
Front End Build QA
Support the partnership with Digital Capabilities Analyst to assist in developing & maintaining methodology to validate design/build across all supported platforms
Ensure front-end build is pixel-perfect and aligns to all desired functionality
Validate various states have been executed per digital standards
Usability & Test Support
Provide direction to Usability & QA team. Assist in preparing comps & prototypes for usability sessions
Provide design support for all proposed interface testing
Shopping Path Patterning across Devices
Identify best-in-class functionality from the competition
Navigate VCS Digital properties often across multiple devices (iPad, iPhone) to maintain expert knowledge of UI, creative and messaging intricacies
Creative Strategy Support & Presentation
Prepare & organize seasonal concepting presentations to address top merchant, marketing and internet initiatives -- serve as the process/team leader in this regard
Contribute designs in support of enhancing the customer experience
Partner with various creative leads to organize designs from other workstreams and deliver for executive presentation
QUALIFICATIONS
Classic and clean sense of design/style with the ability to inject fun and creativity with design
Passion for strong brand, user experience, and most importantly - the customer.
Impeccable design fundamentals (type, image, color)
Proven ability to translate complex design challenges into clear, customer-friendly and engaging experiences
Working understanding of ecommerce & marketing best practices
Discerning eye for photo editing, cropping & compositing
Collaborative, inclusive & flexible team member
Resourceful self-starter who gets things done
Highly organized with extreme attention to detail
Ability to manage multiple priorities & meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
Positive, constructive and collaborative approach with an ability to drive and lead change
Strong communication skills required
EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
Bachelor's Degree (Design / Interactive) or equivalent experience
Minimum 3 years digital design experience
Mastery of Photoshop
Working knowledge Illustrator, InDesign & Flash
Experience in Responsive web design and tablet/phone design best practices
Knowledge of best practices for web image optimization
Understanding of the capabilities & best practices relating to the use of front-end Web technologies, including HTML5, CSS, JavaScript, Flash & AJAX
Relevant creative background
Proven talent in graphic & interactive design
Strong retail brand or agency experience desired
Ecommerce design experience a must
Experience delivering on business and creative goals through design
Design for mobile platforms a plus