Thomas Riotte
Senior UX Architect
Over 15 years understanding users to design experiences that truly make sense — from field research to usability testing on interactive prototypes.
How I became a designer — Worth every detour.
>I started my studies with a science baccalaureate, because it was "the path that opened the most doors". Then I went to preparatory classes, because they "opened the door to the grandes écoles". Disgusted by the experience, I didn't pivot to locksmithing, I pivoted to Physics, at the University of Franche-Comté, where I began a DEUG (that was what it was called back then). What can a lock do against Newton's laws?! A life accident put me on the bench for a semester to recover, so I jumped on a humanitarian convoy heading to Africa to install pumps for water wells. That trip made me realize just how different and fascinating human beings are, wherever they come from.
>Back home, I decided I wanted to work in healthcare. I gave it a shot, but I found very little pleasure in memorizing the anatomy of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Social sciences and humanities courses, on the other hand, captivated me instantly. Talking about death, suffering, body image, holistic medicine... all of that fascinated me far more than reciting anatomy tables or biochemistry formulas.
Career
Liip
Senior UX Architect
oct. 2015 — présent
Lausanne, Suisse
Supporting clients from initial strategic workshops through user testing validation. Scoping workshops, high-fidelity wireframes, interactive prototypes. Close collaboration with development teams and clients. Sectors: logistics, banking, insurance, education — web, mobile, intranet.
Design Services Lead for Romandie
2016 — 2024
Transitioned from a distributed model — designers assigned to cross-functional teams — to a centralized agency-within-agency model. This reorganization helped elevate the value of design within Romandie, previously seen as optional. Proximity fostered collaboration and streamlined project acquisition and delivery. The model was subsequently adopted company-wide.
SAWI Academy for Marketing and Communication
Lecturer in UX Design
oct. 2017 — déc. 2025
Suisse
Teaching information architecture, user investigation techniques, interaction design (wireframes and clickable prototypes) and user testing.
Wax Interactive
Lead UX Designer
avr. 2014 — sept. 2015
Lausanne, Suisse
Wax Interactive
UX/Ergonomics Consultant
août 2010 — mars 2014
Lyon, France
Interface design for major accounts. Internet, intranet, B2B e-commerce, m-commerce, iOS & Android apps, interactive kiosks. Sectors: retail, industry, biomedical, insurance.
Université de Technologie de Belfort-Montbéliard
Intern — Psychology & Virtual Reality
sept. 2007 — avr. 2008
Belfort, France
Research on collective decision-making on virtual reality platforms (CAVE). Design of evaluation systems for user-virtual space interaction depth.
Skills
Research & Investigation
- ›User Interviews
- ›Contextual Inquiry
- ›Qualitative Research
- ›Quantitative Research
- ›Task Analysis
- ›Behavior Analysis
Design & Prototyping
- ›Information Architecture
- ›High-fidelity Wireframes
- ›Interactive Prototypes
- ›Storyboard
- ›Design Principles
- ›Figma
Collaboration & Communication
- ›Workshop Facilitation
- ›Workshop creation
- ›Interpersonal Communication
- ›Problem Solving
- ›English (Professional proficiency)
- ›French (Mothertongue)
- ›German (basics)
Analyse et Évaluation
- ›Usability testing: plan, run, documentation
- ›Online surveys
- ›User shadowing
Don't take my word for it.
What my colleagues, past and present, say about me.
Tom is a man who is always cheerful, brilliant, mischievous, and highly educated. He has strong opinions that make him a trustworthy person, grounded in reality and humanism.
— C.
Courageous opinionated savant human-first professional by day ; fun technologist adventurer and gadgeteer by night ; all around great company.
— G.
Dr. Octopuss VR on jacks.
— B.
Easy going person, very good knowledge in UX, complexity doesn't faze him, autonomous (nice for a PO).
— T.
My favourite UX buddy. Super knowledgable and I can always count on you.
— D.
Very good to go deep in UX topics for clients that need a lot of structure and reassurance.
— S.
Taking the initiative and making decisions regarding user experience (UX) that go beyond the specifications; this can add real value when the context allows for it.
— D.
Outside the office
VR Simracing
6 DOF Motion platform — Rally + GT + Classic cars
Flight Simulator
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020
Telemark Skiing (free heels)
Backcountry skiing
Climbing
Sport climbing and bouldering
Cognitive Psychology
Biases, decision-making, perception
UX & Emerging Technologies
Active technology watch
3D Printing
Getting started with CAD
Contact
A question, an opportunity? Write to me directly.