Experience Designers at AKQA craft, concept and deliver interfaces that make technology easier and more enjoyable to use. The Experience Design Lead role includes exercising an intellectual curiosity, a strong sense of craft, creative flair, and deep knowledge of human-centred design techniques. You’ll drive collaboration with cross-functional teams to conceptualise and execute digital experiences that result in measurable, positive impact for end-user, clients and society. As the Experience Design Lead, you’ll approach every brief with fresh eyes, generating useful, usable and delightful ideas across existing and emerging platforms. As a leader in our Wellington studio, you will work in an inclusive culture, surrounded by some of the brightest minds in their fields. You understand where AKQA can create impact with our clients and move toward a better future. At AKQA, you will have the opportunity to learn and grow within a creative and technically advanced team, and have access to ongoing personal and professional development. AKQA is committed to your career growth, as well as to your work/life balance.

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

• Lead and inspire your team in partnership with local and regional AKQA leaders.
• Facilitate client workshops that encourage participatory design processes 
• An ability to present work to all levels of client teams with confidence and conviction.
• Work closely with AKQA Strategists to inform the creation of elegant solutions to complex client problems.
• Apply solid user experience and usability principles while looking for opportunities to innovate.
• Possess a deep understanding of, and proven experience in systems-based design
• Demonstrable track-record of highly creative, large-scale digital experience projects
• Ability to manage multiple, inter-dependent XD workstreams on large-scale and complex projects. 
• Estimating projects, defining design approach and working to agile methodology.
• Work with XD Director to drive the vision and growth of the AKQA Experience Design discipline, fostering a thriving team culture that helps us attract and retain the best staff.
• Contribute to wide-ranging new business and company profile-building opportunities and be a trusted, future guide for clients.

QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS

• Extensive experience in systems-based design, workshop facilitation, information architecture, interaction design, rapid prototyping, UI design, landscape & competitor reviews, product design, wireframes and motion design.
• A compelling portfolio of distinctive work that evidences product/service design, storytelling and leading large scale web design and build projects.

AKQA is an Equal Opportunities Employer, we believe that diversity is vital to AKQA’s ability to provide our clients with the best recommendations and are committed to fostering a varied and inclusive work environment. Your race, colour, ancestry, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability or veteran status have no bearing on our hiring decisions. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.