Senior UX/UI Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX/UI Designer
Company: Jones Knowles Ritchie (JKR)
Location: London, England, United Kingdom
Job Type: CONTRACTOR
Category: Design Operations / GTM Operations (Brand Experience Focus)
Date Posted: 2025-09-24
Experience Level: 5-10 Years
Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end UX/UI design for digital products, platforms, and applications, harmonizing user-centricity with robust brand storytelling.
• Drive the entire design lifecycle, from initial research and strategic audits to detailed wireframing, interactive prototyping, and polished UI execution.
• Develop and implement distinctive UI systems and design components that translate core brand identities into engaging and consistent digital interfaces.
• Foster cross-functional collaboration with strategists, creative teams, developers, and clients to ensure seamless integration and innovative delivery of digital brand experiences.
• Actively mentor and inspire junior designers, contributing to the elevation of the team's digital craft and overall design excellence.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role, while titled "Senior UX/UI Designer," has significant implications for Go-To-Market (GTM) and Brand Operations. The emphasis on "brand storytelling," "distinctive digital impact," and "translating brand identities into digital interfaces" highlights a crucial need for design operations that directly support marketing and sales efforts by ensuring a cohesive and compelling brand presence across all digital touchpoints. The role's responsibility for leading projects end-to-end and mentoring others also points to a need for operational rigor in design processes.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the UX and UI design strategy for a diverse range of digital products, platforms, and applications, ensuring a strong alignment between user needs, business objectives, and overarching brand narrative.
• Own the complete design process from discovery and user research, through persona development, user journey mapping, wireframing, interactive prototyping, and final UI design and specification.
• Craft and maintain distinctive UI systems, design patterns, and component libraries that ensure brand consistency and scalability across multiple digital touchpoints.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including brand strategists, creative directors, content creators, developers, and client stakeholders, to deliver cohesive and impactful digital solutions.
• Mentor and guide junior designers, fostering a culture of learning, continuous improvement, and high-quality design execution within the digital team.
• Represent design effectively in client meetings and internal presentations, articulating design rationale, advocating for user needs, and acting as a confident brand guardian.
• Champion the integration of motion and animation to enhance user experience and bring digital brand identities to life with dynamic and engaging interactions.
• Conduct design audits and competitive analyses to identify opportunities for innovation and improvement in digital brand experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a need for operational excellence in design execution. The emphasis on "distinctive UI systems," "design patterns," and "component libraries" points to the operational necessity of establishing and maintaining scalable design assets that ensure brand consistency and efficiency. The role's leadership and mentoring aspects also imply an operational responsibility for process improvement and team development within the design function.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

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

Experience: Minimum of 5-10 years of proven experience as a Senior UX/UI Designer, preferably within a branding agency or a product-focused environment with a strong emphasis on brand development.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in leading UX/UI design projects from conception through to delivery, with a strong portfolio showcasing brand thinking and crafted digital executions.
• Comprehensive proficiency across the UX toolkit, including user research methodologies, design audits, persona creation, user journey mapping, wireframing, user flow diagrams, storyboarding, and interactive prototyping.
• Exceptional UI design craft with a keen eye for detail, aesthetics, interaction design, and the ability to translate brand identities into visually distinctive and user-friendly digital interfaces.
• Advanced proficiency with industry-standard design and collaboration tools such as Figma, FigJam, and Miro.
• Solid understanding of front-end development principles and technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to facilitate effective communication with development teams and ensure design feasibility.
• Experience in developing and managing design systems, component libraries, and templating strategies for scalable digital product design.
• Proven ability to mentor and guide junior design talent, fostering skill development and design quality.
• Strong presentation and communication skills, with a track record of confidently influencing clients and internal stakeholders.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with motion design and animation tools (e.g., After Effects, Jitter, Principle) to create engaging user experiences and dynamic interfaces.
• Familiarity with atomic design principles and their application in building robust design systems.
• Experience working with startups and/or established global brands, demonstrating adaptability across different project scales and contexts.
• Understanding of accessibility standards (WCAG) and their implementation in UI design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for front-end awareness and experience with motion/animation tools suggests an operational need to bridge the gap between creative design and technical implementation, ensuring that designs are not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional and performant. The emphasis on design systems and atomic design also underscores the operational importance of creating reusable components for efficiency and consistency.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a range of digital design projects, with a clear emphasis on how brand strategy was integrated into UX/UI solutions across multiple platforms (web, mobile, applications).
• Detailed case studies that illustrate your end-to-end design process, including discovery, research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, UI design, and final execution.
• Demonstrations of your ability to develop and implement consistent UI systems, design patterns, and component libraries that support brand integrity and scalability.
• Examples of collaboration with cross-functional teams (strategy, development) and client presentations, highlighting your communication and influencing skills.
• Evidence of mentoring junior designers or leading design initiatives within a team structure.

Process Documentation:

• For each case study, provide clear documentation of the design process followed, including methodologies used for user research, ideation, and testing.
• Outline the approach taken to translate brand identity and storytelling into digital design elements and user flows.
• Detail the structure and components of any design systems or style guides you have developed or contributed to.
• Include examples of how you've worked with developers to ensure design intent is accurately implemented, potentially showing version control or handoff processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a senior role, the hiring team will expect a portfolio that not only showcases visual output but also demonstrates a deep understanding of design operations. This includes the ability to manage complex projects, articulate process, and show how design decisions contribute to business and brand objectives. The emphasis on "brand storytelling" within the portfolio is critical.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Given the Senior level, 5-10 years of experience, and a 12-month fixed-term contract in London, the estimated salary range is likely between £65,000 - £85,000 per annum, prorated for the contract duration. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for senior UX/UI designers in London, considering the specialized nature of brand-led digital design and the agency environment.

Benefits:

• Pension scheme access.
• Paid holiday accrual, calculated based on the contract duration.
• Opportunity to work on high-profile brand projects with a leading branding agency.
• Access to company benefits and a dynamic work environment.

Working Hours: The role is based on a standard full-time work week, estimated at 40 hours per week. While the contract is for a fixed term, standard operational expectations for a senior role would apply, with potential for flexibility around core working hours, especially given the hybrid arrangement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on typical senior UX/UI designer compensation in London for a contract role of this duration and specialization. Actual compensation will depend on JKR's internal grading, the candidate's specific experience, and negotiation. The contract nature might influence some benefits compared to a permanent role.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Branding & Design Services. Jones Knowles Ritchie operates in the highly competitive and creative sector of brand development and design, working with a diverse range of clients from startups to global giants. Their focus on "building and delivering brands across the entire consumer experience" positions them as strategic partners rather than just service providers.

Company Size: Over 350 employees across the UK, USA, and China. This scale suggests a well-established organization with structured processes, but also a dynamic and international footprint. For operations professionals, this means potential for cross-border collaboration and exposure to diverse market strategies.

Founded: 1990. With over three decades of experience, JKR has a significant history and has evolved from its packaging roots to a full-service branding powerhouse, indicating a culture of adaptation and innovation.

Team Structure:

• The digital team, within which this role sits, is likely a specialized unit focused on bringing brands to life in the digital realm. It will comprise strategists, creatives, UX/UI designers, and developers.
• This Senior UX/UI Designer will report into a Head of Digital, Creative Director, or a similar leadership role within the digital or design function.
• Cross-functional collaboration is explicitly stated as a core aspect of the role, requiring seamless interaction with brand strategists, creative teams, and developers to ensure cohesive brand experiences.

Methodology:

• JKR's approach emphasizes "brave," "tenacious," and "true self" values, suggesting a culture that encourages bold creative thinking and authentic brand expression.
• Their "brand-led" digital design philosophy implies a methodology where brand strategy is the foundational element for all digital experiences, ensuring distinctiveness and relevance.
• The focus on "user-first" digital experiences indicates a commitment to user-centered design principles integrated with brand objectives.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's emphasis on brand identity and "true selves" suggests a culture that values authenticity and bold creative expression. For an operations role, this translates to an environment that likely supports creative processes but also demands rigorous execution to ensure brand consistency and impact across all digital touchpoints.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is firmly positioned at a senior individual contributor level, with significant leadership and mentorship expectations. It's a key operational role within the design function, responsible for the quality and strategic direction of digital design outputs.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX/UI Designer will report to a Design Lead or Head of Digital, with direct responsibility for guiding projects and mentoring junior team members. This implies a structure where senior talent is expected to contribute to team development and operational process improvement.

Operations Impact: This role has a direct impact on the company's GTM strategy and brand perception. By crafting distinctive digital experiences, the Senior UX/UI Designer influences how clients' brands are perceived and experienced by end-users, directly contributing to client acquisition, retention, and overall brand equity. Effective design operations ensure that JKR can deliver these impactful brand experiences efficiently and consistently.

Growth Opportunities:

• Deepened Brand Strategy Integration: Opportunity to further hone skills in translating complex brand strategies into compelling digital experiences, becoming a subject matter expert in brand-led digital design.
• Leadership Development: Potential to move into a Design Lead or Art Director role within the digital team, taking on more strategic oversight and team management responsibilities.
• Specialization: Focus on specific areas such as design systems, interaction design, or motion graphics, potentially leading to specialized senior or principal roles.
• Client Relationship Management: Develop stronger client-facing skills through presentations and direct collaboration, potentially leading to roles with greater client advisory responsibilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this is a fixed-term contract, the "senior" designation implies that success in this role could lead to opportunities for permanent positions or other high-level contract roles within JKR or similar organizations, especially if the candidate demonstrates strong operational leadership and impact.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid model, requiring a minimum of 2 days per week in the Shoreditch studio. This suggests a collaborative office environment designed to foster teamwork, brainstorming, and in-person client interactions, balanced with the flexibility of remote work.

Office Location(s): Shoreditch studio in London. This is a vibrant creative hub, offering excellent connectivity and proximity to other creative businesses, potentially fostering a dynamic and inspiring work atmosphere.

Workspace Context:

• The Shoreditch studio likely provides a modern, creative workspace designed to encourage collaboration and innovation. Expect well-equipped meeting rooms, potentially open-plan areas for team work, and individual workstations.
• Access to design software and collaboration tools (Figma, FigJam, Miro) would be standard, supporting both individual design tasks and team-based problem-solving.
• Opportunities for informal and formal interactions with other designers, strategists, and developers will be abundant, facilitating knowledge sharing and cross-pollination of ideas.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (estimated 40 hours/week) with a hybrid arrangement. The minimum 2 days in the office are likely scheduled to maximize team collaboration and client engagement, while remote days offer focused work time. This structure requires strong personal time management and operational efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model with a minimum office presence highlights the company's value for in-person collaboration and team cohesion, which is crucial for creative operations. The Shoreditch location also suggests a vibrant, modern agency setting.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio to assess suitability for the Senior UX/UI Designer role, focusing on relevant experience and brand design expertise.
• Portfolio Presentation & Interview: A dedicated session where you will present your portfolio, walking through key case studies that demonstrate your UX/UI process, brand integration, and problem-solving skills. This will likely involve questions about your approach to design challenges, collaboration, and mentoring.
• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with key team members (e.g., other designers, strategists, developers) and potentially hiring managers or senior leadership to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, and deeper technical expertise.
• Potential Design Challenge: Depending on the process, a short, practical design exercise or a take-home brief might be assigned to evaluate your design thinking and execution under specific constraints.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best showcase your ability to blend brand strategy with user-centric design and deliver distinctive digital experiences. Tailor the selection to highlight skills mentioned in the job description (e.g., design systems, motion, client presentations).
• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process followed, your design decisions, and the measurable impact or outcome. Emphasize the "why" behind your design choices.
• Showcase Brand Thinking: Clearly demonstrate how you understood and translated brand identity, tone, and values into the digital design solutions. Use JKR's own brand as a reference point for the level of brand integration expected.
• Highlight Operational Aspects: Discuss your experience with design systems, component libraries, collaboration tools, and how you ensure design consistency and efficiency.
• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your mentoring experience, how you handle feedback, your approach to working with developers, and your understanding of front-end constraints.

Challenge Preparation:

• If a design challenge is given, focus on understanding the brief thoroughly.
• Prioritize user needs and brand alignment in your solution.
• Demonstrate a clear and logical design process, even if time is limited.
• Be prepared to articulate your rationale and any assumptions made.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio review and potential design challenge for a senior role underscores the need for candidates to not only demonstrate creative talent but also a structured, operational approach to design problem-solving and delivery. Preparing to discuss process and collaboration is as important as showcasing visual outcomes.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration. Expect advanced usage for creating complex interfaces and design systems.
• FigJam: For ideation, brainstorming, user flows, and collaborative whiteboarding.
• Miro: Similar to FigJam, used for collaborative ideation, journey mapping, and workshop facilitation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed, familiarity with how UX/UI designs translate into measurable analytics (e.g., user engagement, conversion rates, task completion) is beneficial. Understanding of tools like Google Analytics, Hotjar, or similar user behavior analytics platforms would be a plus.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this design role, but an understanding of how digital products integrate with CRM systems or marketing automation platforms might be relevant for context on broader GTM operations.

Other Relevant Tools:

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, familiarity with tools like Adobe XD, Sketch (though Figma is dominant), InVision, or Principle could be advantageous.
• Motion/Animation Tools: After Effects, Jitter, Principle, or similar tools for creating dynamic UI elements and animations.
• Design System Management Tools: Experience with platforms that facilitate the management and documentation of design systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is non-negotiable. The mention of FigJam and Miro points to a collaborative, agile design process. Familiarity with motion/animation tools and design system management indicates a need for a designer who can contribute to sophisticated digital product development and operational efficiency.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Creativity & Innovation: A core value at JKR, encouraging pushing boundaries in "brand-driven digital design." Operations professionals should support and enable this through efficient processes.
• Collaboration: A strong emphasis on working "effortlessly" within teams and with clients. This requires operational structures that facilitate seamless handover and communication.
• Authenticity & Integrity: Encouraging individuals to be their "true selves" and leading with integrity, openness, and compassion. This fosters an inclusive environment where diverse operational perspectives are valued.
• Impact & Distinctiveness: A focus on creating "distinctive digital impact" and building brands that are "distinctive, everywhere." This drives the operational goal of delivering high-quality, impactful work.
• Tenacity & Bravery: A culture that encourages bold ideas and persistent execution, requiring operational resilience and adaptability.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Design, strategy, and development teams work closely together, demanding strong communication protocols and shared understanding of project goals.
• Client-Centricity: A partnership approach with clients, involving them in the process and acting as trusted advisors. This requires operational clarity in client communication and project management.
• Knowledge Sharing: An expectation of sharing expertise and mentoring within the team to elevate collective design craft and operational best practices.
• Feedback-Driven: A culture that embraces constructive feedback to refine designs and processes, requiring open communication channels and receptiveness to improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's values directly influence how operations should be conducted. A culture valuing creativity, collaboration, and authenticity suggests an operational environment that is supportive of exploration while demanding rigor in execution and communication to achieve distinctive brand outcomes.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Brand & User Needs: The constant challenge is to create digital experiences that are both deeply rooted in brand identity and highly user-friendly, requiring sophisticated design strategy and operational execution.
• Translating Brand Vision: Effectively translating the abstract essence of a brand into tangible, engaging digital interfaces requires deep strategic thinking and creative problem-solving.
• Managing Multiple Platforms: Ensuring brand consistency and optimal user experience across diverse digital platforms (web, mobile, apps) demands robust design systems and meticulous operational oversight.
• Rapid Technological Evolution: Keeping pace with evolving digital technologies, design tools, and user expectations requires continuous learning and adaptation of design processes.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design System Development: Opportunity to deepen expertise in creating, managing, and scaling sophisticated design systems that drive efficiency and consistency.
• Brand Strategy to Digital Translation: Refine skills in understanding and translating complex brand architectures and strategies into effective digital touchpoints, potentially leading to a specialization in brand experience design.
• Mentorship and Leadership: Develop leadership capabilities by mentoring junior designers and influencing design direction, paving the way for future leadership roles.
• Exposure to Diverse Clients: Work with a wide array of clients across different industries, broadening your understanding of various market challenges and brand-building strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the operational complexity of bridging branding principles with digital execution. The growth opportunities point towards a role that offers significant professional development in specialized areas of design operations and brand experience.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance a strong brand identity with complex user needs in a digital product. How did you approach this, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your process, decision-making, and how you integrated brand strategy into UX/UI.)
• "Walk us through your process for developing or contributing to a design system. What were the key challenges, and how did you ensure its adoption and maintenance?" (Highlight your operational approach to design consistency and scalability.)
• "How do you ensure your UI designs are not only aesthetically distinctive but also technically feasible for developers to implement?" (Demonstrate your front-end awareness and collaboration skills.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about JKR's approach to branding and digital design, particularly our emphasis on 'brand-led' experiences?" (Show you've researched their philosophy and can articulate alignment.)
• "Describe your experience mentoring junior designers. What is your philosophy on fostering growth and developing design craft?" (Address the leadership and team development aspects of the role.)
• "How would you approach ensuring design consistency and brand integrity across multiple digital products for a client?" (Focus on process, tools, and collaboration.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: For each case study, use a clear narrative: Problem -> Your Role & Process -> Solutions (with visual examples) -> Outcome & Learnings.
• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data or metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased engagement, improved conversion rates, positive user feedback).
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use high-fidelity mockups, interactive prototypes, and short animations to bring your work to life.
• Contextualize Your Role: Clearly articulate your specific contributions, especially in team projects.
• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Expect questions on specific design choices, technical considerations, and challenges faced.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skill, but also strategic thinking, operational process, collaborative ability, and a deep understanding of how design serves brand and business objectives, especially within an agency context like JKR.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX/UI Designer position:

• Submit your application directly through the provided link on Workable.
• Tailor your Resume: Ensure your resume highlights your experience in leading UX/UI design projects, brand-driven design, design systems, mentoring, and proficiency in key tools like Figma. Use keywords from the job description.
• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your most relevant and impactful projects that demonstrate your ability to craft distinctive, brand-led digital experiences and showcase your end-to-end design process. Prepare detailed case studies.
• Prepare for Presentation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on storytelling, articulating your design decisions, and highlighting your operational approach to design challenges and team collaboration.
• Research JKR: Familiarize yourself with JKR's work, their philosophy on branding, and their client portfolio to articulate your interest and alignment with their culture and approach.

⚠️ Important Notice: As this is a fixed-term contract (FTC) role, ensure you understand the terms of employment, contract duration, and any specific benefits or limitations associated with FTCs in the UK. Verify details directly with the hiring organization.