Product Designer at Appzone Limited

AppZone is a response to the growing need in emerging markets for financial services accessibility to the masses. The company was formed with a genuine belief in Africa’s latent ability to support the home grown production and delivery of world class IT Software for the enhancement of key sectors of the budding economy. AppZone started off primarily as a developer of custom e-Banking and payment software for leading commercial Banks in Nigeria. In less than 3 years, AppZone had accumulated a remarkable asset-base of e-payment software products and intellectual property. In a bid to extend existing payment solutions to smaller scale Financial institutions, AppZone observed the absolute dearth of basic IT infrastructure and commenced a 2 year project to develop a world class yet affordable core Banking platform for Microfinance Banks (MFBs) and other small scale retail financial institutions. The culmination of this project saw AppZone in full ownership of an entire integrated suite of IT infrastructure required for the effective functioning of any modern retail Bank. Today AppZone has consolidated these platforms into a shared and entirely managed Banking and payment automation IT infrastructure under the brand BankOne. AppZone was incorporated in July 2006 as Price and Networks Limited and commenced full operations in June 2008 with a knife edged focus on creating a world class organization and defacto provider of IT software for the financial services industry. The young, dynamic and driven co-founders of AppZone decided to bring together their wealth of technical, administrative and entrepreneurial experience as well as key leadership competences to create a winning team comprising the best in brains and character. The end point being to transform the financial services industry in Africa and emerging markets around the globe thereby creating immense value for the respective economies and facilitating their overall growth and development.

• Develop and iterate on design solutions for web and mobile applications, ensuring a seamless and engaging user experience.
• Create wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups to effectively communicate design concepts and solutions.
• Design comprehensive user interfaces and interactions, considering usability and accessibility principles.
• Translate complex problems into simple, elegant interfaces that meet business goals and user needs.
• Develop and maintain design specifications, style guides, and assets to ensure design consistency.
• Create detailed design documentation, including sketches, prototypes, and specifications to facilitate the product development process.
• Conduct user research, usability testing, and gather feedback to inform design decisions and iterate on existing products.
• Analyze research data to identify user needs, pain points, and opportunities for improvement.
• Stay up-to-date with industry trends and best practices to ensure products are competitive and meet user expectations.
• Conduct user interviews, surveys, and usability testing to gather insights and validate design decisions.
• Utilize data and metrics to measure the effectiveness of design solutions and iterate based on user feedback.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams, including lead product designer, product managers, software engineers, marketing, and other relevant stakeholders to bring designs to life and ensure seamless integration.
• Collaborate with product managers to define product requirements and ensure designs align with business goals.
• Communicate design concepts and rationale effectively to stakeholders, including executives and product managers.
• Participate in design reviews and meetings to ensure design integrity and alignment with business objectives.
• Mentor and guide junior designers, fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Establish and maintain design systems and guidelines to ensure consistency and quality across all products.
• Develop and maintain a robust design system that promotes efficiency and scalability.
• Contribute to and maintain design standards and best practices, ensuring design consistency across products.
• Ensure design consistency across all product aspects, including branding, graphics, and user interface.
• Utilize design tools and software to create and maintain design systems and assets.

Requirements

• BA/BSc in Creative Arts, Social Sciences, or other related discipline.   
• 3+ years of experience in product design, with a strong portfolio showcasing successful design projects and solutions.
• Proficiency in design tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, and prototyping tools.
• Strong understanding of user-centered design principles, methodologies, and best practices.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate design concepts and rationale to stakeholders.
• Familiarity with front-end development technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and design systems.
• Experience working in agile environments and collaborating with cross-functional teams.
• Proven track record of leading design projects and mentoring junior designers.

Method of Application