Interaction Designer

at IDEO

Location: Chicago

We are seeking an interaction designer to join our Chicago location. Candidates should have 3-5 years of experience, supported by visualization, prototyping, and graphic skills. The role requires working collaboratively, creatively and flexibly with multidisciplinary teams. Candidates should demonstrate an ability to work across a range of projects; from product interaction to interface designs. Prototyping and production skills are essential, as well as a passion for design and a point of view about your work. All candidates must send a portfolio or work samples along with their inquiries. Additional areas of skills and perspectives are listed below.

1. Client facing skills
Successful candidates must be comfortable with clients and be able to effectively share their point of view and expertise. They understand the business environment and what clients need to make something actionable and how to make clients feel comfortable throughout the innovation process. Candidates must be able to understand the scope and boundaries of projects.

2. User centered perspective
Candidates must truly believe in a Human-centered approach to design and be comfortable going out into the world for inspiration. They must be able to lead a team in the context of a Human Centered Design methodology, are comfortable with ambiguity and a master of design methodologies.

3. Communication skills
Candidates must have strong presenting, verbal and written skills. Additionally, successful applicants understand the value of design and brand within a design and business context.

4. Team skills
Successful applicants believe that better work is done through collaboration and have the ability to lead and inspire teams through collaboration as well as direction, vision and planning. The ability to relate to individuals and nurture talent also a requirement.

5. Technical skills (craft and tool mastery)
Successful candidates must know what excellence is. They not only identify and evangelize best practices, but also are able to push new boundaries and explore new territory in order to deliver innovation.

6. Visual design sensitivity
Candidates for this position know the difference and spot the difference between good and great work and are able to nurture teams to deliver great work.

7. Prototyping skills
Successful applicants for this position understand that you succeed sooner by trial and experiments. Understand that prototyping can be done at many fidelities and have experience doing and leading that work. They understand that grounding ideas in concrete designs is the best way to gain learning's and move forward.

Additional skills:

Information Architecture
Concept Model Design
UI Development for Functionality
Visual UI Development
Flash
Illustrator
Photoshop
Final Cut Pro
After Effects
Creation of Physical Controls (preferred)
Creation of Physical Interactions (preferred)
Onscreen Prototyping Tools- Flash (preferred) or Macromedia Director

Interested?

If you are interested in applying for this position, please email your resume and portfolio to Mweibler@IDEO.com