Experience

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  Ringier South Africa

  • Remote

  • Lead UI Designer

    • Mar 2022 - Present
    • Remote

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  Proof of Position Protocol (POPP)

  • Founding Member

    • Jan 2023 - Present

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  Kirsten Alexis Consulting

  • UI / UX & Product Designer

    • Jun 2021 - Jun 2022

    While I have always taken on small side projects, in June 2021, I decided to dive into the world of Freelance full-time. With a focus on Product and UI design, my aim is to help startups & established businesses improve their customer experience in order to grow with confidence.Some of my services include:→ Reviews & audits of existing products (Standalone or part of a redesign)→ Product improvements (Improving identified user-journeys, features or website content)→ Full product or website redesigns→ Design system creation (Sketch or Figma) → BrandingCurrently working on:Client - A Wordpress Plugin & Theme creation company— Complete redesign of company website including content strategy— Creation of a brand look & feel— Assisting to restructure company goals, processes & workflows to facilitate growth— Redesign of all product sale pages— Competitor evaluations & product improvements for existing plugins & themes— Assisting in planning a new product roadmap — Restructuring & rewriting client help centre and moving it to a more user-friendly platform

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  Lov.Cash

  • Remote

  • Lead Product Designer

    • Jun 2018 - May 2021
    • Remote

    I joined Lov.Cash as the sole designer for their FinTech platform to help define the experience for all users.Lov.Cash is a convenient, simple mobile payment platform designed to promote cashless & contactless transactions in emerging African markets. Improving the security & safety of traders & shoppers, by providing an alternative to cash, sending & receiving digital currency utilizing the waves blockchain.Here I worked on:→ An Android mobile app for businesses, consumers & agents,→ A point of sale terminal, and→ Web-based administrative portals, one for internal & one for external use.I worked closely with the entire Lov.Cash team to conceptualise the full product offering.Including the following:- Understanding the overall market & competitive space, determining market segmentation- Competitor research & analysis- Gathering & evaluating user requirements- Worked with the CEO to help define business goals- Worked with stakeholders to redefine product features based on refined business goals, objectives & user needs- Created a brand look & feel- Implemented tools & processes for project management, business administration & design- Worked to configure product scopes, requirements, usability & consistency- Involved in finding, interviewing & hiring staff- Evaluate structural & architectural problems by thoughtfully organizing functionality into task-flows to meet user needs- Created user stories, personas, task flows, storyboards, sitemaps, use cases & scenarios- Wireframing & Interactive prototyping- Create production-ready UI designs for Android & responsive web- Communicated design ideas & prototypes to developers- Detailed developer-handoff using Zeplin, InVision & Miro- QA dev work on designs & provide feedback- Advised on product improvements based on usability & customer feedback.- Created, documented, and delivered a design system in Sketch- Mentoring junior team members where required, conducting design reviews & training

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  Jungle Corner

  • 3 years Cape Town & 2 years Remote

  • Senior Art Director, UI & UX Designer

    • Jun 2013 - May 2018
    • 3 years Cape Town & 2 years Remote

    Jungle Corner was a digital production studio. Specialising in creating engaging interactive solutions, human-centric user interfaces, bespoke digital experiences for websites, mobile apps, installations and more.Key brands: Robben Island Museum, MTN Foundation, National Heratage Monument, Lufthansa inTouchIn this small start-up design studio, I had to take on many roles and responsibilities outside of my official job description, I proactively learned new skills as projects demanded. Taking initiative and the ability to work independently under tight deadlines was key to thriving in this environment. The 3 years here was as a full-time in-office employee, but since February 2016, I began working remotely full-time (Based in Serbia). Working in a small team allowed me to be involved in all aspects of the design process as well as organizational duties including:— User Experience (research, prototyping, wireframes)• Detailed research & exploration leading to define goals, vision & strategy for digital projects • Brand audits, competitor reviews, study of consumer profiles, behaviours and mindsets• Creating personas, task flows and journey mapping• Information architecture• Low fidelity wireframes• High fidelity interactive prototypes— User Interface Design (web apps, mobile apps, software, websites)• Creating usable, dynamic & socially engaging pixel-perfect websites• Moodboards & Design Systems• Responsive design • Developer Handoff— Idea generating and concepts for new projects and solutions— Discovery workshops with clients— Direct communication with clients— Liaising with the Development team to ensure we set realistic project scope goals— Project Management— Corporate Identities & Branding— Illustration & Icon design— Various print collateral such as booklets, posters, etc.— Art directing— Management/mentoring of junior designers & Interns— Working with the creative director to perfect & implement new design processes & workflows

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  Red Crown | Part of the Bester Burke Slingers Group

  • Cape Town Area, South Africa

  • Designer

    • Mar 2011 - May 2013
    • Cape Town Area, South Africa

    Red Crown was formed as the "Packaging & Graphic Design" arm of an existing Advertising Agency called Bester Burke Slingers. Since the closure of Bester Burke Slingers, it is now an independent design studio.Key brands: Distell, Sea Harvest, Ceres Fruit Juice, Yardley, Nederburg, I&J Fisheries, Duram Paints, Drostdy-Hof Wines, Lentheric Solo, Liqui Fruit & Van Ryn's Brandy.My duties here were often split between Red Crown & the Bester Burke Advertising agency depending on capacity. My role as a designer included:— Packaging Design, generating new concepts & preparing finished artwork— Design and development corporate identities across print and digital— Brand guide development— UI Design for Web & Wireframes— Preparing artwork for print— Working with the advertising team on below-the-line campaigns— Marketing collateral— Product visualisations— Illustration— Photo sourcing & retouchingMy experience at Red Crown gave me the opportunity to experience what it was like to work in larger teams. As well as:— Mentoring & managing junior designers & interns— Learning the ins & outs of design in the advertising space— How to handle tight deadlines— Utilise teamwork to get the job done effectively— Below-the-Line communications

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  FUEL DESIGN

  • Cape Town Area, South Africa

  • Junior Designer

    • Feb 2008 - Feb 2011
    • Cape Town Area, South Africa

    This was my first job out of University at a small design studio. Being a small team I was able to get a lot of practical experience with a wide range of print design & production processes.My responsibilities included:— Designing and developing corporate identities across print and digital— Book Cover Design from concept, creation & print ready setup— Brochures, Flyers, Annual Reports— Illustration— Poster Design— Photo sourcing & retouching— Banners / Signage— Packaging Design— Website UI Design— Setting up artwork for printIn this role, I learnt to take initiative, developed a passion for learning new skills and software as well as the importance of keeping up with industry trends. I developed a keen attention to detail and learnt how to cope under pressure and adhere to tight deadlines without compromising the high quality of the work. As I grew in this role I became proficient in the creation of print-ready artwork and liaising with printers and I even began to work directly with clients for design feedback.