Goodbye to the ZEN UI?
Damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead: Creative Singapore is hiring. Despite the global economic crisis and companies cutting jobs right and left, Creative Singapore is hiring some very high end jobs, perhaps ramping up for the launch of their new player. They are hiring in an area that got my attention, though: a new Senior Designer.
The senior designer(s) that they are hiring will be in charge of “creating exciting User Interface (UI) designs for Personal Digital Entertainment devices”. The way they worded it, specifically the whole “creating” part, makes it seem like there will be a whole new interface coming. While it’s also possible that it simply means creating UIs for the new player by adapting the classic ZEN interface, it’s much more exciting to think that the company is retooling for the new player. In my opinion, this is do or die time for the company: the Zen Vision:M is the last Creative player that captivated the public, and it seems like the brand is losing relevance and respect in a market that they created. There is very little time left if Creative is going to stay in the DAP ballgame. For the sake of competition and free market enterprise, let’s hope they do. I believe they can.
Additionally, the company seems to be hiring an Operations Director for ZiiLabs, and an software developer for the SoundBlaster/Webcam team. Less exciting, but for any company to be hiring in this tumultous time leaves only a positive feeling. Perhaps newly out of work personnel who, desperate for a job, will land at Creative and get the cogs of awesomeness moving again. The complete job description for the Singapore jobs are as follows:
- Software Engineer: You will undertake projects in developing application software, application programming interfaces (APIs), or utilities for Creative’s range of audio and video products. You can expect to work using the latest software technologies and tools. You can also look forward to working with our international partners in application software developments.
- Operations Director: You will be a key member of the senior management team. Your key responsibilities include setting up and managing the small Operations Department of a fabless semiconductor company. You will be involved in recruiting staff to form the new Operations team and managing this team who will handle: semiconductor supplier selection, negotiation, manufacturing and delivery; semiconductor test development and manufacturing test logistics; semiconductor process monitoring and product yield improvement; product qualification; as well as product quality issue resolution. You are expected to grow the Operations team in line with requirements.
- Senior Designer: You will be responsible for creating exciting User Interface (UI) designs for Personal Digital Entertainment devices that result in a rich and compelling user experience. You will participate in all stages of the design life cycle; from identifying user needs, conducting user task analysis and designing user interfaces to evaluating designs through usability testing. You will lead a team of designers for visual and interaction design of software application and Personal Digital Devices.
- Designer (Visual): You will be responsible for conceptualizing and realizing visual design and prototyping of Graphical User Interface (for software in consumer electronics products) and visual design for Personal Digital Entertainment devices.
- Designer (Interaction): You will be responsible for designing engaging user experiences for consumer applications and Personal Digital Entertainment device.
If you’re in East Asia and think you can take these important positions, the applications are available on the web here.
