In my short-term contract of just 6 weeks with Cisco Systems on the Webex team, I had the opportunity to make a significant impact on the user experience and contribute to the success of our collaboration platform. Here's a brief overview of my responsibilities during this intensive period:
Despite the brief timeframe, I seamlessly integrated into a cross-functional team, collaborating closely with designers, developers, and stakeholders. Together, we aimed to enhance the Cisco Webex product and provide users with a superior experience.
I was tasked with rapidly developing wireframes for desktop, tablet, and mobile platforms. My designs adhered rigorously to Cisco's branding guidelines and incorporated valuable input from stakeholders and users.
To ensure a smooth handover from design to development within the limited time frame, I meticulously documented wireframe specifications, including critical details such as minimal padding and maximum character limits. This precision was essential to enable the developer team to create a consistent and user-friendly interface across various languages and content scenarios.
My close collaboration with project managers was instrumental in ensuring that our product aligned with the needs and expectations of both users and stakeholders, guaranteeing successful project delivery.
I've provided comprehensive design mockups that detail the layout, visual elements, and interactions of the user interface. These mockups include the minimum padding required for each element to maintain a consistent and visually pleasing design.
To demonstrate flexibility for different languages and content lengths, I've used lorem ipsum placeholder text in the mockups. This allows developers to anticipate variations in text length while ensuring that the overall design and layout remain consistent.
In the mockups, I've incorporated responsive design principles to show how the interface should adapt to various screen sizes and orientations. This ensures a consistent and user-friendly experience across different devices.
For interactive elements, such as buttons, forms, and navigation menus, I've provided clear specifications on how they should function and respond to user actions. This includes details on hover states, click interactions, and any animations.
I learned and practiced accessibility (A11y) expertise to effectively analyze and dissect wireframes, providing detailed annotations on how to structure and mark up digital content to ensure an exceptional user experience for individuals using screen readers and other assistive technologies
I utilized Landmarks to segment the page, allowing users to navigate to various menus and sections using the 'Tab' key. Additionally, I provided annotations detailing how the 'Arrow' keys facilitate navigation within these sections.
I prioritized concise and straightforward descriptions to ensure quick comprehension by screen reader users (SR).
Component Description
I explicitly outlined the default state and provided clear identification to assist developers in comprehending the purpose of each component.
I have broken down the flow of the user's path to completing a task, including potential errors that may occur or choices the user may make.
I have provided a comprehensive explanation of all components, describing how they function and where the information originates from.
During my tenure at Cisco, I had the privilege of gaining invaluable insights into the world of accessibility and mastering best practices for crafting top-notch design deliverables. The experience allowed me to elevate my skill set, ensuring that every design I produced was not only aesthetically pleasing but also inclusive and user-friendly. Cisco's commitment to accessibility and its emphasis on high-quality design reinforced my dedication to creating digital experiences that cater to diverse user needs and preferences, ultimately enriching my expertise as a UX professional.
"Ben, a former contingent worker on my team, consistently demonstrated commendable qualities during his short tenure. He is sincere, humble, and has a strong aptitude for learning. Ben approaches his work with enthusiasm, showing initiative and a constant eagerness to seek feedback for continuous improvement. Notably, Ben possesses a solid understanding of user experience design processes and methods. Within just a few weeks, he made big contributions to enhancing the new Webex free sign-up flow. His proactive engagement and support were instrumental in driving improvements during this period. I recommend Ben for anyone seeking a reliable and responsible designer."
- Lead Product Developer | Jack Shen | 12/13/2023 3:55 PM
