#MySkillsStory: Guy

As a leading tech employer in the East we want to showcase some of the diverse roles and routes into tech. Today we meet UI/UX Designer, Guy Wellesley.

What is your role at Epos Now and what does that involve?

I am a UI/UX designer for Epos Now working in the product team. I talk to our users and stakeholders about how our product should look and feel, then produce user interfaces based on these insights to deliver a great experience for our customers!

It’s not just about how it looks, in fact, the user interfaces I design go through research and prototyping phases. This means that I can quickly design an idea, test it by talking to users and stakeholders then make decisions based on the feedback I receive. It’s this hands-on research technique that allows me to produce the best solution for the product.

What previous education/work experience helped hone your skills to get you where you are now?

I studied Graphic Communication at Norwich University of the Arts. Here I learned how to take an idea, nurture and develop it until it becomes the final solution. After this, I worked in a fast-paced agency environment to develop my skills and learn to work under pressure.

Have you picked up any new skills in your role?

I research and talk to people a lot more. When you work in an agency you are working on several different projects, finish these projects very quickly, and in most cases never see them again. Having a single product means I have to focus on a certain aspect of the solution and make my decisions based on data rather than what I think will be best.

What skill is most critical and why?

As well as researching, I also need to have a vision of what the overall design language should be. Making sure that I, and the rest of the business adhere to it.

Can you offer any advice to someone starting out?

When designing products you need to make informed decisions because ultimately the product needs to sell to new customers and retain its existing customers. Instead of thinking outside the box, try to think inside the right one. Meaning if you continually research and stay curious you can find the solution to the problem.

If you would like more information on the #MySkillsStory movement, check out City and Guilds. If you'd like to see if your skills are a good fit for the roles we have, check out the Epos Now career page.