Overview
We’re looking for a highly skilled and experienced UX Designer to join our team on a contract basis. This role is integral to the success of a strategic project aimed at transforming the postgraduate and research environments through the development of a modern, user-centric digital platform. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in designing intuitive, accessible, and visually engaging solutions that enhance the user experience for students, supervisors, and academic support staff.
This is a hybrid role requiring on-site presence in Cape Town approximately three times per week, with the flexibility to work remotely on other days.
Responsibilities
Lead the end-to-end design process for a new Postgraduate Digital Platform, from initial research and concept development to high-fidelity prototypes and developer handoff
Conduct user research, interviews, and usability testing to understand stakeholder needs, pain points, and workflows
Translate complex academic and administrative processes into intuitive user flows, wireframes, journey maps, and interactive prototypes
Design user-centric and accessible interfaces for multiple user types, including students, supervisors, examiners, and administrative staff
Develop and maintain a comprehensive design system, including style guides and reusable components, to ensure consistency across the platform
Collaborate with project managers, business analysts, developers, and university stakeholders to translate requirements into functional and elegant design solutions
Use data and user feedback to iterate on and continuously improve the platform's design and usability
Advocate for human-centred design principles throughout the project lifecycle
Work closely with developers to ensure accurate and efficient implementation of designs
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Design (e.g., Interaction, Graphic, Multimedia, Product), Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or a related field. Relevant certifications will also be considered
A minimum of 5+ years of professional experience in UX/UI or Product Design roles
Strong portfolio showcasing end-to-end design processes, particularly for complex systems, web applications, or dashboards (portfolio must be recent, within the last two years)
Proficiency in modern design and prototyping tools such as Figma or Penpot
Familiarity with front-end technologies (e.g., HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to facilitate collaboration with developers
Solid understanding of user-centred design methodologies, information architecture, usability principles, and accessibility standards (WCAG)
Proven ability to simplify complex problems and processes into effective digital experiences
Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions to diverse stakeholders
Experience working in Agile/Scrum or Waterfall development environments is advantageous
Day-to-Day
Conduct user research and usability testing to gather insights
Create wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity designs for the platform
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment on project goals and deliverables
Maintain and update the design system to ensure consistency across the platform
Participate in regular team meetings and provide updates on design progress
Advocate for user needs and ensure the platform meets accessibility and usability standards
If you are passionate about creating exceptional user experiences and have the skills and experience to contribute to this transformative project, we encourage you to apply.