Senior Design Strategist

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Design Strategist

Company: Hiflylabs

Location: Budapest, Hungary

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Design Strategy / UX/UI Design / Digital Consulting

Date Posted: March 27, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead design streams within complex AI, mobile, and web application projects, ensuring strategic alignment with client objectives and technical feasibility.

• Drive presales activities by crafting compelling design proposals, participating in pitches, and translating vague client ideas into concrete product scopes and roadmaps.

• Coordinate and mentor other designers, fostering a collaborative and high-performing design team environment that adheres to Design Thinking principles.

• Actively contribute to business development by facilitating high-stakes workshops with C-suite stakeholders and qualifying technical requirements for new engagements.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior individual contributor with significant leadership and client-facing responsibilities, focusing on the strategic and commercial aspects of design within a tech consultancy and application development firm. The emphasis on AI adaptation and diverse domain exposure suggests a dynamic and challenging environment.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Transform abstract client visions into detailed product scopes, clearly defining project objectives, deliverables, and the optimal "how" for execution.

• Proactively architect the ideal project team composition, including designers, researchers, and developers, and map out realistic project phases and timelines.

• Develop competitive and commercially viable effort and time estimates for proposals, balancing client expectations with internal resource capabilities.

• Lead the design component of the presales process, including client pitches, requirement qualification, and the articulation of Hiflylabs' Design Thinking methodology.

• Author and present persuasive design proposals that showcase the value of a user-centered, data-driven approach to software development.

• Facilitate impactful workshops with C-suite executives to align business Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) with user needs and product strategy.

• Apply consulting skills to thoroughly understand and qualify business objectives, ensuring design solutions directly contribute to client success and strategic goals.

• Select and adapt appropriate methodologies such as Lean, Agile, or Service Design to suit specific project constraints and client environments.

• Own and defend the product vision throughout the entire delivery lifecycle, ensuring long-term strategic direction and successful outcomes.

• Provide professional leadership for product design projects, effectively coordinating design streams and ensuring high-quality output.

• Elevate the internal design team through active mentoring, constructive peer reviews, and proactive professional growth planning for team members.

• Contribute to all phases of the design process, from initial user research and concept ideation through wireframing, prototyping, and final product delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic thinking, client management, and team leadership. The emphasis on "Scoping & Strategic Architecture" and "Commercial & Presales" indicates a senior role that directly influences business development and project initiation. Mentoring and process design responsibilities underscore the expectation for thought leadership within the design team.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, Business, or a related field is typically expected for a Senior role of this nature.

Experience: 5+ years of high-level UX experience, with a strong preference for agency or consultancy backgrounds where strategic ownership and client engagement were paramount.

Required Skills:

• High-Level UX Experience (5+ Years): Demonstrated ability to manage the "big picture" of UX, from strategy to execution, preferably in a consultancy or agency setting.

• Business Acumen: Strong understanding of business principles, including budgets, timelines, resource allocation, and commercial viability, enabling discussions on "good business" design.

• Design Thinking Methodology: Practical knowledge and application of Design Thinking frameworks to solve complex user and business problems.

• Client-Facing Proficiency: Proven experience in engaging with clients, managing expectations, and building strong professional relationships.

• User-Centered Design: A deep-seated commitment to user needs, translating them into effective and intuitive product experiences.

• Figma Proficiency: Thorough knowledge of Figma or similar tools for creating ecosystem maps, user journey maps, and project roadmaps.

• English Fluency: Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English for effective collaboration on international projects and client interactions.

• Constructive Approach: A positive, problem-solving attitude, focused on finding solutions and driving progress.

• Industry Trend Awareness: Knowledge of current design trends and emerging technologies, particularly in AI, mobile, and web applications.

Preferred Skills:

• AI Design Experience

• Branding and Identity Development

• Service Design expertise

• Experience within the Financial or Healthcare sectors

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications emphasize strategic thinking, business understanding, and client management over purely technical design skills. The explicit mention of Figma and English fluency highlights practical requirements for daily work. The "Nice to have" skills point towards areas where the company is actively seeking to grow its expertise.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Strategic Case Studies: Showcase projects where you defined product scope, led design strategy, and influenced product vision from conception to delivery. Highlight the "why" and "how" behind your strategic decisions.

• Presales & Proposal Examples: Include anonymized examples of proposals or pitch materials where you outlined design approaches, team structures, and effort estimations for new client engagements.

• Methodology Application: Demonstrate your ability to adapt and apply various methodologies (e.g., Design Thinking, Agile, Lean, Service Design) to different project contexts and constraints.

• Client Engagement Evidence: Present evidence of successful client interaction, including problem-solving in workshops with C-suite stakeholders and managing client expectations.

• Visual Ecosystem Mapping: Include examples of ecosystem maps, project roadmaps, or strategic architecture diagrams created using tools like Figma.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Detail your approach to designing and optimizing end-to-end design workflows, from initial client brief to final product delivery.

• Methodology Selection & Adaptation: Explain how you choose and tailor methodologies for specific project needs, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness.

• Team Coordination & Mentoring: Provide examples of how you've coordinated design streams, mentored junior designers, and fostered professional growth within a team.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Design Strategist role, the portfolio is critical. It should not only demonstrate design execution but, more importantly, strategic thinking, business acumen, and leadership capabilities. Emphasis should be placed on how the candidate translates business needs into actionable design strategies and manages the process from presales through to delivery.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The estimated annual salary range for a Senior Design Strategist in Budapest, Hungary, with 5-10 years of experience, typically falls between €45,000 and €70,000 (gross), depending on the exact experience, specific skillset, and negotiation. This range is based on industry benchmarks for senior design and consulting roles in Central European tech hubs, considering the cost of living in Budapest.

Benefits:

• AI-First Culture: Opportunity to work at the forefront of AI integration in UX/UI design, shaping future product development.

• Diverse Project Exposure: Work across various industries, including Finance and Healthcare, offering a broad range of challenging projects.

• Autonomy and Influence: Significant freedom to lead, shape the design department's evolution, and have a direct impact on the company's strategic direction.

• Professional Development: Access to a unique mentoring system and opportunities for continuous learning and skill enhancement.

• Competitive Remuneration: A salary package commensurate with senior-level expertise and responsibilities.

• Collaborative Environment: Work within a vibrant team of 250+ data and tech enthusiasts.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are expected, typically around 40 hours per week, with the flexibility and autonomy characteristic of senior roles in a modern tech consultancy.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimates are based on general market data for Budapest and senior roles in tech consulting. Specific benefits are extrapolated from the "Why Appic?" section and general industry standards for tech companies of this size. The emphasis on autonomy suggests a culture that values trust and results over strict time-tracking.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, Software Development, AI Solutions, Digital Consulting, UX/UI Design. Hiflylabs operates within the competitive landscape of custom software development and digital transformation, leveraging AI and data analytics to provide cutting-edge solutions.

Company Size: 250+ employees. This size indicates a well-established company with a significant market presence, offering structured career paths and a diverse range of projects, while still maintaining a degree of agility and a strong team culture.

Founded: Over a decade ago (specifically, "Over a Decade of Mastery" and "twelve years" suggests around 2012-2014). This longevity points to stability, experience, and a proven track record in the industry.

Team Structure:

• Design Department: The role implies leadership within a design team, which likely includes other UX/UI designers, researchers, and potentially service designers. The Senior Design Strategist will coordinate these streams.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Seamless collaboration between developers, designers, and business analysts is a core tenet of Hiflylabs' approach, as stated in their description.

• Reporting Structure: The Senior Design Strategist will likely report to a Head of Design, Design Director, or a senior technical/product lead, and will be responsible for leading and mentoring junior and mid-level designers.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Insights: Hiflylabs emphasizes the use of data analytics and AI to inform their solutions.

• Agile & Lean Principles: Implied through standard software development practices and the mention of adapting methodologies.

• User-Centric Design Thinking: A foundational approach for delivering user-friendly and impactful applications.

Company Website: https://hiflylabs.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Hiflylabs positions itself as a forward-thinking technology firm with a strong focus on AI, data, and user experience. The company culture appears to value expertise, autonomy, continuous learning, and collaborative problem-solving, especially for senior hires.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor with Leadership Potential. This role is a Senior Design Strategist, indicating a significant level of expertise and autonomy. It requires leading design streams, mentoring others, and contributing to the strategic direction of both projects and the design department itself. The role is client-facing and involves presales, suggesting a path towards strategic consulting or design leadership.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Design Strategist will likely report to a Head of Design, Design Director, or a senior executive overseeing product development. They will, in turn, lead and mentor other designers within their project teams and potentially within the broader design department.

Operations Impact: The Senior Design Strategist's impact is critical in shaping product strategy, ensuring commercial viability, and driving user satisfaction. By transforming client ideas into concrete, user-centered, and technically feasible solutions, they directly influence project success, client retention, and the company's reputation for delivering high-quality AI, mobile, and web applications. Their role in presales also directly contributes to revenue generation and business growth.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to advance into a Design Director, Head of Design, or similar leadership role, overseeing larger teams and strategic initiatives.

• Strategic Consulting: Develop deeper expertise in consulting, potentially specializing in AI strategy, digital transformation, or specific industry domains like finance or healthcare.

• Process Innovation: Lead the evolution of Hiflylabs' design methodologies, tools, and best practices, further enhancing the company's service offerings.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in niche areas like AI design, service design, or specific industry verticals.

• Mentorship & Training: Formalize mentoring roles and contribute to the company's internal training programs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth trajectory for this role is clearly defined towards leadership and strategic influence. The company's emphasis on autonomy for seniors suggests that individuals who excel will be given opportunities to shape their career paths and the company's future direction.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as "On-site," implying a physical office presence in Budapest. This suggests a traditional work environment that prioritizes in-person collaboration and team cohesion.

Office Location(s): Budapest, Hungary, specifically at "Bartók Béla út." This location is in a well-known area of Budapest, likely offering good accessibility and a professional setting.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office likely serves as a central hub for brainstorming, client meetings, and cross-functional team collaboration between designers, developers, and business analysts.

• Technology-Rich: Expect access to industry-standard design tools (like Figma), development environments, and potentially advanced AI-related technologies relevant to Hiflylabs' services.

• Team Interaction: Ample opportunities for direct interaction with a diverse team of 250+ tech professionals, fostering knowledge sharing and cross-disciplinary learning.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week) are expected, with an emphasis on results and autonomy rather than strict time adherence, typical for senior roles in tech consultancies.

📝 Enhancement Note: While designated as "On-site," the "autonomy" mentioned in the "Why Appic?" section suggests a flexible approach within the office environment, balancing structured work with individual freedom. The physical office location in Budapest is likely a well-equipped and professional space designed for collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio to assess experience, skills, and alignment with the Senior Design Strategist role.

• Hiring Manager/Design Lead Interview: Discussion focused on your background, approach to design strategy, client engagement experience, and understanding of business objectives. Be prepared to discuss your portfolio highlights.

• Case Study Presentation/Workshop: You may be asked to present a detailed case study from your portfolio, or participate in a simulated workshop/design challenge to evaluate your strategic thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills. This is where your portfolio will be crucial.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with potential colleagues (designers, developers) and other stakeholders to assess cultural fit, collaborative style, and ability to lead design streams.

• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership to discuss your vision for the role and your potential impact on Hiflylabs' design department.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Prioritize Strategic Impact: Focus on projects where you demonstrated significant strategic input, problem-solving, and business impact, not just visual design execution.

• Showcase the "Why": Clearly articulate the problem, your strategic approach, the methodologies used, and the rationale behind your design decisions.

• Highlight Presales & Scoping: Include examples of how you've translated vague ideas into concrete scopes, created roadmaps, and participated in pitches or proposal writing.

• Demonstrate Leadership: Use case studies to illustrate your ability to lead design streams, coordinate teams, and mentor junior designers.

• Quantify Results: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the business value and user impact of your work (e.g., increased conversion rates, improved user satisfaction, cost savings).

• Tool Proficiency: Briefly mention your proficiency with tools like Figma for mapping and roadmapping.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Hiflylabs: Research their services, client base (Finance, Healthcare), and AI focus.

• Prepare a Strong Case Study: Select a project that best demonstrates your strategic thinking, client management, and leadership skills. Be ready to walk through it in detail.

• Practice your Pitch: Rehearse how you would articulate your value proposition and approach to a new client.

• Be Ready for Business Questions: Anticipate questions about budgets, timelines, resource allocation, and how design contributes to business KPIs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to rigorously assess strategic thinking, client-facing skills, and leadership potential. A strong, well-articulated portfolio that showcases business impact and strategic decision-making is paramount.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for ecosystem mapping, project roadmaps, wireframing, and collaborative design. Proficiency is a stated requirement.

• Other Design Tools: Familiarity with similar UX/UI design and prototyping tools (e.g., Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision) is likely beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• The role involves presales and client management, so understanding CRM principles and how design integrates with sales processes is important. Specific CRM tool knowledge isn't listed as a requirement for the designer, but awareness of how design impacts conversion funnels is key.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for Figma points to its central role in the design process at Hiflylabs. The company's broader focus on data and AI suggests an environment where designers are expected to be data-informed and technologically aware, even if not directly responsible for managing analytics or CRM systems.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• AI-First Integration: A commitment to leveraging Artificial Intelligence not just as a technology, but as a core element in delivering innovative UX and application solutions.

• User-Centricity: A fundamental belief that successful products are built by deeply understanding and prioritizing user needs throughout the design and development lifecycle.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Emphasis on using data and analytics to inform strategic choices, measure impact, and optimize product performance.

• Continuous Learning & Growth: A culture that encourages and supports the personal and professional development of its employees, fostering an environment of constant improvement.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: A belief in the power of cross-functional teams working seamlessly together to achieve common goals.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expect close collaboration with developers, business analysts, and project managers, with the Senior Design Strategist acting as a bridge between technical and business/user needs.

• Design Thinking Workshops: Facilitation of inclusive and productive workshops to foster shared understanding and co-create solutions with clients and internal teams.

• Knowledge Sharing: A culture that encourages sharing best practices, insights, and learnings across the design team and the wider organization, potentially through peer reviews and internal presentations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values align with a modern, forward-thinking tech consultancy. The emphasis on AI, data, and user-centricity, combined with a collaborative and growth-oriented culture, suggests an environment where strategic thinkers can thrive and make a tangible impact.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Bridging the Gap: Effectively translating complex AI capabilities and technical possibilities into tangible, user-friendly product features that address real business needs.

• Managing Stakeholder Expectations: Balancing the vision of C-suite stakeholders with user needs and technical constraints, especially in high-stakes presales scenarios.

• Adapting to Diverse Domains: Quickly understanding and strategizing for new business domains (e.g., Finance, Healthcare) and their unique user and regulatory landscapes.

• Leading Design Evolution: Contributing to the strategic evolution of Hiflylabs' design department, potentially by introducing new methodologies, tools, or service offerings.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Design Specialization: Deepen expertise in designing for AI-powered applications and understanding the nuances of human-AI interaction.

• Strategic Consulting Skills: Enhance consulting capabilities through exposure to diverse client challenges and high-level strategic discussions.

• Leadership Development: Gain experience in leading teams, mentoring talent, and shaping departmental strategy.

• Industry Exposure: Broaden knowledge across various sectors through diverse project work, gaining insights into different industry-specific challenges and opportunities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to a senior strategic role in a dynamic tech consultancy. They offer significant opportunities for professional growth, particularly in areas of AI, strategic consulting, and leadership.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you transformed a vague client idea into a concrete product scope. What was your process, and what were the key outcomes?" (Focus on scoping, methodology, and impact.)

• "Walk me through a presales scenario where you had to pitch a design solution. How did you tailor your approach to the client's business KPIs and user needs?" (Highlight client engagement, proposal writing, and strategic alignment.)

• "How do you select and adapt design methodologies (Agile, Lean, Service Design) for different projects? Provide an example." (Demonstrate flexibility and strategic application of frameworks.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about Hiflylabs' AI-first approach to UX?" (Showcase research and alignment with company vision.)

• "How do you see yourself contributing to the evolution of our design department?" (Address autonomy, leadership, and strategic input.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly outline the Problem, Your Role/Strategy, Process/Solution, and Results/Impact.

• Emphasize Strategic Decisions: Focus on the "why" behind your choices, not just the "what."

• Showcase Business Impact: Quantify results wherever possible, linking design work to business objectives like revenue, efficiency, or user satisfaction.

• Highlight Client Interaction: Be prepared to discuss your experience in client workshops and presentations.

• Keep it Concise: Be prepared to present your most impactful projects within a given timeframe.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, business acumen, client-facing capabilities, and leadership. A well-prepared portfolio that clearly articulates these aspects will be key to success.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Design Strategist position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on SmartRecruiters.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 5+ years of high-level UX experience, specifically mentioning agency/consultancy background, client-facing roles, and strategic responsibilities. Use keywords like "Design Strategy," "Presales," "Scoping," "Design Thinking," "Client Proposals," and "AI Design."

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your most impactful projects that showcase strategic leadership, business acumen, and successful client engagements. Focus on projects where you defined scope, led strategy, and influenced outcomes. Ensure you can clearly articulate the "why," "how," and "results."

• Prepare Your Case Study Presentation: Be ready to present one of your portfolio projects in detail, focusing on strategic thinking, problem-solving, and business impact. Practice articulating your process and rationale clearly and concisely.

• Research Hiflylabs: Understand their services (AI, mobile, web apps, consulting), target industries (Finance, Healthcare), and their "AI-First Culture." Prepare thoughtful questions about their design processes, team structure, and future vision.

⚠️ 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.

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