Lead UX/UI Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead UX/UI Designer

Company: Rovio

Location: Izmir, Turkey / Barcelona, Spain

Job Type: Permanent

Category: Game Design Operations

Date Posted: August 21, 2025

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end UI/UX design process for a new action game, from initial concept to final asset delivery, ensuring a cohesive and engaging player experience.

• Drive the creation of intuitive user flows, wireframes, and layouts, translating project requirements into clear, functional designs.

• Produce high-quality UI/UX assets, including concepts, icons, avatars, and VFX elements, that align with the game's visual identity and brand.

• Implement UI and 2D elements directly within the Unity game engine, collaborating closely with developers to guarantee seamless integration and optimal performance.

• Champion user-centered design principles and contribute to iterative improvements, enhancing features and overall player satisfaction through data-driven insights and creative problem-solving.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the initial input positions this as a "Lead UX/UI Designer," the core responsibilities and skill requirements lean heavily into execution and implementation within a game development context rather than explicit team leadership. The "Lead" aspect is interpreted as a senior individual contributor with significant influence and ownership over the UI/UX domain for the new action title, rather than direct people management. The emphasis is on driving the design vision and ensuring its successful technical realization.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize, design, and iterate on the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) for a new action game title, covering all aspects from initial player onboarding to in-game menus and meta-game systems.

• Develop detailed user flow diagrams, wireframes, and interactive prototypes to communicate design intent and gather feedback from cross-functional teams, including game designers, artists, and engineers.

• Create and maintain a comprehensive UI asset library, ensuring consistency in visual style, iconography, and layout across all game elements and platforms.

• Design and implement UI animations, transitions, and visual effects to enhance player engagement and provide clear feedback on in-game actions and system states.

• Collaborate directly with Unity developers to integrate UI assets, troubleshoot implementation issues, and ensure the final UI/UX meets both design specifications and performance requirements.

• Conduct user research, usability testing, and A/B testing to gather player feedback, analyze performance data, and inform design decisions for continuous UI/UX optimization.

• Contribute to the overall game design process by providing input on player progression, monetization strategies, and feature design from a UX perspective, ensuring alignment with business objectives.

• Stay abreast of current industry trends, best practices in game UI/UX design, and emerging technologies to bring innovative solutions to the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities have been expanded to reflect typical senior-level UI/UX design duties within a game development studio, emphasizing the full lifecycle of design, implementation, and iteration. Specific actions like user research, A/B testing, and collaboration with business objectives have been included to provide a more comprehensive view of the role's impact.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Interaction Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience:

• 5-10 years of professional experience in UI/UX design, with a significant portion dedicated to the game industry.

• Proven experience in designing and shipping successful mobile games, with a preference for action or similar genres.

Required Skills:

• UI/UX Design Expertise: Comprehensive understanding of user-centered design principles, interaction design, information architecture, and visual design best practices.

• Game Engine Proficiency: Hands-on experience implementing UI and 2D elements directly within Unity 3D is essential, including familiarity with UI systems like UGUI or UI Toolkit.

• Design Software Proficiency: Expert-level skills in industry-standard design and prototyping tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Figma, Sketch, or similar.

• Asset Creation: Ability to produce high-quality UI assets, including icons, buttons, menus, avatars, and other graphical elements tailored for games.

• Visual Design Acumen: Deep understanding of color theory, composition, typography, visual hierarchy, and animation principles to create visually appealing and cohesive interfaces.

• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills for effective collaboration with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.

• Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to address UX challenges and optimize player experience.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with 2D animation tools (e.g., Spine, After Effects) for UI animations.

• Familiarity with user research methodologies, usability testing, and data analysis tools.

• Knowledge of game design principles and player psychology.

• Experience with version control systems like Git.

• Understanding of mobile game monetization and engagement strategies from a UX perspective.

📝 Enhancement Note: The skills section has been elaborated to detail the specific software and design principles expected for a senior UI/UX role in game development. The distinction between required and preferred skills helps candidates prioritize their focus.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• End-to-End Project Showcase: Present at least 2-3 detailed case studies demonstrating your process for designing UI/UX for games, from initial concept and wireframing to final implementation and iteration.

• Unity Implementation Examples: Include direct examples or video walkthroughs of UI elements you have implemented within Unity, showcasing your ability to integrate assets seamlessly.

• Visual Design Quality: Showcase a strong portfolio of high-fidelity UI mockups, icons, and other graphical assets that highlight your aesthetic sensibilities and attention to detail.

• User-Centered Design Evidence: Clearly articulate how user feedback, usability testing, or data analysis informed your design decisions and led to measurable improvements in user experience.

• Problem/Solution Articulation: For each project, clearly define the user problem or design challenge and explain the rationale behind your design solutions.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Mapping: Demonstrate an understanding of UI/UX design workflows, including wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and iteration cycles, presented visually if possible.

• Asset Integration Standards: Provide examples or descriptions of how you ensure UI assets are optimized for game engines, considering technical constraints and performance.

• Collaboration & Feedback: Illustrate your process for collaborating with game designers, artists, and developers, and how you incorporate feedback into the design process.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides specific guidance on what a strong portfolio for a game UI/UX designer should contain, focusing on demonstrating practical skills in Unity implementation and user-centered design processes, which are critical for this role.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Izmir, Turkey: Based on industry benchmarks for experienced UI/UX Designers in the Turkish gaming sector, a competitive salary range would typically be between 450,000 TRY to 900,000 TRY gross annually.

• Barcelona, Spain: For experienced UI/UX Designers in the Spanish gaming market, a competitive salary range would typically be between €35,000 to €60,000 gross annually.

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary: Reflective of experience and market standards in the chosen location.

• Relocation Support: Assistance for candidates moving to Izmir, Turkey.

• Work Permit Sponsorship: For candidates requiring sponsorship in Spain.

• Health Insurance: Comprehensive medical coverage.

• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation days, public holidays, and sick leave.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for training, conferences, and skill enhancement.

• Game Discounts & Perks: Access to company games and related benefits.

• Creative Work Environment: Collaborative studio culture with access to modern tools and technology.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours, typically around 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered where possible to accommodate project needs and work-life balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary ranges are estimated based on publicly available data for experienced UI/UX Designers in Izmir, Turkey, and Barcelona, Spain, considering the gaming industry context. Benefits are inferred from typical offerings in tech and gaming companies.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Gaming (Mobile Games, Action Titles)

Company Size: Rovio is part of the SEGA family, indicating a large, established organization with significant resources, while its individual studios like Izmir and the planned Barcelona team operate with an agile, focused approach. This blend offers the stability of a major player with the dynamism of a studio environment.

Founded: Rovio Entertainment Corporation was founded in 2003, with its most significant success coming with the Angry Birds franchise in 2009. Its long history in the mobile gaming space signifies deep industry knowledge and resilience.

Team Structure:

• Agile & Collaborative: The team operates within an agile framework, emphasizing close collaboration between UI/UX designers, game designers, artists, producers, and developers.

• Cross-Functional Integration: UI/UX designers are integral members of game development pods, working alongside other disciplines to ensure a unified vision for the game.

• Reporting: The UI/UX Designer will likely report to a Lead Game Designer, Art Director, or a Head of Design, depending on the studio's specific organizational structure.

Methodology:

• User-Centered Design: A core methodology focused on understanding player needs and behaviors to inform design decisions.

• Agile Development: Iterative development cycles allowing for flexibility, rapid prototyping, and continuous feedback integration.

• Data-Driven Iteration: Utilizing analytics and testing to refine UI/UX based on player data and performance metrics.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is framed around the gaming industry's collaborative and iterative nature, highlighting Rovio's position as a well-established player with a focus on creating new titles. The team structure is described as cross-functional and agile.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior Individual Contributor or "Lead" within the UI/UX discipline for a specific game project. It requires a high degree of autonomy, creative ownership, and technical proficiency in game development tools.

Reporting Structure: The UI/UX Designer will report to a higher-level design or art leadership within the game team, collaborating closely with peers in game design, art, and engineering.

Operations Impact: The UI/UX designer has a direct and significant impact on the player experience, which is critical for player retention, engagement, and monetization in mobile games. Their work directly influences how players interact with the game, their satisfaction levels, and ultimately, the commercial success of the title.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in Unity's UI systems, animation, and integration workflows.

• Creative Leadership: Transition into a Lead UI/UX Designer role with direct team management responsibilities on future projects.

• Cross-Disciplinary Growth: Expand knowledge into game design, art direction, or technical art.

• Industry Influence: Contribute to the broader game design community through presentations or publications.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section clarifies the career trajectory for a UI/UX designer within a game studio, emphasizing growth from senior individual contributor to potential leadership roles and highlighting the impact of their work on the product's success.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is primarily on-site, emphasizing the collaborative nature of game development. Rovio's studios are designed to foster creativity and teamwork.

Office Location(s):

• Izmir, Turkey: The primary studio location, offering a vibrant city environment with a strong talent pool. Relocation support is available for candidates within Turkey.

• Barcelona, Spain: An expanding location, with work permit sponsorship provided for eligible candidates. Relocation to Spain is not currently offered.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Studios: Workspaces designed to encourage interaction, brainstorming, and knowledge sharing among team members.

• Modern Tooling: Access to industry-standard hardware and software for design, prototyping, and development.

• Team Integration: Opportunities for direct interaction and co-creation with game designers, artists, engineers, and producers on a daily basis.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time work schedule, typically Monday to Friday. Flexibility may be available to accommodate project deadlines or personal needs, aligning with the agile development cycle and company culture.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment is described as collaborative and studio-based, with specific details on the two available locations and the support offered for relocation and work permits.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, role understanding, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Technical Interview: A deep dive into your portfolio with the hiring manager and/or senior team members. This will involve discussing your design process, problem-solving approaches, and Unity implementation skills. Be prepared to walk through specific projects and explain your contributions.

• Design Challenge: You may be asked to complete a practical design task or a take-home challenge to assess your skills in a specific area relevant to the role, such as designing a UI flow for a particular game mechanic or creating a set of UI assets.

• Team Interviews: Meetings with potential team members (e.g., game designers, artists, developers) to evaluate collaboration style and cultural alignment.

• Final Interview: Potentially a final discussion with a studio head or senior leadership.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Your Best Work: Select projects that best demonstrate your UI/UX skills, especially those relevant to mobile games and action genres.

• Showcase Your Process: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your approach, the tools used, your specific contributions, and the outcome/impact. Use visuals, flowcharts, and concise explanations.

• Highlight Unity Implementation: Include concrete examples or videos of your UI assets integrated into Unity. Emphasize your technical understanding of the engine's UI systems.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics or qualitative feedback to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved usability, increased engagement).

• Tailor to Rovio: Research Rovio's games and brand identity to show you understand their style and target audience.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Game Mechanics: Familiarize yourself with common UI patterns and challenges in action games.

• Focus on Clarity and Usability: Ensure your solutions are intuitive, efficient, and visually clear.

• Time Management: Practice completing design tasks within a given timeframe.

• Presentation Skills: Prepare to clearly articulate your design decisions and rationale.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides a detailed breakdown of the likely interview stages and offers practical advice for preparing the portfolio and any potential design challenges, tailored to the specifics of a game UI/UX role.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Game Engine: Unity 3D (Essential for UI implementation and asset integration).

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator (for UI mockups, asset creation, wireframing).

• Wireframing/Flow Tools: Sketch, Adobe XD, Miro, or similar tools for creating user flows and low-fidelity designs.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this role, as the focus is on game development and player-facing interfaces.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tools section focuses on the specific software and game engines critical for a UI/UX designer in the gaming industry, with Unity being a key requirement.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Player First: A deep commitment to creating engaging and enjoyable experiences for players.

• Creativity & Innovation: Encouraging new ideas and pushing the boundaries of game design and user experience.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Valuing strong partnerships across disciplines to achieve shared goals.

• Excellence & Quality: Striving for high standards in all aspects of game development, from design to execution.

• Passion for Games: A genuine enthusiasm for gaming that drives dedication and creativity.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Active participation in team meetings, critiques, and feedback sessions with designers, artists, and engineers.

• Open Communication: Encouraging transparent and constructive dialogue to solve problems and share insights.

• Iterative Feedback Loop: Embracing a culture where feedback is regularly given and received to refine designs and improve processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The team culture and values are inferred from Rovio's known identity as a successful game developer, emphasizing player focus, creativity, and collaboration, which are paramount in game development environments.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Innovation with Technical Constraints: Creating novel UI/UX solutions while adhering to the technical limitations and performance requirements of the Unity engine and mobile platforms.

• Iterative Design Cycles: Adapting designs based on continuous feedback, testing, and evolving game mechanics.

• Cross-Disciplinary Alignment: Ensuring the UI/UX vision is effectively communicated and integrated with the artistic and gameplay direction.

• Maintaining Visual Consistency: Upholding a high standard of visual quality and brand consistency across a wide range of UI elements and game states.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Unity UI Techniques: Gaining deeper expertise in Unity's UI development tools and workflows.

• Game Design Principles: Expanding knowledge of core game design concepts and player psychology.

• Specialization: Developing expertise in areas like motion graphics for UI, accessibility design, or user research methodologies.

• Mentorship: Learning from experienced game designers and art directors within the studio.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges are identified based on common hurdles in game UI/UX development, while growth opportunities focus on skill enhancement and specialization within the gaming industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Walk me through your process for designing a new UI feature from scratch for a mobile game. What steps do you take, and how do you involve other team members?"

  • Preparation: Prepare a detailed case study from your portfolio that clearly outlines your end-to-end process, emphasizing user research, wireframing, prototyping, testing, and iteration. Highlight your collaboration touchpoints.

• "Describe a time you had to integrate complex UI assets into a game engine. What were the challenges, and how did you overcome them?"

  • Preparation: Select a portfolio example where you worked closely with developers. Be ready to discuss the technical aspects of asset integration, performance considerations, and how you ensured fidelity between your design and the final implementation.

• "How do you balance user needs with business goals (e.g., monetization, player retention) in your UI/UX designs?"

  • Preparation: Be ready to discuss how you approach design decisions that serve both the player experience and the project's commercial objectives. Provide examples where you successfully navigated these considerations.

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What are your thoughts on Rovio's existing games, and how would your UI/UX expertise contribute to a new action title for us?"

  • Preparation: Research Rovio's portfolio, particularly their approach to UI and player experience in games like Angry Birds. Articulate how your skills and design philosophy align with their brand and target audience.

• "How do you approach receiving and giving feedback within a game development team?"

  • Preparation: Emphasize your collaborative nature, openness to constructive criticism, and ability to provide clear, actionable feedback to peers and developers.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: Structure your portfolio presentations around the narrative of each project – the problem, your solution, and the impact.

• Focus on Process, Not Just Pixels: While visual quality is important, demonstrate the thinking and decision-making behind your designs. Use diagrams, flowcharts, and annotations.

• Showcase Unity Implementation: Provide clear visuals or even short video clips of your UI working within the Unity engine. Explain any specific technical considerations.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design choices, tools, and your role in team projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides specific, actionable advice on preparing for interview questions, focusing on demonstrating a robust design process, technical proficiency in Unity, and cultural fit with a game development studio.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead UX/UI Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on jobs.lever.co/rovio-2. Be sure to include your CV and a link to your online portfolio.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating experience with Unity 3D UI implementation, mobile game design, and creating intuitive user flows for action-oriented games. Showcase your best visual design work and process documentation.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your years of experience in UI/UX design within the game industry, specifically mentioning successful titles you've contributed to and your proficiency with key tools like Unity, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Figma. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice discussing your portfolio projects in detail, focusing on your design process, problem-solving skills, and how you collaborate with development teams. Be ready to explain your approach to user-centered design and Unity integration.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Rovio's history, current games, and company culture. Understanding their brand and target audience will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate your enthusiasm for contributing to their new action title.

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