Senior UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Designer

Company: Future Publishing

Location: Bath and North East Somerset, United Kingdom

Job Type: Hybrid (3 days in office)

Category: UI/UX Design

Date Posted: 2025-06-04

Experience Level: Mid-Senior level (5-10 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🎨 Role Summary

• Lead UX strategy on projects, balancing user needs with business goals and technical capabilities
• Collaborate with stakeholders to create and support Future’s digital products and proprietary technology
• Define and shape new products and feature solutions with a user-centered design approach
• Mentor and guide other designers on the team, providing feedback for their progression

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct UX research, including planning and facilitating sessions, user testing, and A/B testing
• Create and maintain user interfaces, design systems, and style guides using Figma
• Stay up-to-date with the latest UX best practices and industry trends
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality user experiences
• Define and lead UX strategy on projects, shaping new products and feature solutions

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field. Equivalent industry experience may also be considered.

Experience: Proven experience (5-10 years) in UX design, with a focus on online shopping and affiliate marketing design.

Required Skills:

• Expert knowledge of Figma for wireframing and prototyping
• Strong UX research skills, including planning and facilitating sessions, user testing, and A/B testing
• Experience with GA, Analytics, and Statistics
• High-level UI design principles and a solid understanding of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
• Brand guardian experience, ensuring designs align with brand guidelines

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with design for online shopping and affiliate marketing
• Knowledge of design systems and style guides
• Strong mentoring and leadership skills
• Familiarity with industry trends and competitor activity

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case studies demonstrating your UX research process, including problem exploration, ideation, prototyping, and testing
• Examples of user interfaces and design systems that showcase your visual design skills and understanding of brand guidelines
• Demonstration of your ability to create and maintain design systems and style guides
• Examples of your leadership and mentoring skills, such as team projects or design critiques

Process Documentation:

• Detailed user research plans and protocols, demonstrating your ability to plan and facilitate research sessions
• Case studies showcasing your user testing and A/B testing skills, including analysis of findings and recommendations
• Design system documentation, including design tokens, components, and patterns

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £45,000 - £60,000 per annum (based on experience and location)

Benefits:

• Uncapped leave policy
• Profit share bonus scheme
• Referral bonus scheme
• Wellbeing support through Colleague Assistant Programmes
• Opportunity to purchase shares in Future through the Share Incentive Plan

Working Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week, with flexible working arrangements

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: Media Production, with a focus on specialist media and digital products

Company Size: 1,001-5,000 employees, with a global presence and over 200 media brands

Founded: 1985, with a rich history in publishing and a strong commitment to digital innovation

Team Structure:

• Large UX Design team, with opportunities for collaboration and growth
• Flat hierarchy, with a focus on cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder engagement
• Diverse team composition, with expertise in various design disciplines and specializations

Methodology:

• User-centered design approach, with a focus on research, prototyping, and testing
• Agile development processes, with iterative design and continuous improvement
• Design system-driven workflow, with a focus on consistency and scalability

Company Website: futureplc.com

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: Senior UX Designer, with a focus on strategic leadership, mentoring, and driving user-centric design solutions

Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the UX Design Lead, with opportunities for cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder engagement

Design Impact: Senior UX Designers at Future have a significant impact on product and business decisions, driving user-centered design solutions and maintaining a focus on innovation and optimization

Growth Opportunities:

• Progression to Principal UX Designer or UX Design Manager roles, with increased leadership responsibilities and strategic decision-making
• Specialization in specific design disciplines, such as UX research, visual design, or design systems
• Opportunities to work on high-impact projects and drive innovation within the organization

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: Hybrid work environment, with three days in the office and two days working remotely

Office Location(s): Bath and North East Somerset, United Kingdom, with additional offices in Cardiff, London, New York, Sydney, and Los Angeles

Design Workspace Context:

• Modern, well-equipped offices with collaborative spaces and state-of-the-art design tools
• Access to a diverse range of design resources, including industry publications, events, and online communities
• Opportunities for cross-functional collaboration and knowledge sharing within the design team and wider organization

Work Schedule: Flexible working arrangements, with a focus on work-life balance and employee well-being

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

• Initial phone or video screen, focusing on cultural fit and design process understanding
• Design challenge, focusing on UX research, design, and problem-solving skills
• Portfolio review, assessing design skills, leadership abilities, and strategic thinking
• Final interview, focusing on cultural fit, career aspirations, and alignment with Future’s design vision

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase your UX research process, including problem exploration, ideation, prototyping, and testing
• Demonstrate your ability to create and maintain design systems and style guides, with a focus on consistency and scalability
• Highlight your leadership and mentoring skills, with examples of team projects or design critiques
• Tailor your portfolio to the specific role and company, emphasizing your understanding of Future’s design vision and values

Challenge Preparation:

• Familiarize yourself with Future’s design vision, values, and design system
• Prepare a design challenge that demonstrates your UX research, design, and problem-solving skills, with a focus on online shopping and affiliate marketing design
• Practice presenting your design challenge and portfolio, with a focus on storytelling, visual communication, and stakeholder engagement

ATS Keywords: UX Design, User Research, A/B Testing, GA, Analytics, Figma, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Brand Guidelines, Online Shopping Design, Affiliate Marketing Design, Leadership, Mentoring, Strategic Thinking

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

• Figma: Expert knowledge required for wireframing, prototyping, and design system creation
• Sketch or Adobe XD: Familiarity with alternative design tools is a plus
• InVision or Adobe XD: Familiarity with prototyping tools is a plus

Collaboration & Handoff:

• Miro: Expert knowledge required for planning and facilitating UX research sessions
• Zeplin or Figma: Familiarity with design handoff tools is a plus
• Confluence or Jira: Familiarity with project management tools is a plus

Research & Testing:

• UserTesting: Familiarity with user testing platforms is a plus
• Optimizely or Google Optimize: Familiarity with A/B testing tools is a plus
• GA or Adobe Analytics: Expert knowledge required for data analysis and insights

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

• User-centered design approach, with a focus on research, prototyping, and testing
• Collaboration and cross-functional teamwork, with a focus on stakeholder engagement and communication
• Continuous learning and improvement, with a commitment to staying up-to-date with the latest design trends and best practices
• Innovation and optimization, with a focus on driving user-centric design solutions and maintaining a competitive edge

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional teams, with opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing within the design team and wider organization
• Design critiques and feedback sessions, with a focus on continuous improvement and growth
• Design system contribution and maintenance, with a focus on consistency and scalability

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

• Keeping up with the latest UX best practices and industry trends, with a focus on online shopping and affiliate marketing design
• Managing stakeholder expectations and balancing user needs with business goals and technical capabilities
• Driving user-centric design solutions and maintaining a focus on innovation and optimization
• Scaling design systems and style guides, with a focus on consistency and scalability

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Attending industry conferences and events, with a focus on UX design, research, and leadership
• Participating in design mentorship programs, with a focus on knowledge sharing and skill development
• Exploring new design tools, methodologies, and technologies, with a focus on continuous learning and improvement

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

• Describe your UX research process, including problem exploration, ideation, prototyping, and testing
• How do you approach design challenges, with a focus on online shopping and affiliate marketing design?
• Can you provide an example of a design project that demonstrates your leadership and mentoring skills?

Company Culture Questions:

• How do you align with Future’s design vision and values, with a focus on user-centered design, collaboration, and continuous learning and improvement?
• Can you describe a situation where you had to manage stakeholder expectations and balance user needs with business goals and technical capabilities?
• How do you approach design system contribution and maintenance, with a focus on consistency and scalability?

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Focus on the design process, with a clear narrative that highlights your UX research, design, and leadership skills
• Visual Communication: Use high-quality visuals and diagrams to communicate your design ideas and concepts
• Stakeholder Engagement: Tailor your portfolio presentation to the specific role and company, emphasizing your understanding of Future’s design vision and values

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this design position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Tailor your resume and portfolio to the specific role and company, emphasizing your understanding of Future’s design vision and values
• Prepare for a multi-stage interview process that assesses your design skills, cultural fit, and alignment with Future’s design vision
• Research Future’s design methodology, values, and culture, with a focus on user-centered design, collaboration, and continuous learning and improvement