BioWare Edmonton- UX Designer (Contract)

BioWare is currently seeking a User Experience Designer to be based in our Edmonton Studio.  Reporting to the Web Development Manager, in this role you will be responsible for providing UX leadership for online products. You will brainstorm, research, wireframe, design and refine user experiences within product requirements and deadlines and then work with our team of artists and developers to guide the implementation of those designs. Most importantly, you'll learn a ton, have fun, and be a critical part of the success in our innovative online products.

Portfolio will demonstrate

• Excellent conceptual and problem-solving skills illustrating an iterative design process
• Examples should include wireframes, low and high fidelity prototypes, information architecture mapping, consumer journey mapping and other technical documents used in the UX process (please indicate individual contribution to work presented)
• Project experience should include web, mobile and gaming interaction design
 

Responsibilities:
* Work with each team’s Producers, Product Managers and UI designers to synthesize the needs of our users and the functional requirements of the product into easy to use and intuitive solutions for complex UX problems.
* Understand the impact product changes and new features have on the big picture and adjust UX accordingly.
* Create wireframes, workflow diagrams, mockups and design specifications required for proper implementation.
• Utilize user research which includes heuristic and competitive analyses, contextual inquiries and field observations
 

Requirements:
* Degree in Interaction Design, New Media Design, Industrial Design, HCI, Human Factors/Ergonomics or related field

* 5+ years of practical UX/UI design experience creating consumer facing web sites.
* Strong working knowledge of Illustrator, Visio, wireframing tools (e.g. AxureRP) and Photoshop

* Extensive experience with user interface design patterns and standard UCD methodologies across multiple platforms

* A passion for UX and keeping current with recent usability trends and best of practices, particular for games, social applications or rich internet experiences.

* You must be comfortable with an agile process.

* Self-motivated and having the ability to produce in a fast paced environment with a dedication to iterate in pursuit of the best UX solutions.

* Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with the ability to present and explain UX ideas and concepts effectively. This person should have the ability to articulate the rationale behind their design from both a user-centered focus and business prospective.

* Excellent leadership skills with proven ability to collaborate and work with cross-functional teams and successfully launch new products.

* Interest and experience in applying user testing and analytics to inform and optimize designs is a plus.

* Hands-on experience with Flash, Unity, and/or HTML prototyping build are a plus.

* A background in the consumer entertainment sector is a big plus.
* An interest in gaming is desirable but not absolutely necessary.