Frauke Seewald

User Research Designer

Vancouver, BC, Canada

Member since September 29, 2015

Frauke is a senior UX designer with a background in psychology and a focus on user research (understanding the target group, their needs, and current behavior), information architecture (structuring content and processes), and interactive wireframes. She is a strong team player and has a very organized work style.

User Research Usability Testing User Personas Wireframing UX Design Axure RP Pro Sketch Information Architecture (IA)UX Strategy Adobe Photoshop Adobe Illustrator Adobe InDesign Show more

Frauke is now available for hire

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Portfolio

Lululemon | Redesign
- eCommerce
- Wireframing
- Agile UX
- UX Design
- Responsive Design
- Mobile First
eHealth Startup
- Design Thinking
- UX Strategy
- E-health
- Low-fidelity Prototypes
- Agile UX
- UX Design
- Wireframing
- Sketching
- User Research
- Observation
- Interviews
- User Journey Maps
- Usability Testing
eFinance | Design Thinking
- Design Thinking
- User Research
- User Journey Maps
- Agile UX
- Stakeholder Interviews
- Workshop Facilitation
- Banking & Finance
- UX Design
TELUS | Responsive Design Campaign
- Telecommunications
- Usability Testing
- Wireframing
- Agile UX
- Interactive Design
- Sketching
- Responsive UX Design
- Online Marketing
- UX Design
Sequenched (Yoga Class Builder) | Concept and Visual Design
- Startups
- Fitness
- UI Design
- Wireframing
- Interactive UX
- Content Strategy
- User Research
- Responsive UX Design
- UX Design
- Mobile First
Hajk (eCommerce) | Redesign and Rebranding
- eCommerce
- Travel & Leisure
- Wireframing
- Content Strategy
- Information Design
- Card Sorting
- Usability Testing
- Competitor Analysis & Profiling
- UX Workshops
- Sketching
- Design Thinking
Coop | Redesign and Content Strategy
- eCommerce
- UX Design
- Wireframing
- Information Architecture (IA)
- Content Strategy
- Checkout
- Responsive Design
- Mobile First
- Style Guides
Pearson College | Responsive Design and Content Strategy
AUMA (eGovernment) | IA, Content Strategy, and Redesign

Employment

Freelance UX Designer/Consultant
2013 - PRESENT
Self-employed
- Helped the launch of a startup (fitness/yoga application) through user research, UX design, and visual design for the responsive online application.
- Shaped the strategy of one of Canada's largest tourist marketing associations through user research and UX design.
- Increased revenue for multiple eCommerce platforms through user research and UX strategy (improved check-out flows, improved findability of products through the navigation and filter concepts, improved product presentation).
- Increased the membership number of a sports association through heuristic evaluation and UX improvements (improved content strategy and information architecture).
- Reduced internal operation costs of a large data center organization with a concept for merging multiple managing systems and improving the UX and interface.
- Shaped the design strategy of one of North America's largest retailers through usability tests and improvement tactics.
- Improved the internal management system of a large financial institution through UX strategy, wireframes, and user research.
- Taught UX at Brainstation.
- Supported and mentored startups in India with a social entrepreneurship approach. Taught design principles and design thinking.
Technologies: Axure, Photoshop, Sketch
UX Architect
2014 - 2014
FCV
- Redesigned a large government portal and improved the user experience through a content audit, card sorting, renewed information architecture, and content strategy.
- Increased the revenue of a large travel booking platform through user research and UX design.
- Made UX improvements with continuous iterations for one of Canada's largest tourism platforms. Increased customer reach through responsive design and a mobile-first approach.
- Built and managed a style guide in Axure for interaction elements for internal use that increased the work efficiency of our team.
- Mentored junior UX designers.
Technologies: Axure, Photoshop, Xmind, Visio
UX Designer
2011 - 2013
Unic AG (Switzerland)
- Led the UX for the redesign project for one of Switzerland's largest insurance companies. Increased revenue and supported the marketing for new products.
- Led the UX for the redesign of a large educational platform (design university) with a focus on content strategy, information architecture, and interface design.
- Increased revenue through new customer reach by redesigning a platform for a big financial player (including responsive design).
- Designed and structured an intranet for one of Switzerland's largest public organizations (public transport) with a focus on information architecture and content sharing.
- Conducted in-house training on user research methods.
- Managed and led usability testing from beginning to end.
Technologies: Axure, Photoshop, Illustrator
UX Consultant
2010 - 2011
Crealogix (Switzerland)
- Mentored UX for human-centered design at an IT university in Switzerland.
- Designed a mobile application for e-learning (internal usage in a banking company).
- Redesigned a pharmaceutical interface to control test machines.
- Designed a banking system for SMEs.
- Designed a mobile e-learning platform for one of Switzerland's largest banks.
Technologies: Axure, Balsamiq, Photoshop
Interaction Designer
2010 - 2010
Telus
- Conducted usability testing.
- Redesigned the eCommerce platform.
- Redesigned the online forms.
- Redesigned the shopping cart experience for customers.
- Reworked the internal testing process.
Technologies: Visio, Omnigraffle
Interaction Designer
2009 - 2010
Central 1, Credit Union
- Redesigned an online banking system.
- Led the usability testing.
- Redesigned the internal testing processes.
- Designed a mobile application for e-banking.
- Redesigned an intranet.
Technologies: Visio, Omnigraffle
Usability Consultant
2005 - 2008
Swisscom
- Conducted usability testing.
- Conducted user research (focus groups, diary studies, interviews).
- Designed a multimedia device.
- Designed a set-top box and interface design for a TV service.
- Redesigned the telecommunication service process (service design).
Technologies: PowerPoint, Visio, Omnigraffle, Photoshop

Other Experience

The Value of User Research (Publication)
https://www.toptal.com/designers/user-research/the-value-of-ux-user-research
UX designers must understand the needs and goals of potential users, their tasks, and context of use. User research will shape and define the guidelines for creating a product with great user experience.
Wireframe Mapping: How to Avoid Scope Creep (Publication)
https://www.toptal.com/designers/wireframing/wireframe-mapping-to-avoid-scope-creep
A wireframe map is handy as a tool for estimating work at the start of a project and as a checklist to keep you on track throughout the design process.
Toptal Mentor
Frauke is a mentor in the Toptal Global Mentor’s Program. This program is a partnership between Toptal and General Assembly to provide high quality mentorship for students from minority and low income backgrounds who are looking to begin their careers as professional designers. Frauke shows commitment to diversity in tech by mentoring a General Assembly student every week for a year, covering everything from design tips and tricks to advice on making it in the industry.

Education

Consultant's certificate in Usability
2007 - 2008
TU Berlin - Berlin
Diploma (Master's equiv.) in Psychology - Human-Computer-Interaction
2001 - 2004
TU Darmstadt - Darmstadt, Germany
Bachelor's degree in Psychology
1999 - 2001
University Halle - Halle, Germany

Certifications

Usability Consultant
MARCH 2008 - PRESENT
Berlin TU/Artop
Adult Workshop Facilitation
SEPTEMBER 2005 - PRESENT
TU Darmstadt

Experience

Usability Testing14 years
User Research14 years
Information Architecture (IA)13 years
UX Design12 years
Wireframing12 years
Competitor Analysis & Profiling12 years
Content Strategy10 years
Design Thinking10 years