Publication
Figma vs. Sketch vs. Axure: A Task-based Review
https://www.toptal.com/designers/ux/figma-vs-sketch
Ben is currently unavailable
Ben Kopf
Verified Expert in Design
Designer
Canton, GA, United States
Toptal member since June 6, 2018
Bio
Ben has 28 years of experience helping people interact with software in user experience (UX), interaction (IxD), user research (UXR), and user interface (UI) design. He is personable, team-oriented, a process improver, a passionate design tool explorer, and a design system fanatic. He is a champion for the people confused by the web and the software they have to use every day. Ben is a forward thinker, thinking about what can be, not what is.
Portfolio
Architectural Studio
Architectural Visualization3D Architecture3D ToolsConceptual DesignDesign CollaborationInterdisciplinary Collaboration+ 16 more
Experience
- User Experience (UX) - 20 years
- Wireframing - 20 years
- Conceptual Design - 20 years
- Mobile UX - 9 years
- Sketch 4 - 8 years
- Figma - 3 years
- Atomic Design - 3 years
- Design Systems - 3 years
Tools
- Sketch 4
Work Experience
Senior Information Architect
2018 - PRESENT
UPS Supply Chain Solutions
- Designed and updated legacy apps and updated the UPS.com consumer-facing website.
- Enhanced processes and making workflow improvements.
- Engaged in New Management Orientation as a supervisor.
- Created and edited complex wireframe Axure documents for consumption by stakeholders.
- Held design reviews with any and all participants from various disciplines that need to be involved.
Technologies: Jama, TFS, Jira, SharePoint, Microsoft Office, Axure
Senior User Experience Designer
2016 - 2018
ADP
- Served as sole UXD during startup of new payroll innovation group responsible for all design deliverables.
- Created interactive Axure prototypes for several features.
- Proposed and created Design System group for the division, leading meetings and creating first pattern library offerings.
- Taught innovation group about design systems and tools to create them.
- Helped redefine UX workflow process to integrated DS and further collaboration between UX and development.
Technologies: Google Apps, Slack, Microsoft Office, Proto.io, Figma, Axure, Sketch, Adobe CC
Founder & Designer
2009 - 2018
20Buttons
- Invented and designed 25 apps for iOS ranging from simple buzzer to complex audio soundboard apps.
- Managed time schedule, operations, marketing and development.
- Published twelve apps concurrently on Apple App store.
- Setup dedicated customer forum for all apps.
Technologies: Google Apps, Adobe Illustrator, Balsamiq Mockups
Senior User Experience Designer
2013 - 2016
Promethean
- Participated and led concept and ideation sessions for a brand new web-based version of existing IWB (interactive whiteboard) desktop app.
- Created wireframes and rough mockups to start the design iteration sessions with PO and development.
- Worked on all aspects of the app including connection UX, lesson builder, presenter and resource manager.
- Created versions of mockups for all form factors including web, IWB, tablet, proprietary tablets, and smart phones.
- Exclusive work on 3D activity development platform that used ActivTable hardware for younger students.
Technologies: Google Apps, Proto.io, UXPin, Adobe CC, Sketch, InVision
Senior Interaction Designer
2010 - 2013
IBM
- Created the concepts and layout that was used as the basis for the Knowledge Center search portal.
- Completed wireframes for entire Knowledge Center design step by step.
- Explained workflow and UX to stakeholders.
- Wrote final design specifications to help test and tweak as iterations as they evolved.
- Created concept, design, and prototype used for mobile app version of the portal.
Technologies: Lotus Notes, Microsoft Office, Adobe Illustrator, Balsamiq Mockups
Senior Interaction Designer
1997 - 2009
Autodesk
- Added to the team to provide fresh ideas and new approaches to the interaction model of the tools such as inventing a new method of interaction for the bezier line tools.
- Served as lead designer on the Actrix Business product version where I performed product management role to help define library contents and shapes for the new business domain.
- Created concepts and wireframes for key features, having full ownership of all deliverables including sketches, mockups, prototypes, and specifications.
- Helped the teams adjust workflow and design process to better fit the new Agile methodology at that time; this including workflow diagrams, process refinements, and leading team meetings.
- Instrumental in the design of Architectural Studio tool set, a first of it's kind set of Java tools that allowed sketching in two dimensions to be extruded to 3D models.
Technologies: Java, Microsoft Office, GUI Design Studio, Axure, Adobe Creative Suite
Other Experience
Education
1983 - 1984
Graduate in Basic, Cobol, JCL
Computer Learning Center - Somerville, MA, USA
1975 - 1981
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Speech-Communications - Advertising
Allegheny College - Meadville, PA, USA
Skills
Tools
Confluence, Axure RP Pro, Adobe CC, Microsoft Office, Trello, Sketch 4, Balsamiq Mockups, Apple Numbers, Apple Keynote, Apple Pages, Office 2016, UX Tools, Illustrator 2017, Adobe Illustrator, Illustrator CC, Adobe CS6, Adobe Experience Design (XD), Google Docs, InVision, Marvel App, Sketch 3, Balsamiq, Sketch, Adobe, Visio, Proto.io, Jira, GUI Design Studio, UXPin, Atomic.io, Kuler, Loop11, Usertesting.com, Flinto, Flinto Prototyping, InVision Studio, Affinity Designer, Autodesk, Photoshop 2018, Photoshop CC, OmniGraffle, Illustrator 2018, Adobe Photoshop, Indigo Studio Pro, Indigo.Design, Mockplus, MockFlow, Flow, Sketch Plugins, Adobe Creative Suite, Slack, TFS, Photoshop 2017, ClassFlow, Microsoft Outlook, Pencil & Paper, ProtoShare, Photoshop 7, Photoshop Design, CAD, CADD, Atlassian Suite, Rally, ProtoPie, Origami, Origami Studio, Framer Prototyping, Autodesk CAD/CAM, Google Analytics
Platforms
Figma, Dropbox, Adobe Suite, Axure, Android, Apple TV, Justinmind, iRise, Apple, Mobile, UserZoom, OS X, SharePoint, iOS, X (formerly Twitter), Mobile (Tablet), TouchDesigner, PC, Windows Desktop, Windows UI, Windows, Desktop, Joomla
Languages
HTML, CSS, Java, SAS, S
Industry Expertise
Music, Education Technology (Edtech), Education, Architecture
Other
Agile UX, Workflow Diagrams, User Journeys, User Journey Maps, Flow Diagrams, Web UX, Google Apps, UX Architecture, iOS UI Design, iOS UX Design, Ideation, UX Audits, Tablet UI, Mobile Web, Web App UX, Agile, Usability Testing, Mockups, Interaction Design (IxD), Mobile Mockups, Pattern Libraries, UX Pattern Design, Design Systems, User Experience (UX), Wireframing, Conceptual Design, Atomic Design, iPhone, iPad, Google Material Design, FontAwesome, Iconography, Icon Fonts, ADP, UX Prototyping, Prototyping, Journey Mapping, Concept Sketching, Design Specifications, Touch Interactions, Interactive UX, Microinteraction Design, Responsive UX Design, Responsive Layout, Responsive Design, Creative Thinking, User-centered Design (UCD), Mobile Thinking, Agile Sprints, Agile Software Development, Mobile UI, Web UI, Web Page Mockups, Low-fidelity Mockups, High-fidelity Mockups, Flowcharts, UX Flows, User Flows, Office 365, Concepting, Conceptualization, Modular Design, Design, Menu Design, Icon Design, UX Thinking, Design Thinking, Mobile UX, Design Reviews, Lean UX, Audio, Tablet UX, UI Animation, Component Libraries, Microinteractions, Material UI, Google Fonts, Typography, Google, Adobe UX, Usability, UX Research, UI Research, User Groups, Concept Maps, Visual Identity, Ideation Workshops, Functional Specifications, UI Specifications, UX Specifications, Requirements & Specifications, UI Components, Location Services, Responsive, Responsive UI, Adaptive Design, Scrum, Remote Usability Testing, UserVoice, Presentations, Competitor Analysis & Profiling, Agile Project Management, Diagrams, Task Flows, Conversational UI, Chatbots, Voice Chat, Augmented Reality (AR), Branding, Windows 10, Jama, App UI, Sound Design, Tablet Design, Sound, App Store, Apps, Flat Design, Blueprint, UI Blueprints, Human-computer Interaction (HCI), Touch Design, Contextual Help, Online Help, Audio Engineering, Tablets & Smartphones, Web Applications, Responsive Frameworks, Educational Portals, Educational Platform Design, Educational Games, Education Management Systems, K-12 Education, Educational Videos, Teaching, UX Mentoring, Team Mentoring, Whiteboarding, Interactive UI, Interactive Design, Mobile UI Design, Digital Kiosks, Smart TV, Desktop App Design, Big Data, Technology Trends, Smart Home Technology, Wearable Technology, Location-aware Technology, Near-field Communication (NFC), Beacon, Design Collaboration, Video Conferencing, Mobile UX Design, Portal Design, Big Data Architecture, Data Visualization, Wireframe to Product, Lotus Notes, Outlook, Pencil Sketches, Pencil Drawing, UX Testing, Search, Faceted Search, Online Searching, Web Search, SEO Tools, Design Research, Workflow, Remote Work, Remote User Testing, Search Engine Submissions, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Databases, Taxonomy, UX Design, Architectural Visualization, 3D Architecture, 3D Tools, Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Sketching, Drawing, Hardware, Hardware/Software Interaction, Digital Solutions, Design Tools, Desktop Web Design, DWG File Format, Database Applications, UX Review, Process Mapping, UX Process, Time Management, 2D to 3D, 2D Drafting, GUI Design, Graphical User Interface (GUI), UI Prototyping, UI Pattern Library, Visual Design, Web Components, UI Patterns, Motion Design, Animation, Color Palettes, Natural Language Understanding (NLU), Natural Language Processing (NLP), Conversational UX, WCAG 2, HTML UI, Hype, Responsive Web Design (RWD), 3D CAD, 3D Design, React, Audio Recording, Drupal Design, AngularUI, Bootstrap, Generative Pre-trained Transformers (GPT)
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