Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Certification
Timeline
ResearchAssistant
Jessica Breedt

Jessica Breedt

Johannesburg Metropolitan Area

Summary

Enthusiastic UX and UI Designer with a talent for merging creativity and strategy, focusing on crafting meaningful, user centric experiences that deliver impactful results for web and mobile platforms. Expertise in integrating User-Centered Design and Design Thinking methodologies into strategic decision-making, ensuring solutions that balance innovation, functionality, and business goals. Making use of User Research and User Testing to ensure designs are up to standard. With over 12 years in Product Strategy & Roadmapping, UX/UI Design & Prototyping and User Research. Interaction Design & Iterative Processes. Proven track record in guiding product strategies from ideation to launch, aligning with user needs and business objectives. 6 years of strong leadership skills and 10 years of fostering collaboration with diverse teams to align priorities, champion the user voice, and drive continuous improvement for exceptional user experiences. Having worked in Agile teams for over 10 years. Working in Team Leadership & Collaboration while making Data-Driven decisions. With 8 years working with Frontend Technologies such as HTML, DHTML, CSS and Javascript Using industry tools like Figma and Sketch.

Overview

16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Senior User Experience Designer

Absa Group
06.2024 - Current
  • Applied user-centered design and design thinking methodologies to develop intuitive UI/UX solutions for Absa Group, effectively addressing diverse user needs and expectations.
  • Undertook extensive research on customer behaviors, competitor products, and product performance, generating valuable insights that informed data-driven design decisions
  • Recommended changes in user experience processes based on industry trends or customer feedback.
  • Defined information architecture models such as navigation systems and page hierarchies based on user needs analysis.
  • Developed user interface guidelines and standards to ensure consistency in product design.
  • Identified potential risks associated with UX and UI design decisions and developed mitigation plans accordingly.
  • Created user-centered design tools such as detailed user personas, scenarios, and user stories, accurately representing key user demographics and their goals, which guided design strategies and ensured usability
  • Designed wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity mock-ups, effectively visualizing design concepts, and enabling iterative improvements based on user feedback and stakeholder input.
  • Managed and mentored junior designers in using my components to design screens. I oversaw the front-end teams, ensuring designs were properly implemented, components were correctly built and positioned, and the user journey was seamlessly maintained, while upholding project efficiency and quality.
  • Worked closely with cross-functional teams, including product managers, engineers, and researchers, integrating customer insights into the design process, and aligning with business objectives.
  • Leveraged design thinking and innovation to create seamless, user-friendly interfaces that enhanced engagement, accessibility, and overall user satisfaction
  • Conducted rigorous usability testing and iterative design updates, refining solutions to address user pain points and deliver an optimal user experience.
  • Collaborated with a diverse agile team to ensure smooth project execution.

Freelance UX UI Designer

Human Focused
01.2024 - 05.2024
  • Applied a user-centered design approach to create an intuitive UI/UX, enhancing user interaction and satisfaction.
  • I managed internal staff members to address gaps in experience, ensuring they met project standards, and delivered quality work.
  • Conducted in-depth research on customers, competitors, and products to inform design decisions.
  • Developed personas, scenarios, and user stories to better understand user needs and behaviors.
  • Collaborated with stakeholders to align design requirements with business objectives.
  • Created wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity mock-ups to visualize and refine concepts.
  • Conducted usability testing to gather feedback and optimize design functionality.
  • Designed with accessibility standards in mind, ensuring inclusivity
  • Maintained usability documentation to track design processes and decisions
  • Contributed to an agile team, collaborating to uphold product quality
  • Partnered with product managers and marketing teams to drive customer success and product adoption
  • Ensured user testing validated products against business goals, confirming effectiveness and value
  • Worked closely with the development team to verify product data and usability requirements for accurate implementation

UX UI Designer

FCB Health New York | An IPG Health Company
11.2023 - 01.2024
  • Applied a user-centered design approach to create an intuitive user interface and user experience, enhancing user engagement and satisfaction.
  • Managed designers in collaboration with UX researchers and worked closely with UX copywriters to ensure alignment with project goals and user needs.
  • Conducted comprehensive research on customers, competitors, and products to identify market trends and user needs.
  • Developed personas, scenarios, and user stories to better understand user behavior, and design effective solutions.
  • Collaborated with stakeholders to identify requirements, ensuring alignment with business objectives.
  • Provided support during quality assurance testing by identifying potential issues related to UX and UI design elements.
  • Participated in brainstorming sessions with cross-functional teams to explore innovative solutions.
  • Defined user experience goals and objectives based on project requirements.
  • Documented processes for creating a consistent look-and-feel across all interfaces.
  • Created wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity mock-ups to visualize and refine design concepts.
  • Implemented usability testing to validate design decisions and improve user experience.
  • Designed with accessibility standards in mind, promoting inclusivity in product design.
  • Maintained usability documentation, providing a clear record of design decisions and processes.
  • Collaborated closely with developers to ensure product quality and alignment with design specifications.
  • Partnered with product managers and marketing to maximize customer success, contributing to business growth.
  • Ensured products were evaluated with customers, and validated against business goals, driving product success.
  • Tested the technical feasibility of UI and UX designs to meet project goals, ensuring design viability.
  • Collaborated with the development team to validate product data and usability requirements, ensuring product effectiveness.
  • Utilized Work Front to manage tasks and projects efficiently
  • Ensured compliance with accessibility guidelines when designing digital experiences.

Lead Design Systems Manager

iOCO Digital
05.2023 - 10.2023
  • Directed a team of designers in the development and maintenance of a comprehensive design system, leading to a 30% increase in efficiency.
  • Reviewed designs to maintain consistency and continuity across the project.
  • Worked closely with cross-functional teams to ensure uniform design implementation across various products.
  • Introduced design system guidelines, which resulted in a 20% decrease in design inconsistencies.
  • Enhanced user experience by developing intuitive, user-friendly design components.
  • Created and maintained a scalable design library consisting of over 500 reusable components.
  • Enforced design system governance to ensure compliance with brand guidelines.
  • Decreased design production time by 25% through the effective use of design system tools.
  • Offered training and mentorship to designers, leading to an improvement in design quality.

Freelance UX UI Designer

Human Focused
01.2023 - 04.2023
  • Communicate with clients to understand project goals, user needs, and design requirements
  • Define project scope, timelines, and deliverables, ensuring clear expectations
  • Present design concepts, iterate based on client feedback, and ensure alignment with business objectives
  • Manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines and maintaining quality
  • Work closely with developers to ensure smooth design implementation
  • Create ready to use components providing the developers with code
  • Provide detailed design specifications, assets, and documentation
  • Test and review final builds to ensure design accuracy and functionality
  • Create marketing materials, landing pages, and UI assets as needed
  • Maintain a strong portfolio and update personal branding to attract new clients
  • Stay updated on UX/UI trends, tools, and best practices to offer innovative solutions

Senior User Experience and Interface Designer

RMB - Rand Merchant Bank
04.2022 - 01.2023
  • Applied a user-centered design approach to create an intuitive user interface and user experience, enhancing user engagement and satisfaction.
  • Managed designers in collaboration with UX researchers, and worked closely with UX copywriters to ensure alignment with project goals and user needs.
  • Conducted comprehensive research on customers, competitors, and products to identify market trends and user needs.
  • Developed personas, scenarios, and user stories to better understand user behavior, and design effective solutions.
  • Collaborated with stakeholders to identify requirements, ensuring alignment with business objectives.
  • Provided support during quality assurance testing by identifying potential issues related to UX and UI design elements.
  • Participated in brainstorming sessions with cross-functional teams to explore innovative solutions.
  • Defined user experience goals and objectives based on project requirements.
  • Documented processes for creating a consistent look-and-feel across all interfaces.
  • Created wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity mock-ups to visualize and refine design concepts.
  • Implemented usability testing to validate design decisions and improve user experience.
  • Designed with accessibility standards in mind, promoting inclusivity in product design.
  • Maintained usability documentation, providing a clear record of design decisions and processes.
  • Collaborated closely with developers to ensure product quality and alignment with design specifications.
  • Partnered with product managers and marketing to maximize customer success, contributing to business growth.
  • Ensured products were evaluated with customers, and validated against business goals, driving product success.
  • Tested the technical feasibility of UI and UX designs to meet project goals, ensuring design viability.
  • Collaborated with the development team to validate product data and usability requirements, ensuring product effectiveness.
  • Utilized Work Front to manage tasks and projects efficiently.
  • Ensured compliance with accessibility guidelines when designing digital experiences.

Lead Project User Interface and Experience Designer

Alexander Forbes
03.2021 - 03.2022
  • Define and drive the overall UX vision, ensuring a seamless and intuitive user experience.
  • Managed multiple projects simultaneously while adhering to tight deadlines.
  • Developed and implemented innovative design solutions to complex user interface problems.
  • Managed a team of designers to offer improvements, and direction on projects.
  • Directed and coordinated team involved in drawing and constructing examples of finished products.
  • Conduct user research, including interviews, usability testing, and competitive analysis, to inform design decisions.
  • Worked with the development team to ensure a smooth transition from concept to production-ready assets.
  • Analyzed customer feedbacks to identify areas of improvement within existing designs.
  • Developed style guides for visual elements such as branding systems, typography standards, color schemes, photography styles.
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams including product owners, developers, marketers, copywriters, and stakeholders throughout the entire product cycle.
  • Participated in brainstorming sessions to generate new ideas for product features or improvements.
  • Develop user personas, journey maps, and scenarios to understand customer needs and behaviors.
  • Advocate for user-centered design principles, and accessibility best practices.
  • Lead the end-to-end design process, from concept to final implementation.
  • Create wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity UI designs that align with product goals.
  • Establish and maintain design systems, ensuring consistency across products and platforms.
  • Provide design leadership and strategic direction to ensure product success.
  • Work closely with product managers, developers, and executives to align design solutions with business objectives.
  • Present and defend design proposals to stakeholders, incorporating feedback effectively
  • Partner with marketing and branding teams to maintain visual consistency and enhance brand identity
  • Facilitate design workshops and brainstorming sessions to foster innovation

Senior User Interface and Experience Designer

Alexander Forbes
04.2020 - 02.2021
  • Collaborated with technical leads and product owners on user experience planning.
  • Worked across multiple Agile teams to ensure seamless UX integration.
  • Brainstormed with design peers to identify enhancements and new product features.
  • Proposed design improvements to enhance the user experience.
  • Managed and guided a group of design interns, providing mentorship and ensuring their work aligned with project standards.
  • I researched the latest trends in service design, UX, interaction concepts, and digital best practices, providing recommendations for visual design direction and execution.
  • Reinforced consistent design patterns across platforms, while ensuring adherence to UX principles.
  • Led the development of usability test plans, including test formats, result reporting, and actionable recommendations.
  • Conducted user acceptance and usability testing to validate designs.
  • Created data-driven recommendations and prioritized solutions based on user needs, technology, and business goals.
  • Defined project scope and requirements, driving innovative solutions aligned with business objectives, and UX metrics.
  • Utilized design tools such as Axure and Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator).
  • Advocated for end-user needs throughout the development process, collaborating with the service design team to deliver a world-class UX.
  • Developed end-to-end service design flows and integrated them into mockups, prototypes, user scenarios, navigation maps, and other design assets.
  • Conducted competitor research to refine product features, balancing user needs, technical constraints, and business goals.
  • Worked effectively with cross-functional teams to ensure the successful implementation of user-centric designs.
  • Created and evaluated interaction models, task flows, screen designs, and UI details to optimize usability.
  • Applied service design thinking to develop seamless, omni-channel experiences.
  • Converted UI/UX designs into functional front-end code using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
  • Worked with frontend frameworks to aid in the implementation of UI components.
  • Ensured seamless integration between design and development for an optimal user experience.

Senior Visual Designer

Planet Fitness
09.2019 - 04.2020
  • Initiated and implemented unique branded looks and website layouts for Planet Fitness, leading to a significant enhancement in the brand's online visibility
  • Effectively managed project milestones and collaborated closely with clients to define scopes, resulting in successful project completion
  • Utilized design fundamentals to craft visually compelling designs, which supported product branding strategies and increased customer engagement
  • Created a range of materials including display, marketing, and packaging, contributing to increased brand recognition and engagement

UX UI Designer

Britehouse
08.2018 - 06.2019
  • Company Overview: Johannesburg Area
  • Successfully drove UI requirements from conception to implementation, providing accurate sizing estimates and task breakdowns
  • Utilized wireframes, mock-ups, and prototypes to establish user interface design and architecture
  • Collaborated with technical leads and product owners on user experience planning, researching the latest Service design, UX and interaction concepts, presentation layer technologies, digital best practices, and online trends to provide informed recommendations
  • Defined and executed visual design direction, reinforcing consistent design patterns across platforms and adherence to principles
  • Developed usability test plans and formats for testing results reporting and recommendations, leading user acceptance and usability testing to validate designs
  • Created solid recommendations and prioritization based on user, technology, and business needs, understanding the scope and requirements to drive innovative solutions aligned with business goals and UX metrics
  • Used design tools such as Axure and Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop and Illustrator) to advocate for the end-user throughout the development process, working closely with other members of the Service design team to craft a world-class user experience
  • Developed end-to-end service design flows and integrated them into mock-ups, usage scenarios, prototypes, specifications, navigation maps, and other design documents
  • Conducted competitor research to develop and improve product features, effectively balancing user needs, technical constraints, and business objectives
  • Johannesburg Area

Senior User Interface Designer

Vodacom
01.2018 - 08.2018
  • Company Overview: Johannesburg Area
  • Implemented visual and interactive elements that users engage with, converting design files into HTML, JavaScript (JS), and/or CSS code
  • Developed new user-facing features and built reusable code and libraries for future use, ensuring the technical feasibility of UI/UX designs
  • Optimized application for maximum speed and scalability and assured that all user input was validated before submitting to back end
  • Maintained and developed detailed user-interface specifications, assessed and optimized performance of new and existing features by actively participating in user research and assessing performance metrics
  • Presented design work to multiple teams and senior leadership for review and feedback, developed high-level, detailed storyboards and mock-ups to effectively communicate interaction and design ideas
  • Developed wireframes and task flows based on user needs and made strategic design and user experience decisions related to core and new functions and features
  • Collaborated with designers and developers to create intuitive, user-friendly software, and devised cutting-edge, impactful and appealing UI designs
  • Johannesburg Area

Senior UX Designer

Nihilent Technologies
01.2009 - 01.2018
  • Collaborated with product managers and engineers to gather and evaluate user requirements, ensuring alignment with project goals
  • Enhanced system performance and improved end-user experience through iterative back-end development updates
  • Resolved UX challenges through testing, iteration, and strategic updates, addressing user pain points
  • Created compelling design concepts using storyboards, process flows, sitemaps, wireframes, and prototypes tailored to customer needs
  • Designed workflows and integrated them into user scenarios, mock-ups, and functional specifications
  • Leveraged extensive experience in the entertainment sector, specializing in media and streaming products
  • Partnered with Test Automation Engineers to enable rapid UX iteration via automated diagnostics and testing
  • Contributed to design review meetings, brainstorming innovative UX developments through collaborative efforts
  • Conducted manual testing on UX design elements and complete designs, generating actionable feedback reports for continuous improvement
  • Analyzed user feedback to shape future updates, addressing concerns and refining experiences in subsequent patch cycles

Education

Professional Certificate -

IBM Product Manager
01.2035

Professional Certificate -

IBM Front-End Developer
05.2024

MicroMasters -

UX Design and Evaluation- HECMontrealX's UX Design and Evaluation MicroMasters Program
01.2024

Specialization -

Coursera AI Product Management Specialization
12.2023

Certificate -

Service Design
06.2023

Professional Certificate -

Web Accessibility Certificate
01.2023

Certificate -

Human Computer Interaction
01.2009

Media Design and Technology -

Damelin

Matric -

Abbotts Colleges

Skills

  • Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
  • Design Thinking
  • Big-Picture Thinking
  • Customer Journeys
  • Heuristic Evaluation
  • Product Design
  • Adobe Creative Cloud
  • Responsive Design
  • Mobile App Design
  • Product Management
  • User Centred Design
  • Agile Methodologies
  • User Experience Design (UED)
  • Design Standards
  • Information Architecture
  • Figma
  • Material Design
  • DHTML
  • HTML
  • Javascript
  • CSS
  • SCSS
  • User Journeys
  • Zeplin
  • User Interface Design
  • Adobe Creative Suite
  • Mobile Design
  • User Experience (UX)
  • Design Review
  • Defining Requirements
  • Digital Design
  • User-cantered Design
  • Human Behaviour
  • User research
  • Wireframing
  • Responsive design
  • Design systems
  • Prototyping
  • Design thinking
  • Interaction design
  • Journey mapping
  • Heuristic evaluation
  • Mobile design
  • User interface design
  • Information architecture
  • User flow mapping
  • Design validation
  • Iterative development
  • Cross-platform design
  • Accessibility design
  • Team collaboration
  • Design management
  • Stakeholder management
  • Agile methodology
  • Creative direction
  • Strategic thinking

Certification

  • Enterprise Design Thinking - Team Essentials for AI, IBM, https://www.credly.com/badges/f7043d77-b32e-44dd-814f-44d721b4f42d/public_url
  • Enterprise Design Thinking Co-Creator, IBM, https://www.credly.com/badges/0a452ada-b1d3-490c-a97e-e1641bedfccf/public_url
  • Enterprise Design Thinking Practitioner, IBM, https://www.credly.com/earner/earned/share/65fced38-9b2d-4bc8-884c-29bc89173678, 06/01/23

Timeline

Senior User Experience Designer

Absa Group
06.2024 - Current

Freelance UX UI Designer

Human Focused
01.2024 - 05.2024

UX UI Designer

FCB Health New York | An IPG Health Company
11.2023 - 01.2024

Lead Design Systems Manager

iOCO Digital
05.2023 - 10.2023

Freelance UX UI Designer

Human Focused
01.2023 - 04.2023

Senior User Experience and Interface Designer

RMB - Rand Merchant Bank
04.2022 - 01.2023

Lead Project User Interface and Experience Designer

Alexander Forbes
03.2021 - 03.2022

Senior User Interface and Experience Designer

Alexander Forbes
04.2020 - 02.2021

Senior Visual Designer

Planet Fitness
09.2019 - 04.2020

UX UI Designer

Britehouse
08.2018 - 06.2019

Senior User Interface Designer

Vodacom
01.2018 - 08.2018

Senior UX Designer

Nihilent Technologies
01.2009 - 01.2018

Professional Certificate -

IBM Product Manager

Professional Certificate -

IBM Front-End Developer

MicroMasters -

UX Design and Evaluation- HECMontrealX's UX Design and Evaluation MicroMasters Program

Specialization -

Coursera AI Product Management Specialization

Certificate -

Service Design

Professional Certificate -

Web Accessibility Certificate

Certificate -

Human Computer Interaction

Media Design and Technology -

Damelin

Matric -

Abbotts Colleges

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Jessica Breedt