Hi! I am Ilke
I am a qualified Information Designer – born and raised in South Africa, based in Memphis, TN.
I am passionate about defining and solving problems. My love for experience design is rooted in the ability to design meaningful and engaging communication solutions to real problems.
I flourish in a team and am always looking for my next creative challenge.
Experience.
– 6 Years of digital design experience
2022-Present
Senior UX Designer, Hilton Worldwide
Dedicated user experience designer on the Property team.
- Work with cross-functional teams in an agile environment. Collaborate with key stakeholders, UX researchers, UI designers, product managers, product developers, web developers and the accessibility team to design accessible and engaging digital experiences.
- Collaborate with research and testing to identify users’ needs and understand how users consume and navigate content.
- Interpret data and qualitative feedback into actionable next steps for the user experience design process.
- Develop user-centered designs considering customer feedback, personas, user research, technical constraints or opportunities, and business needs.
- Establish and shape accessible components for shared component library in collaboration with UI Design.
- Ensure coherence and consistency of features and functions across the overall user journey.
- Communicate design ideas and prototypes clearly and persuasively to a variety of audiences.
- Contribute to the product strategy and roadmap.
- Facilitate cross-functional workshops.
2019-2021
UI Designer, Hilton Worldwide
Dedicated UI designer for the Hilton Honors rewards program.
- Work with cross-functional teams in an agile environment. Collaborate with key stakeholders, UX architects, UX researchers, product developers, web developers and the accessibility team to design engaging digital solutions and experiences.
- Break down complex requirements and concepts into well thought out wireframes, prototypes, workflows and visual designs.
- Focus design efforts to align with both business and user challenges & objectives.
- Responsive and cross-device design (Mobile, Tablet, Desktop).
- Utilizing the dedicated design systems for standardization between designers and developers.
- Present and liaise design solutions to stakeholders to get final approval.
- Optimize imagery and web assets for optimal web use.
- Update CMS where needed according to client requests.
2015-2019
Freelance, Web Design & Creative Strategy
I have worked on multiple freelance projects, primarily in the realms of web design, branding & digital media.
-
I have worked on multiple freelance projects, primarily in the realms of web design, branding & digital media. Efforts include:
- Focus designs efforts to align with business challenges & objectives.
- Make design recommendations to achieve business objectives
- Plan, design and develop the production of digitally delivered information on multi-channel deliverables.
- Create story boards and wireframes along with final design comps for small business websites.
- Develop and maintain websites for clients using WordPress.
2015-2019
Digital Designer & Strategist, Olico
Strategize and manage digital campaigns for financial services products.
- Digital Paid Media Strategy (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Search & Display).
- Digital Campaign setup & optimization.
- Advise and assist with design & development of multi-channel deliverables for digital campaigns and web assets.
- Optimize the user experience on landing pages to ensure ease of use.
- Inform design solutions through quantitative data by running A/B tests.
- Keep web CMS up to date with latest content ensuring SEO best practices are implemented.
2014
Junior Graphic Designer, Studio Zoo
- Assist senior designers with creative layout design for broadcast adverts and promotions aired on DStv.
- Prepare all design files for handover to motion graphics producers
- Plan, develop and design visual styles for promotional campaigns
Education.
– Bachelor of Arts degree in Information Design
– I recently started documenting my learning journey. Follow it here @uxui.warehouse
2019-Present
Member, Interaction Design Foundation
Courses completed:
- User Experience: The Beginner’s Guide – Top 10% in Class
- Design Thinking: The Beginner’s Guide – Top 10% in Class
- Human-Computer Interaction – HCI – Top 10% in Class
2015-2016
Higher Certificate, Marketing Management, IMM Graduate School of Marketing
Johannesburg, South Africa
2010-2013
B.A. Information Design, University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
2009
Graduated Highschool Seaforth College
Ballito, South Africa