ABOUT ME
Hey there, I’m Ben. I’ve spent the last 15 years helping businesses of all sizes to build and develop products and services, with a focus on serving users with the right content, in the right way, at the right time.
CONTENT DESIGN
This includes:
- Content writing and optimisation
- Design partnering and collaboration
- User testing and market research
- Workshops and co-creation facilitation
CONTENT STRATEGY
This includes:
- Brand and product positioning
- Voice and tone definition
- Style guide development
- Content governance
CONTENT OPS
This includes:
- Team management and leadership
- Role and remit definition
- Process and workflow development
- Interviewing and hiring
ROCKSTAR GAMES
ASSOCIATE LEAD UX WRITER > LEAD UX WRITER | AUG 2021 – DEC 2024
For over three years I led a team of UX writers and UI copy editors, developing their roles, remit, tools, and processes in close collaboration with other UI/UX design leads. I joined as the company’s first UX writer, initially managing a team of five with a slightly different skill set and remit.
In this time I was able to:
- Document a clear definition of the team’s purpose, role and remit as part of a wider UI/UX design team.
- Define individual roles and responsibilities in the team with job descriptions and development paths.
- Collaborate with design leads to integrate UX writing into UI/UX design team flows.
- Establish steps and behaviours to create psychological safety within the team.
- Retrain and upskill individuals in line with the team’s needs and individuals’ goals.
- Interview and hire four new team members to meet projected workload and growth targets.
- Oversee creation of a new voice, tone and style guide and grow its active user base to global QA, design, and localization teams.
While doing this, I was also directly contributing as a UX writer to key projects (including the highly-anticipated GTA VI) while raising awareness and building advocacy for the team around the business.
FREELANCE EMPLOYMENT
SIE EUROPE (PLAYSTATION)
AUG 2019 – AUG 2021
UX WRITER
In the time leading up to, and after, the PS5 launch I worked with global teams on 12 separate applications for video game developers to use to promote their games on the platform.
ZOOPLA
AUG 2018 – MAY 2019
CONTENT DESIGNER
I helped design the new Zoopla app and, as the sole content designer, championed the discipline to all levels of the business.
THE BIO AGENCY
JUN 2018 – AUG 2018
CONVERSATION DESIGNER
I was part of a design team in Lo
FIKA COMMUNITY
JAN 2018 – MAY 2018
CONTENT DESIGNER
I worked closely with Fika’s co-founders, developers and advisory board on the content strategy and design of a new mental wellness app, due to alpha trial later this year.
RARE CONSULTING
JAN 2018 – MAY 2018
CONTENT STRATEGIST
I worked with Rare’s founder and UX team to rapidly develop a new self-service, automated market research tool, due for launch later this year.
THREE
OCT 2017 – DEC 2017
WAE/GLOBANT
JUL 2017 – AUG 2017
CONTENT DESIGNER
I spent four weeks in New York and a final week in London with an international team developing a new product concept and delivery plan for investment firm BlackRock.
IBM IX
APR 2017 – JUNE 2017
COPYWRITER
Clients: BP, Department for Work and Pensions, Scottish Power, UK Power Networks.
Content: App content writing, video storyboarding and scripting, pitch deck writing.
WAE/GLOBANT
MAY 2016 – FEB 2017
CONTENT DESIGNER
I was part of a small team working on-site with
AWARDS
BIMA Awards 2018 | BIMA Advance Grand Prix | Winner
BIMA Awards 2018 | Transformation & Consultancy Impact | Winner
Core77 Design Awards 2017 | Service Design Award | Runner up
Core77 Design Awards 2017 | Strategy & Research Award |
SAPIENT NITRO
AUG 2015 – MAY 2016
COPYWRITER
I worked across three agile teams at Lloyds Banking Group, designing a self-service onboarding journey for new business banking customers.
I also worked with a small team to design a concept online service for HSBC, which would guide customers through understanding, and ultimately buying, their first investment portfolio.
WUNDERMAN
APR 2015 – MAY 2015
COPYWRITER
Clients: Shell, GlaxoSmithKline.
Content: Direct marketing, display ads, video storyboards and scripting.
NAKED COMMUNICATIONS
FEB 2015 – MAR 2015
COPYWRITER
Client: Virgin Atlantic.
Content: Marketing emails, social media posts, SMS notifications, campaign content, brand book, and press releases
REHABSTUDIO
OCT 2014 – FEB 2015
COPYWRITER
Clients: YouTube, Android, Zoo AR (Google), Rehabstudio.
Content: SEO content, marketing emails, campaign ideas, video scripts, display ads and pitch decks.
PERMANENT EMPLOYMENT
STEEL LONDON
MAY 2012 – MAY 2014
MIDWEIGHT COPYWRITER > SENIOR CREATIVE
Clients: Debenhams, Greggs, TalkTalk, iStock, Brothers Drinks, 118 118, McGuigan Wines.
Content: Campaign ideas, new business and client pitching, marketing emails, social media strategy and posts, press releases, direct marketing, brand positioning and tone of voice development, and SEO content. See an example.
AWARDS
Digital Impact Awards 2012 | Greggs | Best use of digital in retail sector | Gold
Digital Impact Awards 2012 | Greggs | Best use of digital in the food & beverages sector | Silver
FIREBOX.COM
NOV 2008 – JUN 2012
CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT > COPYWRITER
Content: SEO content, marketing emails, social media posts, press releases, brochures and direct marketing, and product development.
PRINCIPAL DESIGN
NOV 2007 – NOV 2008
DESIGN CONSULTANT (PERMANENT)
Clients: British Energy
Content: Graphic design, corporate branding, 3D visualisation, animation, photography, product design and development, editing and proofreading.