I work for Eli Lilly and Company which is located in Indianapolis, IN. Lilly has over 30,000 employees worldwide. While there are only a few employees involved exclusively in multimedia development, there is an increasing number of employees involved in human interface design, usability testing, and software prototyping.

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I work on major software design and information design projects in all areas of the company. Most projects result in products that are used internally (by other Lilly employees). Several of the prototyping projects involve innovative and experimental designs.

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I work with software development teams to:

* Design and prototype the human interface components of software

* Plan and conduct usability assessments

* Develop and document user-centered design processes

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Typical day-to-day activities include:

* Meeting with various development teams to design, prototype,

and evaluate the human interface components of their products

* Conducting usability tests with end users

* Facilitating group design (with and without end users)

* Serving as an expert evaluator for new designs, prototypes, and

products

* Documenting and communicating internal best practices

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Skills needed for this job include:

* Strong communication skills

* Ability to apply knowledge of user-centered design principles

and techniques

* Strong negotiation and influencing skills

* Creativity

* Ability to use and adapt prototyping tools and techniques

* Project management

* Strong observation and listening skills

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I applied through the placement office at my university.

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What would you like students in college to know about your job before they start looking for jobs in multimedia?
I'd recommend that they focus on understanding human processes (memory, learning, perception, group communication, etc.) and on design processes rather than focusing on specific technologies or tools.

last update 1 August 1997 by eboling@indiana.edu
Instructional Systems Technology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
URL = http://www.indiana.edu/~iirg/ARTICLES/media/miller.lilly.html