Lauren Young

Experience

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  NORTHERN PRINT STUDIO LIMITED

  Sept 2009 - May 2010

  Studio Assistant

  I supported this highly-regarded creative studio with their marketing, communications and digital strategy. I was responsible for maintaining the gallery website, promotional materials, developing an online community of studio members and supporters, and supporting events such as 'The Late Shows'.

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  LIVING NORTH LIMITED

  Feb 2011 - May 2014

  Website Manager, Digital Designer

  Working within a well-respected magazine and events organisation. I lead the introduction of email marketing, social media and redesign of Living North's website, alongside my responsibilities as a graphic and digital designer. The role saw me:• Bring the production of email marketing in house. I designed, built, and reported on emails. • Work within a team of designers to produce monthly lifestyle-magazine 'Living North', advertising features, and supplements. Working across the Adobe Creative Suite. • Produce contract print publications for clients including Travel Bureau, New Writing North and BALTIC. • Lead a team behind the redesign of Living North’s website, alongside creative agency 'WonderStuff'. The journey allowed us to profile an audience, categorise content, and challenge assumptions about the readership as we took the project from wireframes and prototypes to final product. Subsequently, I took the role of Website Manager, responsible for the execution of a daily content schedule; designing and building pages, and creating digital assets.• Manage and deliver Living North’s social media. From planning, writing, designing and scheduling content, to using feedback to better inform a typically static brand into a dynamic, responsive business with a better understanding of their audience. Show less

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  Sage

  May 2014 - Jan 2023

  I helped to define what the user sees and how they interact with digital products and services as part of Sage’s Experience Design Team. As a team, we engaged with customers to understand their needs, considered how the user interface works, how the user interface looks, and then validated design with usability testing.You might know this as ‘User Research’, ‘Interaction Design’ and ‘Visual Design’. These disciplines cover the process of recruiting participants, capturing their needs, analysing findings and making recommendations; producing user journeys and storyboards for applications and features; defining information architecture and wireframes, and the production of attractive designs with icons, text, images, which are functional, beautiful, and accessible. Show less I was responsible for implementing and optimising a world class web experience for Sage customers. The role allowed me to:• Build, maintain, and enhance webpages and applications across Sitecore, Drupal and Wordpress platforms. Working in HTML and CSS.• Utilise Sage's design language system to craft a consistent and cohesive experience for visitors.• Work industry standard frameworks and libraries, including Bootstrap and JQuery.• Use quantitative tools, including Optimizely and Google Analytics, alongside deeper qualitative research to test hypothesis, benchmark results and ultimately improve user experience.• Refine solutions and advance prototypes based on user insight and feedback. From usability testing to the implementation of live intercepts, I worked with WhatUsersDo and HotJar surveys and to make informed, objective decisions. Show less I enjoyed working with the distinguished Sage brand to develop and execute tactical communications across digital media. The role allowed to me:• Support the planning and creation of marketing collateral across digital publications, including search advertising, email and web content.• Conduct competitor analysis.• Build relationships with end-users and business partners to better understand audience expectations and motivations. Create rich customer profiles based on rich insight and understanding.• Research, measure and benchmark marketing campaigns, providing the team with stronger analysis and a deeper understanding of customer needs, behaviours and attitudes for future activities.• Share best practice with internal stakeholders across the organisation to drive stronger analytical decision making for improved performance.• Champion the Sage brand, ensuring that tone of voice and visual identity are aligned with guidelines. Show less

  • UX Designer

    Jul 2021 - Jan 2023

  • Frontend Developer

    Nov 2020 - Jul 2021

  • Associate Software Engineer

    Sept 2017 - Nov 2020

  • Web Specialist

    Jan 2016 - Sept 2017

  • Digital Executive

    May 2014 - Jan 2016
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  Green Smoke Studio

  Jun 2018 - now

  Design Studio Owner

  I run considerate creative studio for print, digital and user experience (UX) design. Whether improving the interface of a small business website, or working with a bride on wedding stationery, I set out to produce great design and great experiences. In the process, I pay attention to the choices I make; from the recycled paper I print on, to the beans I use in my brew, and the accessibility of my output. I design, discuss, craft and create in a way that looks good, and does good. Find me at www.greensmokestudio.com Show less