So, Fabric recently finished work on a new web application, PolicyMap.com, and I can't stop playing with it. It's not even a game; it maps geographic data in a layered, easy-to-use map interface. Our main focus was on UX/UI for both the application itself as well as the wrapper site the application resides on.

Just enter an address and start researching the demographics - income, school test scores, crime data, etc, etc. Anyone who owns a home, is thinking of buying a home, knows someone who owns a home, knows someone who is thinking of buying a home, or you've just plain been inside a home… you'll probably immediately see the value of this application.

I don't know why I can't stop. It started with looking up all the statistics of my own neighborhood. I clicked on almost every possible data layer. How much money are my neighbors making? How much money should I be making to stay juuuuuust above average? Should I worry about my car getting jacked? What if someone decides I should have kids? Will they grow up intellectually stunted because my particular school system values snack foods over music education? I've probably spent over an hour just researching my particular block. And believe me, I know exactly - precisely - which statistics to spit at you to make my neighborhood seem like the place you should be living.

But, wait! What if you're already living in a great neighborhood?! I started looking up my friends neighborhoods. Dammit! Their block has less old people living on it! I've memorized the exact set of data precisely calibrated to send every close friend I have into a wracking fit of sobbing. It's awesome.

Also, my girlfriend makes me look up the neighborhoods I really, really should be living in…

We are growing fast and looking for a User Experience Lead for our Los Angeles based team. You’ll be part of a small team working on web/mobile products and interactive projects. The User Experience Designer will be involved in all areas of the interactive development process. Your responsibilities will include working directly with clients on brainstorming, ideation, research, creating wireframes, producing complete screens, writing UX specifications, and leading our visual designers through execution.  This is a full-time position starting Feb 1st 2011.

More about you:

• Your experience has taught you that understanding the audience, the market, and the project framework is critical to delivering stand-out work. You’re amazing at taking an idea and developing it into something truly special. You know UX and UI inside out and you know when to follow rules and when to break them.
• For years, you’ve been working in the interactive industry learning and appreciating the value of team work. You can run a project by yourself, but you’d rather collaborate. You communicate as if your life depends on it.
• On past projects, you’ve been challenged and found ways to deliver quality on time and on budget. You’ve managed relationships with clients and team members and they have loved working with you.
• You’ve failed a few times. It’s part of the process. You keep pushing and changing and taking it all in stride. You love what you do. You’re an advocate for quality and you’re uncomfortable when you see work that is not up to your high standards.
• You get along with everyone. That is one of your key strengths. You can “speak” developer and designer and you know how to translate hard to understand language so that clients instantly get it.

Important experience you have:

• Proven experience working web and mobile products or social networking sites, preferably large-scale, dynamically driven ones.
• Proven experience defining, developing, and documenting UX design and interaction requirements/specifications
• Familiarity with HTML/DHTML, CSS, javascript and other web technologies and their inherent strengths and limitations as they relate to UX development
• Experience developing UI and interaction pattern libraries is a huge plus.
• A strong portfolio that demonstrates advanced skills in user experience design

If you’re looking for a challenge and have endless passion to bring every day – we might be the place for you!

• This is a contract-to-hire full-time position starting Feb 1st 2011.
• Location: Silverlake, Los Angeles (some telecommuting OK)
• Salary: $70k+ DOE, no benefits at the moment
• Apply by Resume and 3 URL’s to erlend@fabricinteractive.com