Senior UX/UI Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX/UI Designer

Company: Apadmi

Location: Manchester, England, United Kingdom (Hybrid)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Design & User Experience

Date Posted: 2026-02-18

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end design process for complex digital products, from initial discovery and strategy through to final UI and delivery, ensuring user-centered and commercially effective solutions.

• Drive design excellence by creating world-class UX and UI that effectively balances user needs with business objectives.

• Mentor and guide junior and mid-level designers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and high-quality design output within project teams.

• Act as a confident design authority in client interactions, clearly articulating design rationale, strategy, and recommendations to senior stakeholders.

• Contribute to new business opportunities by developing compelling proposals and pitches, showcasing Apadmi's design vision and capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior contributor within the design function, indicating a requirement for strategic thinking, leadership potential, and the ability to influence both internal teams and external clients. The hybrid model suggests a need for strong self-management and effective remote collaboration alongside in-office engagement.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the design of client-facing digital products, taking full ownership of the design lifecycle from discovery and user research integration to final UI delivery and design system implementation.

• Develop comprehensive user flows, wireframes, prototypes, and interaction designs that are both intuitive for users and aligned with commercial goals.

• Collaborate closely with User Researchers to integrate user insights and validation throughout the design process, ensuring data-informed decision-making.

• Facilitate and lead discovery sessions and design workshops with clients and internal stakeholders to define project scope, user needs, and strategic direction.

• Partner effectively with Product Managers and Engineering Leads to ensure design intent is accurately translated into the final product during development.

• Serve as a primary design representative in client meetings, confidently presenting design rationale, strategic thinking, and solutions with clarity and impact.

• Contribute significantly to new business development by crafting proposals, defining UX/UI strategies for pitches, and articulating Apadmi's value proposition.

• Guide and direct the work of other designers within project teams, providing clear direction, constructive feedback, and support to ensure project success.

• Conduct and participate in peer design reviews, offering insightful, actionable feedback to elevate the quality of work across the design team.

• Champion and implement inclusive and accessible design best practices across all projects, ensuring products are usable by the widest possible audience.

• Ensure all design work is delivered on time, within scope, and is demonstrably backed by user research, industry best practices, and strategic alignment.

• Actively contribute to the continuous improvement of team processes, design quality standards, and overall ways of working within the UX/UI team.

• Work effectively within agile and scrum methodologies, adapting to iterative development cycles and contributing to sprint planning and reviews.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on design execution and strategic leadership. The emphasis on client-facing activities, new business contributions, and team mentorship strongly suggests a senior-level role requiring not only technical design expertise but also strong communication, influence, and leadership capabilities.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field is often preferred for roles requiring deep theoretical understanding. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: Significant professional experience (typically 5-10 years) delivering high-quality UX and UI design for a variety of digital products, with a demonstrable track record of leading complex projects from conception to launch.

Required Skills:

• Extensive experience in User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) design for digital products.

• Proven ability to lead end-to-end design processes, encompassing discovery, strategy, wireframing, prototyping, interaction design, and UI design.

• Strong portfolio showcasing strategic thinking, craft excellence, and evidence of measurable impact on digital products.

• Demonstrated experience in planning, directing, and mentoring junior and mid-level designers within project teams.

• Confidence and proficiency in presenting design concepts, rationale, and strategy to senior stakeholders and clients.

• Deep understanding of accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and inclusive design principles.

• Experience contributing to new business proposals, pitches, and defining UX/UI vision for opportunities.

• Proficiency working within agile and scrum development environments.

• Excellent verbal and written communication, collaboration, and facilitation skills.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing scalable design systems.

• Familiarity with user research methodologies and ability to collaborate effectively with User Researchers.

• Experience facilitating client workshops and discovery sessions.

• Familiarity with various design tools and software beyond core requirements (e.g., advanced prototyping tools, animation software).

• Experience in specific industry sectors relevant to Apadmi's client base.

• Understanding of front-end development principles to ensure design feasibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "significant experience" and "strong portfolio" requirements are critical for this senior role. Candidates should prepare to showcase projects that demonstrate not just aesthetic skill but also strategic problem-solving, user advocacy, and commercial impact. Mentoring and client-facing experience are also key differentiators.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio is mandatory and should clearly demonstrate strategic thinking, end-to-end design process execution, and the measurable impact of your design solutions.

• Include case studies that detail the problem, your process, design decisions, and the outcomes achieved, highlighting user needs and commercial objectives.

• Showcase examples of creating user flows, wireframes, prototypes, interaction designs, and UI designs.

• Demonstrate experience with scalable design systems and their implementation.

Process Documentation:

• Candidates are expected to articulate their design processes clearly, including how they approach discovery, user research integration, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iterative refinement.

• Ability to document and present design rationales, user journey maps, and information architecture.

• Experience in creating and maintaining design system documentation for consistency and scalability.

• Documentation of how design decisions were informed by user data, business goals, and technical constraints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is the primary tool for assessing a candidate's strategic thinking, execution capabilities, and impact. It should not just be a collection of visuals but a narrative that tells the story of how design challenges were solved effectively, with clear articulation of the process and results.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Senior UX/UI Designer with 5-10 years of experience in a major UK city like Manchester, the estimated salary range is £50,000 - £70,000 per annum. This range can vary based on the candidate's specific portfolio, experience, and negotiation.

Benefits:

• Hybrid working model offering flexibility between home and office.

• Opportunity to work on high-impact digital products for leading national and international brands.

• Collaborative and multidisciplinary team environment fostering innovation and knowledge sharing.

• Clear opportunities for career growth, mentorship, and leadership development within the design function.

• A company culture that values quality, continuous learning, and professional development.

• Access to training, conferences, and resources to support skill advancement.

• Standard benefits package likely including pension contributions, holiday allowance, and potential for performance-related bonuses.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are likely 40 hours per week, with a hybrid arrangement allowing for a balance between on-site and remote work. Specific office attendance days may be agreed upon with the hiring manager.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on data from UK-based salary surveys for senior design roles in technology and digital agencies, considering the location of Manchester and the described seniority. Apadmi's focus on digital products and client work suggests a competitive benefits package, with the hybrid model being a key differentiator.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital Product Development, Technology Consultancy, App Development. Apadmi operates within the dynamic digital product agency space, creating solutions for a diverse range of clients across various sectors. This means exposure to different business challenges and user needs is a constant.

Company Size: Apadmi is a growing company, likely falling into the small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) category or larger, with potentially over 100 employees given its established presence and client roster. This size often allows for a balance between structured processes and agile, close-knit team dynamics.

Founded: Apadmi was founded in 2007. This long history in the digital space indicates a mature understanding of the industry, a stable operational framework, and a proven ability to adapt to technological shifts and market demands over more than a decade.

Team Structure:

• The UX/UI team is likely part of a larger Product & Design department, reporting to a Head of UX or Creative Director.

• Designers work in multidisciplinary teams alongside Product Strategists, User Researchers, Project Managers, and Engineers.

Methodology:

• Apadmi emphasizes user-centred design, combining user research, strategic thinking, and creative execution.

• They operate within agile/scrum environments, requiring adaptability and iterative design approaches.

• A focus on delivering commercially impactful and purposeful digital experiences is central to their methodology.

• Design systems and scalable solutions are likely core to ensuring efficiency and consistency.

Company Website: [Apadmi Company Website - A placeholder, as it was not provided in the input. A candidate should research this.]

📝 Enhancement Note: Apadmi's established history and focus on client work suggest a professional environment that values quality, strategic thinking, and tangible results. The multidisciplinary team structure is typical of successful digital agencies, promoting a collaborative and integrated approach to product development.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior UX/UI Designer role, signifying a highly experienced individual who is expected to operate with a significant degree of autonomy. They are responsible for leading design initiatives, mentoring others, and influencing strategic decisions, moving beyond individual contribution to team and project leadership.

Reporting Structure: The role reports to the Head of UX / Creative Director. This indicates a clear line of reporting to senior leadership within the design function, providing opportunities for strategic alignment, mentorship, and career development discussions.

Operations Impact: Senior designers at Apadmi have a direct impact on the commercial success of client products by creating user-centered, intuitive, and aesthetically compelling digital experiences. Their work influences user engagement, conversion rates, brand perception, and ultimately, the client's business objectives. By leading design efforts, they ensure that the user perspective is central to product strategy and execution.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Potential to grow into a Lead UX/UI Designer, Design Manager, or Head of UX role, taking on greater responsibility for team management, strategy, and client relationships.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas such as design systems, UX research, interaction design, or accessibility.

• Client Relationship Management: Developing stronger client-facing skills, becoming a trusted advisor for key accounts.

• New Business Contribution: Playing a more significant role in shaping Apadmi's service offering and winning new projects through innovative pitches and proposals.

• Process Improvement: Leading initiatives to refine and enhance Apadmi's design processes, tools, and quality standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The senior title and reporting structure point to a role with significant growth potential, not just in terms of technical skills but also in leadership and strategic influence. Candidates should look for opportunities to demonstrate their leadership capabilities and strategic thinking during the application process.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Apadmi's Manchester HQ is described as a hybrid working environment. This suggests a modern, well-equipped office space designed to facilitate both focused individual work and collaborative team activities. It likely includes meeting rooms, breakout areas, and hot-desking or dedicated workstations.

Office Location(s): The primary office is located in Manchester, England. Specific details about the exact location within Manchester would be beneficial for candidates commuting, but its designation as HQ implies a central and accessible hub for the company's operations and client interactions.

Workspace Context:

• The hybrid model fosters a dynamic workspace where collaboration is encouraged during office days, with a focus on effective communication and teamwork.

• Access to necessary design tools, software, and potentially hardware is expected.

• Opportunities for informal and formal interaction with design colleagues, product teams, and engineers are integral to the hybrid setup.

• The environment is likely fast-paced, client-driven, and project-oriented, requiring adaptability and efficiency.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is typical, with flexibility offered through the hybrid model. This allows designers to manage their time effectively, balancing personal commitments with project deadlines and collaborative sessions. The emphasis on agile/scrum means structured team interactions are scheduled, while individual design work can be more self-directed.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role is a significant aspect of the work environment. Candidates should consider their comfort and effectiveness in a mixed remote and in-office setting, as well as their ability to maintain strong team connections and productivity across different locations.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of CV and portfolio by the recruitment team or hiring manager to assess alignment with core requirements and experience level.

• Portfolio Presentation & Interview: A dedicated session where the candidate presents their portfolio, discusses key case studies, and answers questions about their strategic approach, process, and impact. This is often a crucial stage for senior roles.

• Skills-Based Interview/Workshop: May involve a design challenge, a collaborative exercise, or a deeper dive into specific technical skills and problem-solving abilities.

• Team/Cultural Fit Interview: Meeting with other team members or stakeholders to assess collaboration style, communication, and cultural alignment with Apadmi's values.

• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership to discuss career aspirations, strategic vision, and final offer details.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly outline the problem statement, your role and responsibilities, the process undertaken (discovery, ideation, design, testing), your key design decisions and rationale, and the measurable outcomes or impact.

• Highlight Seniority: Emphasize instances where you led projects, mentored others, influenced strategy, or managed stakeholder relationships.

• Showcase Strategic Thinking: Go beyond aesthetics; demonstrate how your designs solve business problems and meet user needs effectively.

• Quality over Quantity: Select your strongest, most relevant projects that best represent your skills and experience.

• Accessibility & Inclusivity: If possible, showcase how you've incorporated these principles into your work.

• Be Prepared to Discuss: Be ready to talk through every aspect of your portfolio, including challenges faced and lessons learned.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Apadmi's Work: Research their recent projects, client portfolio, and any publicly stated design philosophy or challenges.

• Practice Design Thinking: Be ready to articulate how you would approach a new design problem, from understanding the brief to ideation and solution proposal.

• Prepare for Stakeholder Scenarios: Think about how you would handle difficult client feedback, disagreements within a team, or the need to justify design decisions with limited data.

• Articulate Design Rationale: Practice explaining why you made specific design choices, linking them back to user needs and business goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is paramount for this role. Candidates should invest significant time in curating and presenting their portfolio, ensuring it clearly demonstrates their strategic capabilities, leadership potential, and ability to deliver impactful design solutions.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable and industry standard for collaborative design), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, XD).

• Prototyping & Interaction: InVision, Axure RP, Principle, ProtoPie.

• Design Systems: Experience in creating, managing, and utilizing design systems is crucial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel) to understand user behavior and inform design decisions is beneficial.

CRM & Automation:

Collaboration & Project Management:

• Jira, Confluence (common in agile environments for tracking and documentation).

• Slack or similar for team communication.

• Miro or Mural for remote whiteboarding and collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is almost a given for modern UX/UI roles, especially in agency environments where collaboration is key. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with design systems and how they leverage data and analytics to inform their design process.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centrism: A deep commitment to understanding and advocating for the user's needs in every design decision.

• Quality & Craftsmanship: A dedication to producing high-fidelity, polished, and well-considered design outcomes.

• Collaboration: A belief in the power of multidisciplinary teamwork and open communication to achieve the best results.

• Innovation & Learning: A proactive approach to exploring new technologies, methodologies, and design trends, coupled with a desire for continuous improvement.

• Commercial Impact: A focus on delivering designs that not only delight users but also achieve tangible business objectives for clients.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Seamless collaboration with Product Managers, User Researchers, Engineers, and other stakeholders to ensure holistic product development.

• Constructive Feedback Culture: An environment where constructive criticism is welcomed and utilized to elevate the quality of work through peer reviews and team discussions.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouragement to share insights, best practices, and learnings across the team and wider organization.

• Agile and Iterative: A flexible approach to design that embraces iterative development and adapts to project needs and feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: Apadmi's culture appears to value a blend of user advocacy, technical excellence, and business acumen. Candidates should demonstrate how their personal values align with these principles and how they contribute positively to a collaborative and learning-oriented team environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Commercial Goals: A constant challenge in agency work is harmonizing the ideal user experience with client budget, timelines, and business imperatives.

• Managing Multiple Projects & Clients: Senior designers often juggle competing priorities, demanding excellent time management and organizational skills.

• Influencing Stakeholders: Effectively communicating complex design rationale and advocating for user-centered solutions to clients or internal teams who may have different priorities.

• Keeping Pace with Technology: The digital landscape evolves rapidly; staying current with new tools, platforms, and design trends requires continuous learning.

• Mentoring and Developing Others: Effectively guiding and supporting junior designers while still meeting demanding project deadlines.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Techniques: Opportunities to explore and master advanced UX/UI methodologies, interaction patterns, and prototyping techniques.

• Industry Conferences & Training: Access to industry events and professional development courses to enhance skills and network.

• Leadership Training: Development programs focused on honing leadership, mentorship, and client management capabilities.

• Exposure to Diverse Industries: Working with a wide range of clients provides exposure to varied business models and user needs, broadening expertise.

• Design System Leadership: Opportunity to lead the development or evolution of significant design systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for senior roles in digital agencies. Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they have successfully navigated these challenges in the past, showcasing their problem-solving skills and resilience. The growth opportunities are substantial for those looking to advance their careers in design leadership.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex digital product you've led the design for, detailing your strategic approach from discovery to delivery." (Prepare to discuss user research, problem definition, key design decisions, and outcomes.)

• "How do you balance user needs with commercial objectives when designing for a client with tight constraints?" (Focus on your negotiation, prioritization, and compromise skills.)

• "Walk us through a time you had to influence a senior stakeholder who disagreed with your design recommendation. What was your approach and the result?" (Highlight your communication, persuasion, and data-driven argumentation skills.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Apadmi and this specific Senior UX/UI Designer role?" (Research Apadmi's work, values, and recent news.)

• "How do you stay updated with the latest trends and best practices in UX/UI design?" (Show your commitment to continuous learning.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Structure your portfolio presentation as a narrative for each case study, focusing on the problem, your process, your specific contributions, and the impact of your work.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improvements in conversion rates, engagement, task completion times).

• Focus on Strategy and Rationale: Be prepared to explain why you made certain design choices, linking them back to user needs, business goals, and design principles.

• Showcase Leadership: For senior roles, highlight instances where you led projects, mentored others, or influenced strategic decisions.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time and focus on the most impactful aspects of your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for evidence of strategic thinking, leadership potential, strong communication skills, a deep understanding of the design process, and a cultural fit. Prepare specific examples that showcase these attributes, drawing directly from your portfolio and professional experience.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX/UI Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Greenhouse.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date, well-organized, and clearly showcases your best work, focusing on case studies that highlight strategic thinking, end-to-end process, and measurable impact. Tailor the selection to align with Apadmi's client work where possible.

• Optimize Your CV: Highlight keywords relevant to UX/UI design, leadership, client interaction, and agile methodologies. Quantify achievements and clearly state your years of experience.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice presenting your portfolio narrative, focusing on your strategic rationale, design process, and the impact of your work. Be ready to discuss your experience mentoring and influencing stakeholders.

• Research Apadmi: Understand their client base, recent projects, and company values to tailor your application and articulate your interest effectively.

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