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Information Architect, Philips Design
Sep 05 05
Philips Design, part of Royal Philips Electronics, is a 24-hour global design studio headquartered in Eindhoven, The Netherlands with branch studios in the main capitals of Europe, the USA and South-East Asia. Its creative force of some 450 professionals, representing more than 30 nationalities, provides a full range of design services to a highly diverse portfolio of clients including Royal Philips Electronics and others: from design management, corporate identity, innovation design, to product design, communication design, human factors, interaction design, design for Internet and new media. The mission of our professionals is to create a harmonious relationship between people, objects and the environment, both natural and man-made.
This position is located at our Headquarters in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, in the Interactive Design department. Within this department, your colleagues include those responsible for web design, visual and user interface design for internet and products, as well as human factors experts. Being located at Headquarters, you will also have exposure to other colleagues working in the U.S. and Asia regions.
Job Summary
You recognize and translate client business requirements and user-centered design issues into clear and effective interface solutions. You take the solution from creation of the basic idea and metaphor, through the use of simulations, to a feasible conclusion. You develop basic navigation structures and documents the results. You work in close cooperation with other members of the interactive design team and are in close communication with the software development team. You follow the development of the product through to production. You are the primary author of the documentation which serves as the blueprint for site development, content management, and QA by the various members of a project team.
Activities and Responsibilities
- Together with the Art Director, define the projects (project brief) according to the needs and points of view of the clients and end users (by understanding and documenting existing client business processes and rules while translating strategies into functional design)
- As part of a mulit-disciplinary team, define site functionality, navigation, interaction, architecture scheme, and data flow
- Lead in small to mid-sized projects and major contributing team member on larger design projects
- Interpret client needs while combining the necessary business, marketing, and technological requirements; and translate these interpretations into the project scope
- Define work packages and partners/suppliers
- Design product systems interactions, from the basis of the agreed-upon project brief and own professional orientation, in close cooperation and guidance from the design manager and/or a project leader/team member
- Work with members of the Technology team to ensure technology supports proposed functionality
- Provide input and support for user research and usability test plans
- Together with the Art Director, direct and/or lead creation of presentation materials
- Work within the context of the given Philips Design policies and processes (e.g., High Design Process) with a high level of independence
- Participate in defining and setting up the design concept
- Structure the interaction concept
- Participate in the completion of the design track or parts thereof
- Prepare, record, and maintain relevant information
- Work within the allocated budget
- Travel may be required in support of the projects (regional and international)
Main work contacts:
- Creative, research, technical, and management teams within HQ and throughout the branches
- Clients (internal and external)
- Vendors
Education and Experience:
- Master’s Degree in Interactive Design preferred
- 3-4 years of relevant work experience, including project management experience
- Computer skills: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Macromedia Dreamweaver, Macromedia Fireworks, Macromedia Flash, MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project and Visio) and Lotus Notes
- Experience designing website and application interfaces
- Knowledge of interactive development tools
- HTML knowledge preferred
- General knowledge of programming and database concepts and options
- Good business command of the English language
Personal:
- Affinity to work in a creative environment
- Self-motivated and able to work independently
- Proactive and original thinker and problem solver
- Team player
- Flexible
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills (at all levels in the organization)
- Able to adapt and thrive within a multicultural business environment
- Affinity to work in a fast-paced environment and within tight deadlines
- Able to analyze and synthesize
Marketing & Sales / Business:
- Strong business awareness
- Proven communication and negotiating skills
- Customer-service attitude
Management:
- Project / people management skills, including planning, budgetary, and organizational skills
- Able to manage multiple, complex tasks simultaneously
- Supervisory / coaching / mentoring skills
- Manage and direct interactive team members on the project, together with the project manager
In order to be considered, please send the following information to careers.design@philips.com:
- cover letter, specifically stating your current career objectives
- current CV
- portfolio (<3MB each PDF; or web link) with subject line - Information Architect
No phone calls please.