Michael Balfour

I am a UX Designer and Researcher with 3 years of experience working on projects from mental health to e-commerce. My background in computer science allows me to do pretty much anything you need! My communication skills are second to none as understanding you means a better product!

I have worked under a variety of different titles over the last 3 years but UX is where I really stand out! Here is an example of my achievements.

• Currently redesigning and branding the Swappable Mobile App and web page to introduce responsive design.
• Built a research repository in Notion and contributed to the in-house knowledgebase by conducting, documenting and presenting research to stakeholders using mixed-method approaches.
• Proposed and designed new app features based on research conducted and insights gathered.
• Developing the company’s landing page in Webflow and designing custom interactions in HTML & CSS
• Designed and deployed a location-based search function in Dart that updates in real-time with mobile barbers.
• Worked closely with stakeholders to fit project requirements.
• Created a modern, sleek and consistent design system that led to a full-time contract.

My Masters Degree covered topics such as data science, information architecture, algorithm design, IoT, Security and Network topology, Game design/ engineering, Human-Computer Interaction, Full Stack Development, mobile app development and deployment, continuous integration, microservices architecture, big data, and agile methodologies. Practising these concepts within a multidisciplinary team where communication and accountability are key.

• Achieved a 2:1 overall (1st in HCI module) 
• Designed and led a research project on affordances in software to improve sector-specific skills.
• Designed and implemented the front of a student banking app and optimized for developer hand-off.