Burcu Avcı
Senior UX and Usability Expert | Product-Service-Brand-Experience-Journey Designer | Design Researcher | Design Strategist
Senior UX and Usability Expert | Product-Service-Brand-Experience-Journey Designer | Design Researcher | Design Strategist
I am an experience ecosystem designer, design strategist, design researcher and design mentor with T-shaped skills. I love co-creating end-to-end experiences, journeys, touchpoints through creative alignment of human(/-ity) needs and business/organization strategies.
For the next chapter, I am enthusiastic about (and devoted to) well-being and creating impact.
WORK EXPERIENCE
U-Sentric
Senior UX and Usability Expert
Senior UX and Usability Expert
Worked on design research and usability projects for the European Commission to improve digital citizen experiences.
Responsibilities:
- Planning, preparing and conducting usability tests on the European Commission website (mobile and desktop use).
- Writing usability reports.
- Providing visual UX/UI solution recommendations.
- Testing different websites of the European Union DG's (both live site and prototypes) to improve;
- Internet architecture (IA), navigation, visual design and content strategy.
- Reported user feedback for the revamped design system with Drupal 8 component libraries and content types.
- Gathered qualitative insights on user needs, pain points.
- Gathered quantitative KPI's, task success rates and SUS scores.
Responsibilities:
- Planning, preparing and conducting usability tests on the European Commission website (mobile and desktop use).
- Writing usability reports.
- Providing visual UX/UI solution recommendations.
- Testing different websites of the European Union DG's (both live site and prototypes) to improve;
- Internet architecture (IA), navigation, visual design and content strategy.
- Reported user feedback for the revamped design system with Drupal 8 component libraries and content types.
- Gathered qualitative insights on user needs, pain points.
- Gathered quantitative KPI's, task success rates and SUS scores.
September 2019 - May 2020, Leuven, Belgium
Software Test Engineer (/Functional Analyst)
Worked in quality assurance sector to improve my technical literacy on the back-end of digital products, product requirements and specifications, and agile software development process.
Responsibilities:
- Tested digital TV platforms of operators such as Telenet, VOO, Unitymedia, Vodafone by using ISTQB methods.
- Took part in (manual/automated) acceptance and regression test cycles.
- Tested VOD portals, CAM modules of Digital TV's and set-top boxes.
- Carried out functional and non-functional testing on multiple components (EPG, middleware, WPS, backchannel installation, broadcast messaging, provisioning and CA systems, PVR, recording management, remote booking and conflict resolution, local signal measurement, power management and consumption compliance voltage measurements).
- Network changes in test environments on transport streams, services, EIT, PMT, TDT/TOT, used tools such as Dektec, StreamXpress, EdgeQAM modulator and Cisco DCM.
- Gained basic experience on test automation tools and programming languages such as SQL.
- Executed test cases on Ap Test, Test Track and reported bugs by using Mantis, Test Track, Jira.
Briefly worked on an in-house project on redesigning a test automation software. On this specific task, my responsibilities were:
- Defining user groups and created actionable user stories to be implemented in sprints.
- Gained experience in functional analysis.
For two months I worked as a testing consultant for VOO (Brussels) on behalf of Eurofins. In this specific consultancy role, I used my expertise in product design and UX/UI design to test the new digital TV interface of VOO before launch, which was in an agile development phase. In this role I;
- Reported bugs and feature requests,
- Discussed prioritization with the product team.
- Took part in an international team of product managers, engineers and developers from Belgium and Korea.
- Worked with agile software development teams (Scrum framework) using Jira.
Responsibilities:
- Tested digital TV platforms of operators such as Telenet, VOO, Unitymedia, Vodafone by using ISTQB methods.
- Took part in (manual/automated) acceptance and regression test cycles.
- Tested VOD portals, CAM modules of Digital TV's and set-top boxes.
- Carried out functional and non-functional testing on multiple components (EPG, middleware, WPS, backchannel installation, broadcast messaging, provisioning and CA systems, PVR, recording management, remote booking and conflict resolution, local signal measurement, power management and consumption compliance voltage measurements).
- Network changes in test environments on transport streams, services, EIT, PMT, TDT/TOT, used tools such as Dektec, StreamXpress, EdgeQAM modulator and Cisco DCM.
- Gained basic experience on test automation tools and programming languages such as SQL.
- Executed test cases on Ap Test, Test Track and reported bugs by using Mantis, Test Track, Jira.
Briefly worked on an in-house project on redesigning a test automation software. On this specific task, my responsibilities were:
- Defining user groups and created actionable user stories to be implemented in sprints.
- Gained experience in functional analysis.
For two months I worked as a testing consultant for VOO (Brussels) on behalf of Eurofins. In this specific consultancy role, I used my expertise in product design and UX/UI design to test the new digital TV interface of VOO before launch, which was in an agile development phase. In this role I;
- Reported bugs and feature requests,
- Discussed prioritization with the product team.
- Took part in an international team of product managers, engineers and developers from Belgium and Korea.
- Worked with agile software development teams (Scrum framework) using Jira.
November 2018 - September 2019, Hasselt/Brussels, Belgium
Intago
Customer Experience Analyst (/UX Architect)
Customer Experience Analyst (/UX Architect)
At Intago our purpose was ensuring that businesses are investing in the right digital products/solutions based on real customer problems. We worked on creating new digital solutions and digital strategies guided by customer insights through using UX, CX and design thinking methods.
Responsibilities:
- Framing insights into business model canvas, stakeholder maps, personas, customer journey maps after conducting interviews and contextual inquiries for gaining understanding on business models and customer needs.
- Ideating from as-is towards to-be user stories for digital platforms, websites and applications.
- Validating and implementing ideas through ;
- UX and UI deliverables such as wireframes, service blueprints, roadmaps, mockups
- Developing workshop/training materials and CX toolkits.
- Worked with agile software development teams (Kanban framework) using Jira.
Responsibilities:
- Framing insights into business model canvas, stakeholder maps, personas, customer journey maps after conducting interviews and contextual inquiries for gaining understanding on business models and customer needs.
- Ideating from as-is towards to-be user stories for digital platforms, websites and applications.
- Validating and implementing ideas through ;
- UX and UI deliverables such as wireframes, service blueprints, roadmaps, mockups
- Developing workshop/training materials and CX toolkits.
- Worked with agile software development teams (Kanban framework) using Jira.
Clients: Randstad, Baloise Insurance, Viabuild, RBFA (The Royal Belgian Football Association)
November 2017 - May 2018, Hasselt, Belgium
Branding To Be
Founder, Head of Design
Founder, Head of Design
Founded Branding to Be, a strategic design consultancy specialized in business development and branding that is centered around the desired customer experience journey (CX). Helped entrepreneurs build and improve their brands and brand touchpoints aligned with desired customer interactions and business goals.
October 2015 - March 2017, Istanbul, Turkey
Co-MADE Multidisciplinary Design Studio
Co-Founder, Brand Builder
Co-Founder, Brand Builder
Co-founded Co-MADE, a multidisciplinary design studio, providing integrated design solutions for industrial, interior and graphic design. Worked on brand building and interaction design projects. Established business strategy, visual identity, design processes of Co-MADE.
Clients: Nino Artisan Bakery, Mikafon Electronics
October 2013 - October 2015, Istanbul, Turkey
Sabancı University
Teaching Assistant
Teaching Assistant
Assisted courses: Web Design,Typography, History of Visual Communication Design, Language of Drawing, Documentary Film in Theory and Practice, Renaissance Visuality, Caravaggio, History of Photography, Visual Communication Design Project Studio
September 2012 - June 2014, Part-Time, Istanbul, Turkey
ETMK (Industrial Designers' Society of Turkey
Design Manager
Design Manager
Designing visual materials for Virtual Museum of Industrial Design of Turkey (ETSM) and Promotion Agency of Industrial Design of Turkey. Developing project presentations, website interfaces, signboards, newsletters, brochures, posters, invitation cards, fair stands for a one-year project of ETMK. Documenting and promoting the project on social media.
September 2011 - August 2012, Part-Time, Istanbul, Turkey
Trio Design
Exhibition Designer
Exhibition Designer
Designing exhibitions, fair stands, interiors and corporate identities in an interdisciplinary manner with a focus on customer experience.
Clients: Nokia, Istanbul Auto Show, Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, Dominos Pizza, YKK, Libya Shopping Mall
January 2010 - January 2011, Full-Time, Istanbul, Turkey
Iltek Media
Interaction Designer
Interaction Designer
Designing interactive presentations, narratives for corporate communication events. Worked on creation visuals for company events such as press conferences, executive meetings, product launches, visualizing CEO speeches.
Clients: Is Bankasi, Koc Group, THY, Vodafone, Dogus Group
Clients: Is Bankasi, Koc Group, THY, Vodafone, Dogus Group
January 2008 - September 2009, Full-Time, Istanbul, Turkey
Terminal Design
Exhibition Designer
Exhibition Designer
Designing interdisciplinary projects such as exhibitions, fair stands, interior units and modular stores with Red Dot Awarded modular systems of Burkhardt Leitner. Contributed to more than 200 projects.
Clients: Visa, Banksoft, Taris, Garanti GYO, Vodafone
Clients: Visa, Banksoft, Taris, Garanti GYO, Vodafone
August 2006 - September 2007, Full-Time, Istanbul, Turkey
EDUCATION
Middle East Technical University
Bachelor of Industrial Design
CGPA: 3.09/4.00, Honor
Bachelor of Industrial Design
CGPA: 3.09/4.00, Honor
Marketing, Design Management,Ergonomics, Manufacturing Techniques and Materials, 3D Modelling, Interaction Design, Graphic Design, The New Office, Appropriate Technologies in Architecture, Meaning in Design, Color in Product Design, Consumer Psychology
September 2002 - June 2006 Ankara, Turkey
Sabanci University
MA in Visual Communication Design
CGPA: 3.88/4.00, Full Scholarship, High Honor
MA in Visual Communication Design
CGPA: 3.88/4.00, Full Scholarship, High Honor
Research Methods in Design, Interaction Design, Art Technology and Culture, Photography and Expression, Art Analysis, The New Media, (Audit) Typography, Strategic Brand Management, Digital Marketing, Consumer Behavior, Arts and Computing, Advanced Topics In Social & Cognitive Psychology: Visual Thinking, Interface Design
September 2012 - June 2015 Istanbul, Turkey
CERTIFICATES
Ongoing Training - Front-End Development (Html, CSS, JavaScript) and Back-end Development (Php, MySQL)
April 2021 ... , Cevora, Obelisk, Multimedi
April 2021 ... , Cevora, Obelisk, Multimedi
Becoming a Product Manager
Advanced Google Analytics
Advanced SEO
Learning Data Analytics
UXPin: Design Sprints and Reviews
Interaction Design: Flow
Applied IxD: Onboarding Flow
Programming Foundations
2020, Linkedin Learning
Web Design for Usability
January 2017, The Interaction Design Foundation
January 2017, The Interaction Design Foundation
Conducting Usability Testing
December 2016, The Interaction Design Foundation
December 2016, The Interaction Design Foundation
Design Thinking
December 2016, The Interaction Design Foundation
December 2016, The Interaction Design Foundation
Human-Computer Interaction
December 2016, The Interaction Design Foundation
December 2016, The Interaction Design Foundation
User Research - Methods and Best Practices
December 2016, The Interaction Design Foundation
December 2016, The Interaction Design Foundation
Mobile User Experience (UX) Design
November 2016, The Interaction Design Foundation
November 2016, The Interaction Design Foundation
LANGUAGES
English (Advanced)
Toefl IBT Score: 106/12
Toefl IBT Score: 106/12
Dutch (Intermediate)
Moderne Talen PCVO Hasselt, 2.2 Schriftelijk Certificate: 92/100
Moderne Talen PCVO Hasselt, 2.2 Mondeling Certificate: 86/100
Moderne Talen PCVO Hasselt, 2.2 Schriftelijk Certificate: 92/100
Moderne Talen PCVO Hasselt, 2.2 Mondeling Certificate: 86/100
Turkish
(Native)
(Native)
SKILLS
UX DESIGN SKILL SET
Software: Figma, Sketch, Marvel, Wordpress, Whimsical, Jira (Beginner: Adobe XD, Axure, InVision)
Techniques: Qualitative research (usability testing, interviews, contextual inquiries), Agile development: Scrum and Kanban (user stories for sprints, bug tickets), MVP, NPS, Customer experience index (CXi), Design thinking, QA software testing, (Beginner: A/B testing, SEO, web analytics)
Deliverables: Business model canvas, stakeholder maps, design thinking workshops, personas, customer journey maps, site structure, wireframes, mockups, prototypes, service blueprint, roadmap
Project Examples: Baloise virtual insurance assistant www.gonna.be, Viabuild website, RBFA app/website customer journey, European Commission website usability tests
Focus: UX design, UX architecture, usability, CX, touchpoint design, E2E journey design
Techniques: Qualitative research (usability testing, interviews, contextual inquiries), Agile development: Scrum and Kanban (user stories for sprints, bug tickets), MVP, NPS, Customer experience index (CXi), Design thinking, QA software testing, (Beginner: A/B testing, SEO, web analytics)
Deliverables: Business model canvas, stakeholder maps, design thinking workshops, personas, customer journey maps, site structure, wireframes, mockups, prototypes, service blueprint, roadmap
Project Examples: Baloise virtual insurance assistant www.gonna.be, Viabuild website, RBFA app/website customer journey, European Commission website usability tests
Focus: UX design, UX architecture, usability, CX, touchpoint design, E2E journey design
PRODUCT DESIGN SKILL SET
Software: Rhinoceros, 3ds Max, VRay, Autocad, Solidworks, Arduino
Techniques: Ergonomy, Design management, Design research, Problem discovery, Sketching, 3d modelling, Rendering, 3D print, Rapid prototyping, Physical computing for smart devices
Deliverables: Design stategy, project brief, project planning, design research deliverables, conceptual drawings, mockups, technical drawings, programming script for physical computing
Project Examples: Adidas urban bag series, Arlight wall fixture, Pasabahce glass packages, smart desk lamp with touch sensor
Focus: New product development, ideation, design strategy, design research, design management
Techniques: Ergonomy, Design management, Design research, Problem discovery, Sketching, 3d modelling, Rendering, 3D print, Rapid prototyping, Physical computing for smart devices
Deliverables: Design stategy, project brief, project planning, design research deliverables, conceptual drawings, mockups, technical drawings, programming script for physical computing
Project Examples: Adidas urban bag series, Arlight wall fixture, Pasabahce glass packages, smart desk lamp with touch sensor
Focus: New product development, ideation, design strategy, design research, design management
BRANDING AND GRAPHIC DESIGN SKILL SET
Software: Adobe Creative Suite (Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign)
Deliverables: Brand experience strategy, benchmarking, logo design, corporate identity guidelines, visual print/digital media design, touchpoint planning and design
Focus: Brand experience, customer development, touchpoint design strategy, cross-media design
Deliverables: Brand experience strategy, benchmarking, logo design, corporate identity guidelines, visual print/digital media design, touchpoint planning and design
Focus: Brand experience, customer development, touchpoint design strategy, cross-media design
EXHIBITION DESIGN SKILL SET
Software: 3ds Max, VRay, Autocad, Burkhardt Leitner Modelling Software
Deliverables: Fair stand and exhibition design , 3D modelling, rendering, technical drawings, production facilitation and supervision
Focus: Modular exhibition design, architectural structure and graphic design, visitor experience
Deliverables: Fair stand and exhibition design , 3D modelling, rendering, technical drawings, production facilitation and supervision
Focus: Modular exhibition design, architectural structure and graphic design, visitor experience
PUBLICATIONS
"Self-Knowledge through Self-Tracking Devices: Design Guidelines for Usability and a Socio-Technical Examination from Posthumanity Perspective"
MA Thesis, Sabanci University, 2015
Currently being sold on amazon.com
MA Thesis, Sabanci University, 2015
Currently being sold on amazon.com
Abstract: The Digital Era introduces emerging product categories that have evolved around certain habits and concepts. One tendency in the Information Age is recording and storing quantitative and qualitative data based on an individual's life by using lifelogging and activity monitoring devices. Such products, bringing self-observation and autobiographical memory capabilities to an extreme level,have the potential to morph human beings by augmenting and altering their self-understanding through presenting previously non-existent information regarding their lives. The diversity found in this product range is increasing parallel to the growing demand. However, the meaning of these products for human life is rarely discussed. It remains a question whether these personal logs lead to an enriched self-knowledge for their users or not. This study aims to investigate the design principles and the influences of self-tracking products and services on daily life within a socio-technical framework in order to establish a connection between self-tracking by ubiquitous computing devices and the notion of self-concept.
"The Age of Glance: Multitasking with Mobile Devices in Contemporary Cultural Industry"
Journal Article, Intellect
Metaverse Creativity (MECR), Volume 5, Number 2, 1 December 2015, pp. 177-189 (13)
Metaverse Creativity (MECR), Volume 5, Number 2, 1 December 2015, pp. 177-189 (13)
Link to the publisher website
Abstract: In the last decade pervasive mobile computing devices have become key determiners in transforming cultural industries by increasing the number of experiences users are engaged in. Not only have simultaneous interactions between user, medium and content been key determinants in the perception of media, but also they have been creating a new set of aesthetic properties for cultural products. This paper claims that multitasking behavior patterns lead to a “glance culture” in which new condensed forms of media such as one-minute media, interactive media and transmedia products are emerging rapidly. Furthermore, within this glance culture, consumer attitudes, expectations and values are transformed towards new conventions. Throughout this paper, correlations between concurrent hypermedia consumption patterns and their relation to new generation media products and customer behaviors will be examined based on a literature survey.
You can download my CV here
You can view my LinkedIn profile here
You can view my LinkedIn profile here