Blake Lough Email & Phone Number

New Zealand

New Zealand

"Design Integration Coaches are private sector practitioners with expertise in design and business.Their role within the Design Integration programme is to coach and mentor the CEO and their team, transfer knowledge and skills, and encourage the company to take on more complex challenges as their design confidence grows and they build capability."In other words I get to work with some very cool and clever people to help New Zealand businesses shine on the global stage.

Helped the Internet Banking team shape the research and design approach with two key strategic initiatives. Lots of fun and a great bunch of people to work with.

Part of the team at New Zealand’s largest usability consultancy. My role changed in the last two years to a much wider brief where as a Project Lead I was responsible for overseeing user research programmes and then working directly with an interaction designer to ensure findings were translated into design.Worked on usability projects for large corporates and government departments, including Project Lead for clients such as Air New Zealand, Sovereign, The Warehouse, New Zealand Herald, Navman, ASB, Pago, Yellow Pages, Telecom and Vodafone.Projects have focussed predominantly on website technologies but also include out-of-the-box experiences (eg. Xtra broadband installation), contact centre applications (eg. Air New Zealand flight reservations system), IVR (eg. Telecom), kiosks (eg. Air New Zealand kiosk check-in) and console/touchscreen interfaces (eg. In-flight Entertainment) and physical environment (eg. Air New Zealand long haul and seating experience).Trainer for the Common Usability Issues 1-day workshops. Have also conducted presentations on the topic of usability and user experience to the likes of the Marketing Association and Telecom.Have had input into operational aspects of the business including business andmarketing planning, recruitment, branding, proposal writing and sales.

* Campaigned for and won key AUT management support and funding to establish a fully equipped usability consultancy and research centre.* Performed business analysis and strategic planning.* Designed lab branding and organisational identity.* Part of a team that led the establishment of the Auckland Branch of the Usability Professionals Association NZ.

Graduate Diploma

Bsc