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James Babarinde
Verified Expert in Design
Designer
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Toptal member since November 23, 2020
Bio
James is an enterprise designer who creates accessible design systems that scale across web and mobile platforms. He has intimate knowledge of mobile patterns, semantics, and accessible behaviors. James is proficient in design software, notably Figma and Adobe Design Suite, with a complementary front-end understanding.
Experience
- Mobile App Design - 10 years
- Design Systems - 10 years
- Product Design - 10 years
- Mobile App UI - 10 years
- Cross-platform - 10 years
- UI Components - 8 years
- Accessibility - 8 years
- Mobile - 7 years
Portfolio
Branding and Web Design for a SaaS Startup
UI BrandingProduct BrandingIllustrationUser Interface (UI)User Experience (UX)Product Marketing+ 19 more
Work Experience
Senior Product Designer
2021 - PRESENT
Microsoft
- Built and maintained Figma design system architecture using variables and semantics.
- Utilized large-scale analysis of telemetry to identify and resolve customer pain points, resulting in improved user satisfaction and engagement and net promoter score.
- Designed processes and workflows to enable engineers and designers to collaborate more efficiently.
- Established foundational system standards for emerging platforms, including the day-one launch of Teams on Apple Vision Pro, later adopted across Microsoft products.
- Drove design system strategies for Microsoft Teams across platforms and AI-driven experiences, enabling consistent, scalable product delivery across features.
- Architected AI-powered development skills that dynamically upgraded Microsoft Teams mobile (iOS & Android) to improve accessibility at scale and achieve a B-grade usability rating.
Technologies: Figma, Mobile UI Design, Tablet Design, Semantic UI, Typography, UX Design, Design Systems, Interactive Design, System Design, Mobile App UI, Accessible Design, Mobile App Design, Mobile UI, iOS, Enterprise SaaS, SaaS, Social, User Interface (UI), Visual Design, Interaction Design (IxD), Responsive Web Design (RWD), Tablet UI, Web UX, Scheduling, UX Tools, User Interface Engineering (UIE), UX Engineering, UX Branding, Mobile, Mobile Apps, iOS UX Design, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI), Social Networks, User Research, User Journeys, User Interviews, Cross-platform, Education, UI Design, High-fidelity Prototypes, High-fidelity Mockups, Low-fidelity Prototypes, UX Wireframes, A/B Testing, Design Leadership, Mobile Design, Adobe CC, User Flows
Lead Product Designer
2020 - 2022
SparklesNFT
- Designed a mint website for the 10K NFT project, which sold out in the first few hours.
- Launched a marketplace web app that became the largest NFT marketplace on the Flare network.
- Acquired partnerships through product presentations.
- Built an atomic design system for web and mobile to govern product design.
- Designed end-to-end user journeys for NFT trading experiences across the marketplace, including purchasing, listing, selling, and data analytics.
Technologies: Blockchain, Non-fungible Tokens (NFT), Marketplaces, Finance, DApps, UX Design, Design Systems, Figma, Interactive Design, System Design, Web UI, Accessible Design, Mobile App Design, Mobile UI, Responsive Design, User Interface (UI), Visual Design, Interaction Design (IxD), Responsive Web Design (RWD), Tablet UI, Marketing Design, Web UX, Scheduling, UX Tools, User Interface Engineering (UIE), UX Engineering, UX Branding, Mobile, Mobile Apps, Marketplace Design, Web UX Design, User Research, Cross-platform, UI Design, High-fidelity Prototypes, High-fidelity Mockups, Low-fidelity Prototypes, UX Wireframes, A/B Testing, Design Leadership, Mobile Design, Adobe CC, User Flows
Design Systems Lead | Mobile Lead
2019 - 2021
Achievers Solutions Inc.
- Increased SaaS sales by delivering mobile solutions with rich UX driven by customer feedback and data.
- Maintained a user-focused design framework with continuous user testing, research, and validation that led to an incremental increase in engagement.
- Enabled product features to ship faster by implementing and maintaining a design system to streamline the UI design and development process.
- Developed the accessibility statements and reports to win multiple enterprise customer accounts.
- Minimized the development costs by maximizing dollar value for the reusable components across all products.
- Implemented the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 for all web and mobile product offerings to meet global legislation requirements.
- Created an illustration library to promote brand identity while reflecting D&I within a SaaS product and marketing collateral.
- Acted as a D&I speaker at a company-wide event to share perspectives and considerations from minority groups within companies.
Technologies: Icon Design, Prototyping, Product Branding, Journey Mapping, Branding, Vector Design, Mobile Apps, Employee Engagement, App UI, Mobile, System Design, Atomic Design, UX Research, eCommerce, Material Design, Vector Art, HTML5, Research Analysis, Interactive Design, UI Motion, UI Design, Product Design, Design Systems, CSS, Adobe Creative Suite, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Experience Design (XD), Figma, Component Libraries, Design Guidelines, Mobile UX Design, Mobile UX, iOS UI Design, Mobile UI Design, Tablet Design, Semantic UI, Typography, UX Design, Mobile App UI, Accessible Design, Mobile App Design, Mobile UI, iOS, Responsive Design, Web UI, Enterprise SaaS, SaaS, Social, User Interface (UI), Visual Design, Interaction Design (IxD), Responsive Web Design (RWD), Tablet UI, Marketing Design, Web UX, UX Tools, User Interface Engineering (UIE), UX Engineering, UX Branding, iOS UX Design, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI), Marketplace Design, Web UX Design, Social Networks, User Research, User Journeys, User Interviews, Cross-platform, High-fidelity Prototypes, High-fidelity Mockups, Low-fidelity Prototypes, UX Wireframes, A/B Testing, Design Leadership, Mobile Design, Adobe CC, User Flows
Brand and Multimedia Consultant
2019 - 2020
BlueCat Networks
- Designed a white paper for web and print with custom illustrations and data visualization.
- Created a Motion Graphics template for several educational videos.
- Designed a brand template for specialty items to welcome new partnerships.
- Created a brand template for the datasheets prospects and customers.
Technologies: Prototyping, Product Branding, Journey Mapping, Branding, Vector Design, System Design, Atomic Design, UX Research, Vector Art, Research Analysis, UI Motion, Product Design, Design Systems, Illustration, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Creative Suite, Component Libraries, Design Guidelines, Adobe CC
Augmented Reality UX Consultant
2018 - 2019
IBM
- Managed a multidisciplinary team of two designers, three developers, and two 3D artists while consulting with IBM's global design team to create an Android and iOS application for the annual IBM Innovation Forum.
- Increased attendee engagement and event sign-up count by over 300% YoY due to a successful augmented reality integration.
- Exceeded the conversion targets from key sponsors, stakeholders, and IBM brand owners.
Technologies: Prototyping, Product Branding, Journey Mapping, Branding, Vector Design, Mobile Apps, Employee Engagement, App UI, Mobile, System Design, UX Research, Vector Art, HTML5, Research Analysis, Interactive Design, UI Motion, UI Design, Product Design, Design Systems, Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Component Libraries, Design Guidelines, Mobile UX Design, Mobile UX, iOS UI Design, Mobile UI Design, Tablet Design, Semantic UI, Typography, UX Design, Accessible Design, UX Tools, UX Engineering, UX Branding, iOS UX Design, User Journeys, Cross-platform, UX Wireframes, Design Leadership, Mobile Design, Adobe CC, User Flows
UX, Visual, and Motion Consultant
2018 - 2019
Intuit, Ltd.
- Increased customer conversation with the strategic microsites to engage top-of-funnel customers via special offerings and partnership programs with large user-based companies, governments, and major banks.
- Exceeded the ROI targets by expanding the in-house capabilities of Google DoubleClick and Google Web Designer to create and maintain interactive web content.
- Implemented a data-driven UX with Optimizely analytics to enhance targeted product areas and web experiences for QuickBooks.
- Facilitated the user testing sessions with accountants and bookkeepers to gather qualitative feedback for improving sales tax reporting.
- Facilitated new technology learning and implementation between designers and engineers.
- Acted as a D&I committee member and launched several successful campaigns by designing promotional videos and graphics.
Technologies: Prototyping, Product Branding, Journey Mapping, Fintech, Branding, Vector Design, Mobile Apps, Employee Engagement, App UI, Mobile, System Design, Atomic Design, UX Research, eCommerce, Material Design, CSS, Vector Art, HTML5, Research Analysis, Interactive Design, UI Motion, UI Design, Product Design, Design Systems, Adobe Experience Design (XD), Adobe After Effects, Adobe Creative Suite, Component Libraries, Design Guidelines, Mobile UX Design, Mobile UX, iOS UI Design, Mobile UI Design, Tablet Design, Semantic UI, Typography, Figma, Web UI, Accessible Design, Mobile App Design, Mobile UI, iOS, Responsive Design, Enterprise SaaS, SaaS, User Interface (UI), Visual Design, Interaction Design (IxD), Responsive Web Design (RWD), Tablet UI, Marketing Design, Web UX, Scheduling, UX Branding, iOS UX Design, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI), Web UX Design, User Research, User Interviews, Cross-platform, High-fidelity Mockups, UX Wireframes, Mobile Design, Adobe CC, User Flows
Multimedia Design Consultant
2017 - 2018
Cineplex
- Maximized sales through motion campaigns for core clients, including Disney and Warner Brothers.
- Led the creative animation for a new brand launch at multiple Cineplex locations.
- Made contributions as a designer to the Registered Graphic Designers, a publication for outstanding design.
- Designed several web and print campaigns for box office film releases.
Technologies: Prototyping, Product Branding, Journey Mapping, Branding, Vector Design, System Design, CSS, Vector Art, HTML5, UI Motion, UI Design, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Creative Suite, Marketing Design, Adobe CC
Product Design Consultant
2016 - 2017
York University
- Constructed a full end-to-end journey for web and mobile experience based on iterative research and testing.
- Developed the brand guidelines and UI elements, such as icons and graphics for the holistic product integration.
- Built the wireframes, low-fidelity, and high-fidelity mockups for the development team using Sketch and InVision.
- Collaborated with the resource management team to design a user-friendly content management interface.
Technologies: Icon Design, Prototyping, Product Branding, Journey Mapping, Branding, Vector Design, Mobile Apps, App UI, Mobile, System Design, Atomic Design, UX Research, Research Analysis, Interactive Design, UI Motion, UI Design, Product Design, Design Systems, Adobe Creative Suite, iOS UI Design, Mobile UX Design, Tablet Design, Mobile UI Design, Semantic UI, Typography, UX Design, Higher Education, Marketing Design, Scheduling, UX Tools, Colleges & Universities, Student Engagement, UX Branding, Education, iOS UX Design, Cross-platform, UX Wireframes, Low-fidelity Prototypes, A/B Testing, Design Leadership, Adobe CC, User Flows
Visual Designer and UX Designer
2015 - 2016
IBM
- Developed different assets to support UX researchers and UI redesign efforts.
- Developed and presented interactive prototypes for new R&D initiatives.
- Created web and print marketing artifacts for all IBM Canada events, such as CASCON or ECF.
- Collaborated with product owners to design user flows and E2E journeys for web tools.
Technologies: Prototyping, Product Branding, Journey Mapping, Branding, Vector Design, Mobile Apps, App UI, Mobile, System Design, Atomic Design, UX Research, CSS, Vector Art, HTML5, Research Analysis, Interactive Design, UI Motion, UI Design, Product Design, Design Systems, Adobe Creative Suite, Component Libraries, Mobile UI Design, Tablet Design, UX Design, Accessible Design, Responsive Design, Enterprise SaaS, SaaS, Mobile UI, User Interface (UI), Visual Design, Interaction Design (IxD), Tablet UI, Marketing Design, Web UX, UX Branding, Web UX Design, Cross-platform, Adobe CC, User Flows
Education
2012 - 2016
Bachelor's Degree in Design and Illustration
Sheridan College - Toronto, Ontario
2010 - 2012
Associate Degree in Visual and Creative Design
Sheridan College - Toronto, Ontario
Certifications
JULY 2017 - PRESENT
Adobe Design Achievement Awards 2017 Semifinalist
AdobeEDU
Skills
Tools
Adobe Creative Suite, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Experience Design (XD), UX Tools, Adobe CC
Platforms
Figma, Mobile, iOS, Android
Languages
HTML5, CSS
Industry Expertise
Education, Human Resources (HR), Marketing
Other
UI Design, UX Design, Illustration, Product Design, Interactive Design, Vector Art, Design Systems, UX Research, Atomic Design, System Design, UI Motion, App UI, Mobile Apps, Vector Design, Branding, Product Branding, Journey Mapping, Token Design, UI Components, Web Design, Web UI, UX Engineering, User Interface Engineering (UIE), Prototyping, Icon Design, Enterprise SaaS, SaaS Design, Web App UX, Web App UI, Mobile App UI, Accessible Design, User Experience (UX), Mobile App Design, Mobile UI, User Interface (UI), Visual Design, Interaction Design (IxD), Mobile Design, UX Branding, Visual Art, Responsive Web Apps, Web App Design, Responsive Web Design (RWD), Wireframing, App Design, iOS App Design, Responsive Design, Web UI Design, B2B, Interactive UX, Component Libraries, Design Guidelines, iOS UI Design, Tablet UI, Tablet Design, Mobile UI Design, Semantic UI, Typography, Marketing Design, Web UX, iOS UX Design, Web UX Design, Social Networks, User Research, User Journeys, User Interviews, Cross-platform, Service Design, Message UI, High-fidelity Prototypes, High-fidelity Mockups, Low-fidelity Prototypes, UX Wireframes, A/B Testing, Design Leadership, User Flows, Research Analysis, Employee Engagement, Fintech, Web Accessibility, WCAG 2, AA Compliance, Accessibility, Social, Marketplaces, Blockchain, Non-fungible Tokens (NFT), Finance, Marketplace Design, Material Design, eCommerce, UI Branding, UI Pattern Library, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI), Marketing Images, Localization, HR Tools, Reporting, Data Reporting, Product Marketing, Startups, High-tech Startups, Higher Education, Student Engagement, Scheduling, Colleges & Universities, SaaS, Mobile UX, Mobile UX Design, DApps, Customer Feedback, spacial design, VisionOS
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