In my research I found it a little hard to get a clear picture of your software’s UI from the array of different images found on the internet, but I noticed that how your website conveys the brand could use some help so I’d like to offer a few tips that you might find useful. NinjaCat is killing it when it comes to customer service and has been lauded as easy to use, so the software is going well anyway!

Your jobs page says, “we believe deeply that enterprise software should be better, more beautiful and more fun to use.” YES! Preach! But where is the fun on your website? Crunchbase is clocking you at $6M annually which is pretty darn good for the company size but the site traffic looks paltry compared to competitors whose sites feel more crafted. There may be no causation there because many of them have tools available for smaller companies and that would get searched more and I don’t know the differences in advertising, but you want your site to SHOW people that you are THE “reporting platform of choice for the world’s leading agencies.” But that’s why you’re looking for a designer, right?

Glassdoor listed Datorama and Tableau as competitors (though I’m not sure that’s fair), and Crunchbase listed Report Garden and Acquisio with both sites including TapClicks.

One way to go is with competitors Report Garden and Tableau in the increasingly common aesthetic of simplistic, light colors on good whitespace. It’s a solid approach, I’m also using it! I suspect that they’re using it for different reasons: Report Garden is a tiny company and relying on proven design patterns is probably more feasible, whereas Tableau is huge enough that I’ve heard of it and looks to be intentionally choosing a sort of design minimalism for their landing page. My best guess is that this is to foster a sense of calmness in their confidence because they’re already such “a name.”

Acquisio and Datorama are, similarly, making use of the normal corporate color blocking, but with heavier color use. All of these designs (above included) are nice, clean, and easy to parse… but they’re also kind of boring. They’re exactly what you expect to see when you visit a company’s website, meeting requirements but with very little delight. Professional, but that’s about it.

So, instead, let’s compare where you sit to a landing page that was impressive. TapClicks (the comparable listed by both sites) is using a direction that I think will work really well for you. The animations used are fluid in contrast to the minimal, Powerpoint-y ones of the previous examples. It may edge on just a little bit too much going on upon loading but it infuses some personality. I think if you can manage something similar but without the hectic feeling it could be a real winner! But if you want to keep it as simple and clean as possible, Report Garden’s is a good starting point.

It’s widely agreed that a great user experience exists at the intersection between usability and desirability. An app that taps into a user’s emotion is one that’s returned to again and again. In the workplace it can be even more important to embrace playfulness. Never discount the importance of a reprieve from drudgery. Recognize your company’s culture and infuse it into your product. Celebrate the wins. Chances are, you’ll make someone’s day a little better.

(Bolding for your tl;dr needs)

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do you want to work at NinjaCat?

NinjaCat’s remarkable company reviews, if they are true, tell me that you’re doing something very right! After looking at what I can see from the outside it seems you’ve been struggling with finding (and staying consistent with) a “feel” or style, and that this is probably your first fulltime designer position at the company. That is my particular niche as a UI/Product Designer, because I tend toward broad, workable knowledge in many subjects and that’s perfect for company’s starter designer! I leveled-up all branches of Homesnap’s visuals and usability while I was there, and I’m confident I could do the same for you!

Why should we hire you over the other people?

To be honest, I can’t tell you. I don’t know who else you’re considering and I’m sure many of them are very talented people! I know I’m supposed to be pitching that I’m the best at X, Y, and Z and nobody could possibly compare, but that’s not who I am. If you have a question then I want to find the answer to it, and if it turns out that another candidate is the best fit then that’s ok! The only way to find out is to have a conversation about your needs.

This is not a contracting position (I know)

Contrary to how my work history looks, I prefer to work consistently on one or a few projects with a team. Doing so allows for developing a deeper understanding of the audience/users, more personal investment in the long term health of the product, and an ease of communication with other stakeholders that streamlines a lot of work. I didn’t have the option of in-office jobs while taking care of my grandmother (and hadn’t run across fully remote options yet) so I’ve had to rely on contracting work, but I’d very much like to return to being part of a team, fulltime!

That’s quite the gap

Shortly after leaving my last fulltime job I became a primary caregiver for my grandmother until she passed in 2018. It’s ok! She was over 90, don’t be sad! But I did feel it was important to be there for my family during this time. Most of the contracts I’ve taken are too small to list individually on a résumé and I’ve dedicated a lot of time to learning new skills — if I had actually spent so long doing nothing I’d go CRAZY!

Strengths?

• I’ve been told by developers that I’m much easier to work with than many other designers because I have a little bit of a background in programming as well as a continued interest in it, so I’m less likely to ask for things that they can’t deliver on.

• Because of intense curiosity, a broad range of interests and skills, and an exceptional social perception, I’m propelled to learn more and find solutions to problems be they interpersonal or technical. Much of modern progress stems from incorporating typically disassociated fields, and I try to stay future-minded as I move through the world.

• I’ve worked with fully-remote before, so I’m not blind to the pros or cons!

Weaknesses?

• I don’t know enough about user testing yet to collect data solo (beyond in-person observation), but I just bought a few online classes to learn more! I’m psyched!

• I struggle to maintain interest as tasks drift toward routine matters and away from finding solutions and innovations (apparently common in ENFP types) but that should be limited in companies like NinjaCat that have burgeoning design roles and a willingness for experimentation!

What do you like to do outside of work?

• Crafts are fun! I taught myself how to knit and crochet from looking at blankets and figuring out the steps.

• I’ve been slowly relearning how to do front-end programming so I can test my own ideas rather than waiting for someone else to also take an interest, and using a project idea that’s WAY over my head to stay interested in learning more: getting as close to natural conversations with NPCs as I can! Eventually maybe I’ll get the hang of Natural Language Processing, but right now it’s more of a “what-if.”

• I play a lot of League of Legends as a Support; it’s a fun mix of problem solving, psychology, strategy, and (above all else) emotional control.