Product Designer (Contractor) at Pulselive

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer (Contractor)

Company: Pulselive

Location: London, UK

Job Type: Full-Time Contractor (3-month contract, potential for extension)

Category: UX/UI Product Design (Sports Digital Experiences)

Date Posted: 2025-06-11

Experience Level: Mid-Level (Estimated 2-5 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🎨 Role Summary

Design and develop world-class user interfaces and experiences for official sports websites and mobile applications, reaching millions of global fans.
Collaborate closely with cross-functional delivery squads, including product managers and engineers, to deliver seamless digital products.
Contribute to and support the creative direction, ensuring designs meet high standards and client expectations in the sports digital space.
Champion data-informed design practices, using user feedback and analytics to refine and optimize digital experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role summary expands on the provided description by specifically mentioning the focus on sports digital experiences and the impact of reaching millions of fans, aligning with Pulselive's core business and mission in the sports technology sector.

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

Engage in hands-on design work, creating intuitive and visually appealing user interfaces and experiences for mobile apps and websites.
Work within cross-functional teams (product managers, engineers, other designers) to ensure cohesive and effective product delivery.
Assist the Design Lead in evolving the creative standards and successfully delivering on client requirements for major sports organizations.
Utilize user insights, analytics, and feedback loops to make informed design decisions that improve the fan experience.
Quickly create prototypes and iterate on designs to meet the demands of fast-paced project cycles.
Clearly articulate and present design concepts, rationale, and decisions to both internal stakeholders and external clients.
Ensure designs adhere to responsive design principles and accessibility standards across various devices and platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: Responsibilities are detailed with a focus on the iterative nature of design in a fast-paced environment and the need for clear communication, which is crucial in agency or client-facing roles like this contractor position. The inclusion of responsive design and accessibility is standard for modern digital product roles.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While a formal degree in Design, HCI, or a related field is beneficial, a strong portfolio demonstrating relevant skills and experience is often prioritized in the design industry.

Experience: Estimated 2-5 years of hands-on experience in UX/UI or Product Design, specifically creating digital experiences for mobile and web platforms. Experience within the sports, media, or entertainment industries is a significant advantage, evidenced by a portfolio showcasing relevant projects.

Required Skills:

Strong proficiency in Figma, including experience with design systems, collaborative features, and interactive prototyping.
Experience with Adobe Creative Cloud, particularly Photoshop and Illustrator, for visual asset creation and manipulation.
Solid understanding of core UX principles, user-centered design methodologies, and information architecture.
Proven ability to design for responsive web and mobile applications, ensuring optimal user experience across different screen sizes.
Knowledge of accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and best practices for inclusive design.
Excellent communication skills with the ability to clearly articulate design rationale and present work to diverse audiences (creative, technical, and client).

Preferred Skills:

Experience with prototyping and animation tools such as Principle, Sketch, or Framer.
Familiarity with After Effects for motion graphics or animation within digital interfaces.
Understanding of front-end development basics (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to facilitate effective collaboration with engineers.
Experience working in an Agile or Lean environment with cross-functional teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: Qualifications are expanded to include estimated experience level and typical educational background for a mid-level product designer. Specific tools like Figma and Adobe Creative Cloud are highlighted as essential based on the job description. Preferred skills are added based on common expectations for UI/UX roles and the mention of After Effects as a plus.

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Your portfolio should showcase a range of digital product design projects, including both mobile app and website experiences.
Include detailed case studies that walk through your design process from problem definition and research to ideation, iteration, and final solution.
Highlight your UI design skills with high-fidelity mockups, demonstrating attention to detail, visual hierarchy, and pixel-perfect execution.
Where applicable, include examples of prototypes or interactive designs that showcase user flows and micro-interactions.

Process Documentation:

Document your research and discovery phase, including user insights, competitive analysis, and understanding of user needs.
Showcase your ideation and iteration methods, such as sketching, wireframing, low-fidelity prototyping, and different design explorations.
Explain your validation and testing approaches, including how you gathered user feedback and used it to refine your designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Portfolio requirements are detailed to guide design candidates on what to include, emphasizing process documentation and case studies which are critical for demonstrating a designer's approach beyond just the final visual output. Specific elements like high-fidelity mockups and prototypes are mentioned based on the UI/UX focus.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £400 - £500 per day (Outside of IR35)

Benefits:

Competitive daily rate for a 3-month contract, offering potential for extension based on project needs and performance.
Opportunity to work on high-profile sports digital platforms with a global reach.
Exposure to a fast-paced, high-performing environment at the intersection of sport and technology.
Potential for professional growth and networking within the sports digital industry.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours, typically Monday to Friday. Flexibility may be required to meet project deadlines in a fast-paced environment, while maintaining creative flow.

📝 Enhancement Note: The compensation is clearly stated as provided in the original listing. Benefits are inferred based on the contract nature of the role and the company's position in the sports industry, highlighting the unique opportunities provided by working on high-profile projects. Working hours are described with a nod to the creative nature of design work.

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: Technology, Information and Internet (Specializing in Sports Digital Media, Data, and Platforms)

Company Size: 51-200 employees (LinkedIn)

Founded: 2008

Pulselive is a specialized digital agency focused on creating engaging experiences for sports fans. Their work involves designing and developing official websites and apps for major global sports organizations, including the Premier League, ICC, and Rugby World Cup. The company culture emphasizes craft, collaboration, curiosity, speed & agility, and a fan-first approach.

Team Structure:

Designers likely work within cross-functional "delivery squads" alongside product managers and engineers, as mentioned in the job description.
The team structure appears to be collaborative, with designers working closely with technical and product counterparts.
Reporting likely involves working closely with a Design Lead, indicating a structured design team with opportunities for guidance and mentorship.

Methodology:

The company likely employs Agile or similar iterative methodologies given the mention of "fast-paced delivery cycles" and working in "delivery squads."
Emphasis on "data-informed design" suggests a process that incorporates user feedback, analytics, and research throughout the design lifecycle.
The focus on "rapidly prototype, iterate, and refine" points to a design process that values speed and continuous improvement.

Company Website: https://www.pulselive.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Company and design culture details are inferred from the provided company information and the job description. The industry is specified based on LinkedIn data, and the team structure and methodology are deduced from terms like "delivery squads," "fast-paced delivery," and "data-informed design," which are common in Agile digital product development environments.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level Product Designer, requiring solid experience and the ability to work independently within a team structure. The focus is on hands-on design and collaboration rather than leading a team.

Reporting Structure: The role reports to a Design Lead, suggesting a clear reporting line within the design team and opportunities for guidance and feedback from a senior designer. Collaboration with product managers and engineers is also a key aspect.

Design Impact: As a Product Designer at Pulselive, your work will directly impact the digital experiences of millions of sports fans globally. The designs created will be central to how users engage with major sports brands, offering significant visibility and impact.

Growth Opportunities:

Potential for contract extension or conversion to a permanent role based on performance and business needs.
Develop expertise in the niche of sports digital design, gaining valuable experience with high-profile clients.
Enhance skills in collaborative workflows within cross-functional Agile teams.
Opportunities to refine skills in data-informed design and articulating design value based on performance metrics.

📝 Enhancement Note: The career analysis details the likely level of the role and reporting structure based on the job title and mention of a Design Lead. Growth opportunities are framed within the context of a contract role in a specialized industry, focusing on skill development and potential for long-term engagement.

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: On-site office environment in London. The description emphasizes collaboration within delivery squads, suggesting an open or collaborative workspace conducive to teamwork.

Office Location(s): London, UK. (Specific address not provided in the job description, but likely within their known London locations).

Design Workspace Context:

The emphasis on collaboration suggests a workspace designed to facilitate interaction between designers, product managers, and engineers.
Access to necessary design tools and technology (Figma, Adobe CC) would be available on-site.
The environment is described as "fast-paced" and "high-performing," indicating a dynamic and potentially energetic atmosphere focused on delivery.

Work Schedule: Full-time hours, on-site in London. The "Outside of IR35" status for the contract suggests a degree of autonomy in how the work is performed, although the on-site requirement implies a need to be present during core team hours for collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: Work environment details are inferred from the "On-site" requirement and the description of working in collaborative "delivery squads." The nature of a creative digital agency often suggests a workspace designed for collaboration. The IR35 status is noted for context, though the on-site requirement is the primary driver of the work environment description.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

Initial screening call, likely with a recruiter or hiring manager, to assess basic qualifications and fit.
Portfolio review stage, where your submitted portfolio will be evaluated for design quality, process documentation, and relevance to sports digital experiences.
Interviews with design team members (including the Design Lead) focusing on your design process, problem-solving skills, and collaboration experience. Be prepared to discuss specific case studies from your portfolio in detail.
Potentially a design challenge or take-home exercise to assess your practical design skills under simulated conditions.
Final interview(s) with key stakeholders, such as a Product Lead or Head of Design, to discuss overall fit, impact, and potentially negotiate contract terms.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Curate your portfolio to prominently feature your best work on mobile apps and websites, especially any projects related to sports, media, or high-traffic consumer platforms.
For each project, clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your role in the project, the design process you followed (research, ideation, testing, iteration), and the impact of your design decisions.
Showcase high-fidelity UI designs that demonstrate your attention to detail and visual design skills.
If possible, include interactive prototypes or videos of your designs in action.

Challenge Preparation:

If a design challenge is assigned, pay close attention to the brief and time constraints. Focus on demonstrating your core design process and rationale.
Be prepared to explain your thinking, trade-offs made, and how you would iterate further if given more time.
Practice articulating your design decisions clearly and concisely, as if presenting to stakeholders.

ATS Keywords: User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI), Product Design, Digital Design, Mobile App Design, Website Design, Responsive Design, Accessibility, Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud, Photoshop, Illustrator, Prototyping, Wireframing, User Flows, Information Architecture, Design Systems, Visual Design, Interaction Design, Case Studies, Portfolio, User Research, User Testing, Iteration, Agile, Collaboration, Data-Informed Design, Sports Digital, Fan Engagement, High-Performing Environment, Client Presentation, Design Rationale, Pixel-Perfect, Sketch, Framer, Principle, After Effects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application and interview process is a standard estimation for a design role at this level, including portfolio review, design challenges, and interviews with various team members. Specific tips for portfolio preparation and challenge handling are tailored to the UI/UX focus and the company's industry. A comprehensive list of relevant ATS keywords is provided for resume optimization.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

Figma: Essential for UI design, prototyping, and team collaboration. Expect to work extensively with Figma's features for creating and maintaining design systems.
Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator): Required for image editing, vector graphics, and potentially creating custom assets for interfaces.

Collaboration & Handoff:

Tools integrated with Figma are likely used for collaboration within delivery squads (e.g., comments, shared files).
Handoff to engineers is facilitated through Figma's inspection features or dedicated handoff tools if used.
Documentation of design systems and guidelines may be managed within Figma or a separate documentation tool.

Research & Testing:

Tools for gathering user feedback and conducting user testing are likely utilized to support the data-informed design approach.
Analytics platforms are used to measure design performance and gather insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tools section explicitly lists Figma and Adobe Creative Cloud as primary tools based on the job description. Collaboration, handoff, research, and testing tools are inferred as necessary components of a modern product design workflow, especially in a data-informed environment.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

Craft: A strong emphasis on detail, quality, and creating polished, "pixel-perfect" designs.
Collaboration: Working effectively and closely with product and engineering teams is paramount.
Curiosity: A drive to explore new ideas, push design boundaries, and commit to continuous learning.
Speed & Agility: Ability to deliver high-quality work efficiently in a fast-paced, demanding environment.
Fan-first Thinking: A core value centered around understanding and enhancing the experience for sports fans.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-functional collaboration within dedicated delivery squads is the primary mode of operation.
Expect regular interaction and feedback loops with product managers and engineers.
A culture of presenting and articulating design decisions clearly to diverse stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: Team culture and values are directly extracted and elaborated upon from the "What We Value" section of the original job description, providing specific behavioral expectations and their impact on the design process. The collaboration style is further detailed based on the mention of cross-functional squads.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

Balancing speed and agility with maintaining high design craft and attention to detail in a fast-paced environment.
Designing for diverse global audiences with varying technical capabilities and cultural nuances, especially within the context of major sports.
Translating complex sports data and information into intuitive and engaging user interfaces.
Advocating for user needs and data-informed decisions while meeting potentially demanding client expectations and deadlines.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Gain specialized expertise in sports digital design and fan engagement strategies.
Enhance skills in designing for large-scale, high-traffic digital platforms.
Develop stronger collaboration skills by working closely with experienced product and engineering teams.
Opportunity to refine skills in data analysis and using insights to drive design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Design challenges are inferred based on the nature of working on high-profile sports platforms for a global audience in a fast-paced agency environment. Growth opportunities are linked to the unique aspects of the role and the potential for skill development in a specialized industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

Be prepared to walk through your end-to-end design process for a key project in your portfolio, highlighting your approach to research, ideation, prototyping, and testing.
Discuss how you incorporate user feedback and data into your design decisions. Provide specific examples.
Explain your approach to working collaboratively with product managers and engineers. Describe a situation where you successfully navigated differing perspectives.

Company Culture Questions:

Research Pulselive's recent projects and clients. Be prepared to discuss what excites you about designing for sports fans and working in this specific industry.
Reflect on the values mentioned (Craft, Collaboration, Curiosity, Speed & Agility, Fan-first Thinking) and be ready to provide examples of how you embody these values in your work.
Ask thoughtful questions about the design team structure, collaboration patterns, and how design impact is measured within the organization.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Select 2-3 key case studies that best showcase your relevant skills (UI/UX, mobile/web, process, data-informed design).
Structure your presentation logically: Problem, Your Role, Process (Research, Ideation, Iteration), Solution, Impact/Learnings.
Focus on the "why" behind your design decisions and clearly articulate your design rationale.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation advice is tailored to the design role, emphasizing the importance of discussing process, collaboration, and data-informed design. Company culture questions are linked to the stated values, and portfolio presentation strategy focuses on impactful case studies and clear articulation of design thinking.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this design position:

Submit your application through this link
Tailor your resume to highlight relevant experience in UI/UX design, particularly for mobile and web, and include keywords mentioned in the ATS Keywords section.
Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date and easily accessible, featuring detailed case studies that demonstrate your design process and impact.
Prepare to discuss your portfolio projects in detail during interviews, focusing on your problem-solving approach and collaboration experience.
Research Pulselive and their work with sports clients to understand their design challenges and opportunities.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and design industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

Product Designer (Contractor)