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UX and UI Designer
NFQ Technologies
CUA has helped me contribute towards enhancing the maturity of UX implementation at the Org level through adoption of design tools and best practices
by HFI
Tell us about your role in your current organization.
I am currently a user interface and user experience designer at NFQ Technologies – a software development company with 15+ years of experience and a team of 400+ in Lithuania, Germany, Vietnam, and Singapore. We deliver large-scale web development, business digitalization, BI & Data Science, Technical Due Diligence, UX, UI, CRO and Consulting Services. With our solid global track record in travel, omni-channel, logistics, sharing economy and transport projects, we’re ready to provide the technology to enable our partners to create change.
As a designer I am responsible for consulting with teams and clients on both internal and external projects, gathering business requirements, understanding development risks, evaluating those projects and executing independently. In addition, as managing junior designer I plan and delegate tasks and make sure we deliver excellent quality solutions.
My daily work mostly consists of user interface design and creating design systems for websites, mobile applications and software, but we also do activities such as:
- Heuristic analysis, stakeholder interviews, user research and personas
- Experience and user journey mapping
- Interactive wireframe prototyping, use cases and scenarios
- Usability testing, A/B testing
One of the things I enjoy most about my role is the opportunity to share knowledge with those around me. This year along with fellow lecturers, I am sharing my knowledge of user experience with students attending our company’s academy – a 3-month knowledge accelerator and a bridge between the university and the professional world.
How does the CUA training help you in your day to day work?
My colleague Igor Gubaidulin, who is also a Certified Usability Analyst, and I are currently working on a nationwide project – The Electronic Declaration System of the State Tax Inspectorate, which is currently being used by around 2 million people in Lithuania. It enables taxpayers to submit their tax returns and other documents electronically as well to perform other declaration-related procedures. In 2018, 80% of the users have submitted their tax returns electronically and the number itself explains the challenge behind the project. It is extremely important to understand current issues, new requirements and user needs, as well as the impact any changes will make. We aim to greatly decrease the time needed to submit tax returns and increase returns submitted electronically by completely redesigning the system, its usability and the way returns are submitted.
Another large-scale product I am currently working on is Takeout Group’s all-in-one ordering and dispatching platform solution which processes orders worth more than 35 million euros annually. The company offers software for individual restaurants, multi-store chains and franchises within the online takeaway and delivery segment. I have the opportunity to work on both existing and new features as well as solve problems that arise within the platform.Working with products is a never-ending story. At times the need can be a usability improvement through user flow and design changes, other times it can be a completely new feature which requires additional research and analysis. I had the chance to work on features such as group ordering and checkout, a revenue dashboard, restaurant creation and menu management in admin and many more. My main goal is to reach the platforms full potential by doing my best to fulfil requirements and offer user-centered solutions. The main challenge I feel with this product is quite similar to the previous project that is the number of users and the variety of different needs. I hope that with the support of my knowledge and design input the usability of platforms will eventually reach a new level.
I would be more than happy to tell more about other projects I have had the opportunity to work on, but unfortunately, some cannot be discussed publicly due to confidentiality agreements, so I hope these give a good idea of the work I do.
What are the challenges you face in your work and how do you overcome them?
For me personally, the most challenging part of the work I do is to get into the shoes of the user. Designers tend to develop “blindness” and some things become obvious when in reality for users they are not obvious. It is however fascinating to see how each individual is completely different, but at the same time somehow similar to each other when it comes to their needs. I always strive to solve a problem in a way that the solution becomes self-explanatory and does not require any additional information.
How does being a CUA help in your career?
Before certification, I had limited knowledge of user experience and usability. My knowledge was not at the level I wanted it to be and I felt the need to build a robust background. I took my time to study independently and get myself ready for the examination. The skills I have gained during studies have greatly increased my knowledge in this field. It has changed the way I look at user experience and usability, and how it all comes down to solutions we create for the people. The design industry is very competitive and achieving Certified Usability Analyst certification was indeed a game changer. With certification came recognition, both at work and among headhunters at recruitment agencies. I am currently one of 28 CUAs in Lithuania. This puts me on the spot among other competitive designers in the field and made my position feel much stronger. Also, it supported the company’s effort in winning public tenders for new projects.
You are actively involved in creating a community of UX designers in Vilnius. How is the field of UX developing in Lithuania?
The structured learning and comprehensive understanding of the concepts and the methodology have given me immense confidence during my interactions with business and leadership. It has also helped improve the outlook/credibility of my function and group.
What about your job excites you the most?
The field of user experience has been booming in Lithuania lately. Even though the number of designers turning to user experience designer roles is increasing, there is still a lack of those who are truly able to lead in this field.
In my opinion, the field of user experience is still quite young in Lithuania. Despite that I have seen an increase in various user experience meetups such as Fresh, DeX, BarCamp by Smashing Magazine, where many people participate. Since I recently became a local leader at the Interaction Design Foundation Vilnius group, I too have plans to organize meetups in the near future.
A well known book “Don’t Make Me Think” by Steve Krug was translated to Lithuanian language and is available online. Also, I am happy to announce that just yesterday the UX community of Lithuania have presented around 60 books on user experience to the National Library of Lithuania.
Even though the field of user experience in Lithuania is still quite young, I believe the importance of it in Lithuania will keep rising steadily.
What’s the best piece of advice you have for those starting a UX career?
My honest advice would be to resist the need to become an expert in all of user experience design at once. It is indeed a huge field and it is extremely important to learn the field in the right manner. The things you will learn will be the foundation for your future career and solutions you will bring to this world.
Each month we highlight the successes and achievements of a different member of our CUA community. If you are a Certified Usability Analyst and would like to be considered for CUA of the Month recognition, please send a brief professional bio to hfi@humanfactors.com
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Reviewed: 18 Mar 2014
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Terms and Conditions for Public Training Courses
Reviewed: 18 Mar 2014
Cancellation of Course by HFI
HFI reserves the right to cancel any course up to 14 (fourteen) days prior to the first day of the course. Registrants will be promptly notified and will receive a full refund or be transferred to the equivalent class of their choice within a 12-month period. HFI is not responsible for travel expenses or any costs that may be incurred as a result of cancellations.
Cancellation of Course by Participants (All regions except India)
$100 processing fee if cancelling within two weeks of course start date.
Cancellation / Transfer by Participants (India)
4 Pack + Exam registration: Rs. 10,000 per participant processing fee (to be paid by the participant) if cancelling or transferring the course (4 Pack-CUA/CXA) registration before three weeks from the course start date. No refund or carry forward of the course fees if cancelling or transferring the course registration within three weeks before the course start date.
Cancellation / Transfer by Participants (Online Courses)
$100 processing fee if cancelling within two weeks of course start date. No cancellations or refunds less than two weeks prior to the first course start date.
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No Recording Permitted
There will be no audio or video recording allowed in class. Students who have any disability that might affect their performance in this class are encouraged to speak with the instructor at the beginning of the class.
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