Location: On-Site in Oeiras, PT
Requirements Description:
The objective of this service is to ensure user-centered, consistent, and modern UI/UX design across the Academy Learning Environment (ALE) systems, namely Moodle, the Training Management System (TMS), the Ticketing System (JIRA), the Adaptive Learning Platform, the Training Landing Zone (TLZ), and the NCI Academy Catalogue.
The Contractor shall support the NCI Academy by delivering the following outcomes:
- User-Centred Design: Create designs based on user requirements and behaviour, ensuring usability and accessibility.
- UX Research and Testing: Conduct user research and usability testing to analyse and predict user behaviour, providing actionable insights.
- Design Standards: Develop and maintain style guides, design systems, and reusable patterns to ensure a consistent user experience across ALE systems.
- Interface Design and Implementation: Produce user flows, wireframes, prototypes, and mock-ups, and deliver integration-ready UI outputs (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) so that development teams can implement directly.
- Implementable
Deliverables: Translate design outputs into integration-ready artefacts (e.g., HTML/CSS templates, style sheets, or other exportable formats) to minimize rework by development teams and enable smooth implementation in target systems such as Moodle or TMS, etc.
- Graphic Design: Create original graphic assets (e.g., images, icons, sketches, and tables) to support the user experience.
- UI Testing: Conduct testing of UI elements such as call-to-action buttons, banners, page layouts, flows, and links for landing pages.
- Problem Resolution: Identify and troubleshoot UX-related issues (e.g., responsiveness, accessibility, consistency).
- Continuous Improvement: Incorporate customer feedback, usage metrics, and usability findings into design iterations to continually improve user experience.
The Contractor shall provide UI/UX services across the following Academy Learning Environment (ALE) systems:
- Moodle (LMS)
- Training Management System (TMS)
- Ticketing System (JIRA)
- Adaptive Learning Platform
- Training Lading Zone (TLZ)
- NCI Academy Catalogue
The development of deliverables shall be progressive and iterative, prioritised according to the operational needs of the Academy and the sprint planning agreed with the Academy Technical Capability (TeC) Team. Not all systems will require work in parallel; instead, activities will be directed to the systems most in need of design improvements at a given time.
All deliverables must go beyond static mock-ups and include integration-ready artefacts (e.g., HTML/CSS templates, style sheets, or exportable modules) that can be directly implemented, or require minimal adaptation, by the Academy development team.
Each sprint is planned for a duration of 1 week and main activities are as follows:
- User Research Report: Documented user requirements, personas, and user journeys validated by TeC Team. Develop user journeys and design prototypes for ALE systems, aligned with Academy priorities and user requirements. Prototypes must include sufficient technical specifications (e.g., layout guidelines, style attributes) to support direct implementation.
- UI/UX Design Prototypes and Standards: Produce wireframes, mock-ups, and interactive prototypes. Develop and maintain style guides, design systems, and reusable patterns to ensure consistent user experience across ALE systems.
- Integration-Ready UI Components: Convert approved designs into integration-ready outputs (HTML, CSS, JavaScript templates, or equivalent) suitable for direct implementation in ALE systems, particularly Moodle and TMS. Deliverables shall minimise rework for development teams.
- UI Testing and Iteration Report: Documented testing results and implemented design improvements with measurable usability gains.
- Develop, draft and produce Design Prototype for a TMS suitable to the Academy: Complete draft Design that meets the requirements of stakeholders within a month before testing.
The Contractor’s performance shall be evaluated based on the quality, timeliness, and usability of the delivered UI/UX artefacts. The following expectations apply:
- Implementable Deliverables: All outputs (prototypes, templates, style guides, pilots) shall be delivered in integration-ready formats (e.g., HTML/CSS templates, style sheets, exportable modules) suitable for direct use or minimal adaptation by the Academy development teams. Deliverables limited to visual mock-ups will not be accepted.
- Compliance with Standards: Designs must comply with NATO and NCI Agency usability, accessibility, and branding standards, as well as best practices for responsive and cross- platform design.
- User Satisfaction: During prototype and pilot testing, at least 90% of users (students, instructors, staff) shall report satisfaction with usability, navigation, and consistency.
- Stakeholder Approval: Deliverables must be validated by the Academy Technical Capability (TeC) Team before final acceptance.
- Sprint Delivery: Work shall follow an iterative sprint-based approach (one week). At least 95% of agreed sprint deliverables shall be delivered on time.
- Error Rate: Pilot implementations shall achieve zero critical errors and fewer than 5% non- critical issues requiring rework.
- Continuous Improvement: The Contractor shall incorporate feedback from stakeholders, user testing, and performance metrics into subsequent iterations.
Skill, Knowledge & Experience:
The Contractor shall provide personnel with the following qualifications and experience:
Security Clearance: Hold a valid security clearance issued by their National Security Authority, covering the full period of the contract.
User-Centred Approach: Ability to understand and influence requirements in order to positively impact the user experience.
UI/UX Design Expertise: Proven knowledge and hands-on experience in UI/UX design for digital products and services.
Multi-Platform Design: Familiarity with UI/UX design for both web and mobile platforms.
Moodle Customisation: Proven ability to customise and tailor the Moodle interface by using appropriate programming languages (e.g., HTML, CSS, JavaScript), including dynamic adaptation of content and styling upon image upload.
JIRA Design and Customisation: Recent hands-on experience in designing and customising JIRA interfaces, workflows, and dashboards to improve usability and user experience.
Technical Tools and Technologies: Proficiency with industry-standard design tools and technologies, including:
- Sketch, InVision, Visio
- Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, XD)
- HTML, CSS (SCSS)
- iOS and Android design principles
- Design Systems and component-based design
Implementable Deliverables: Ability to deliver both design artefacts (wireframes, prototypes, mock-ups) and integration-ready outputs (HTML/CSS templates, style sheets, exportable components).
Collaboration: Strong communication skills in English (written and spoken), with the ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams and liaise with developers, system owners, and stakeholders.
Usability Testing: Experience in conducting user research and usability testing, and in translating findings into design improvements.
Desirable qualifications and experience
Experience working with NATO or NCI Agency environments.
Knowledge and experience with Agile implementation methodology (e.g., sprint-based delivery).
Ability to advise on visual hierarchy and UX best practices for e-learning interfaces.
Experience with training platforms (e.g., Training Management Systems, Adaptive Learning platforms).
Familiarity with cloud-based environments and integration of UI/UX artefacts in enterprise systems.
Language Proficiency
Level 3 English language skills according to NATO STANAG 6001: Listening (3); Speaking
(2); Reading (3); and Writing (2) or according to Common European Framework of Reference for Language level B2-C1/Upper Intermediate-Advanced level).