Senior UX/UI Product Designer (m/w/d)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX/UI Product Designer (m/w/d)

Company: Axel Springer National Media & Tech

Location: Berlin, Germany

Job Type: Full-time / Part-time

Category: Product Design / User Experience (UX) / User Interface (UI)

Date Posted: January 19, 2026

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

Remote Status: Hybrid (80% Office, 20% Remote)

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on the conceptual, functional, and visual design of digital journalistic products across all devices, emphasizing user-centered product development.

• You will be responsible for translating complex information structures into intuitive and aesthetically pleasing digital experiences for a large user base.

• The position involves collaborating with a dedicated UI/UX & Research team, contributing to both the continuous improvement of existing digital products and the creation of innovative new ones.

• This role requires a strong understanding of design systems, with the ability to further develop and maintain a consistent visual design language.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is classified under Product Design with a strong emphasis on UX/UI, fitting within the broader GTM (Go-To-Market) operations by ensuring user engagement and product usability for Axel Springer's digital journalistic offerings. The hybrid work arrangement and specific office presence requirement are key operational considerations.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize, design, and visually craft digital journalistic products, ensuring a seamless user experience across all devices (desktop, mobile, tablet).

• Translate complex data and content structures into intuitive, user-friendly digital interfaces that millions of users can easily navigate and engage with.

• Apply a keen sense for typography, iconography, imagery, color theory, and form to create clear, aesthetically compelling, and brand-aligned interfaces.

• Work with and evolve an existing design system to ensure consistency in visual design language and facilitate efficient product development.

• Drive the entire design process from initial ideation, sketching, and wireframing to high-fidelity prototyping and final product delivery, always prioritizing user needs.

• Engage in interdisciplinary collaboration with design, research, product management, development, editorial, marketing, and external partners to achieve optimal solutions.

• Stay abreast of current design trends, technological innovations, and best practices in digital media and journalism, sharing knowledge and actively contributing to team discussions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a full-cycle product design approach, from strategic conceptualization to detailed UI execution. The emphasis on transforming complex structures into intuitive experiences is a core operational challenge in digital media, requiring strong analytical and creative problem-solving skills.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Successful completion of a degree or comparable training in a relevant field (e.g., Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Digital Media).

Experience: Several years of professional experience in User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) design, with a proven track record of designing digital products.

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in User Experience (UX) design and User Interface (UI) design principles.

• High proficiency in industry-standard design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe Creative Suite (CC).

• Strong conceptual and aesthetic design capabilities, with a deep understanding of visual design principles, typography, color theory, and layout.

• Demonstrated experience in creating wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes.

• Foundational knowledge of HTML and CSS to understand technical feasibility and collaborate effectively with development teams.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working with and contributing to design systems, ensuring brand consistency and design scalability.

• Familiarity with motion design, animation principles, or video editing/production, particularly in the context of digital media.

• Experience or knowledge in areas like video, livestreaming, motion graphics, or animation.

• Experience in user research methodologies and translating research findings into design decisions.

• Understanding of agile development methodologies and experience working in cross-functional agile teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a blend of creative design talent and technical understanding, crucial for bridging the gap between user needs and product development in a fast-paced media environment. The preference for motion design and research experience suggests a forward-thinking approach to product engagement.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a range of UX/UI design projects, demonstrating conceptual thinking, problem-solving, and visual execution.

• Case studies that clearly articulate the design process, from user research and ideation through to final design and impact.

• Examples of how complex information or user flows were simplified into intuitive and effective digital experiences.

• Demonstrations of work with design systems, including contributions to or utilization of style guides and component libraries.

Process Documentation:

• Ability to document design processes, including user journey mapping, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing plans.

• Clear articulation of how design decisions were made, supported by user data, research insights, or business objectives.

• Examples of iterating on designs based on feedback and performance metrics.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UX/UI Product Designer, a portfolio is paramount. It's not just about aesthetics but the strategic thinking, problem-solving ability, and process applied to achieve user and business goals. The focus should be on demonstrating end-to-end design ownership and impact.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior UX/UI Product Designers in Berlin, Germany, with 5-10 years of experience, a competitive salary range is estimated between €65,000 - €85,000 annually. This range can vary based on the candidate's specific experience, portfolio, and negotiation.

Benefits:

• Continuous Learning: Access to diverse learning content and development opportunities to foster personal and professional growth.

• On-site Dining: Complimentary breakfast snacks and lunch provided in company employee restaurants.

• Generous Leave: 30 days of paid vacation per year.

• Work from Abroad: 10 days of "work from abroad" allowance, offering flexibility in location.

• Comprehensive Health & Wellness: A wide array of health programs, including sports courses (Wellhub), preventive health check-ups, and professional coaching services through partners like PME Familienservice.

• State-of-the-Art Equipment: Provision of modern hardware (MacBook & iPhone) for work, which can also be used privately.

• Modern Office Space: Access to well-equipped, state-of-the-art offices designed for collaboration and productivity.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are approximately 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered through the hybrid work model (80% office, 20% remote).

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on typical compensation for senior-level design roles in major German tech hubs like Berlin, considering the industry and company size. The benefits package is robust, emphasizing employee well-being, professional development, and work-life balance, which are attractive to experienced professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital Media & Journalism. Axel Springer is a leading European digital publisher, investing heavily in innovative technologies to shape the future of journalism.

Company Size: Axel Springer National Media & Tech is part of a large, publicly traded media conglomerate. The specific team is likely composed of dedicated professionals within the UI/UX & Research department.

Founded: Axel Springer SE was founded in 1946, with a long history in publishing that has evolved significantly into the digital age. Axel Springer National Media & Tech focuses on the technological aspects of this digital transformation.

Team Structure:

• The UI/UX & Research team is dedicated to user-centered product development for digital journalistic products.

• It operates as a central interface for creative and innovative new developments, working closely with Product Management and Editorial teams.

Methodology:

• User-Centricity: The core philosophy is designing for people, making user needs the central focus of all product development.

• Iterative Design: Continuous improvement of existing digital products through ongoing design and research efforts.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: A strong emphasis on working collaboratively with diverse teams (design, research, product, development, editorial, marketing) to create holistic solutions.

• Innovation & Trends: Actively monitoring and integrating current trends and innovations in digital media and design.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Axel Springer's culture emphasizes innovation, freedom, and a forward-looking approach to journalism in the digital age. The UI/UX & Research team is positioned as a key enabler of this vision, driving user engagement and product excellence.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Product Designer role, indicating a mid-to-late career stage with significant autonomy and responsibility. The focus is on leading design initiatives, mentoring junior designers (potentially), and making strategic design decisions.

Reporting Structure: The role reports into the UI/UX & Research team, likely under a Design Lead or Head of Product Design. Collaboration will extend across Product Management, Development, and Editorial departments.

Operations Impact: As a Senior UX/UI Product Designer, your work directly impacts user engagement, retention, and the overall perception and usability of Axel Springer's digital journalistic products. This, in turn, drives traffic, readership, and ultimately, revenue through subscriptions and advertising.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a Lead UX/UI Designer or Design Manager role, overseeing larger projects and teams.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like interaction design, motion design, user research, or design systems.

• Product Strategy: Influence product roadmaps and strategy through user insights and design expertise.

• Cross-Departmental Mobility: Opportunities to move into Product Management or other strategic roles within the media and tech divisions.

• Continuous Learning: Leveraging company-provided learning resources for skill enhancement and staying current with industry advancements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Senior UX/UI Product Designer role offers a clear path for career progression within a large, innovative media organization. The impact is tangible, influencing product success and business outcomes, which is a key driver for operations professionals.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company offers state-of-the-art offices designed for collaboration and productivity. The location in Berlin is modern and well-equipped.

Office Location(s): Zimmerstraße 50, 10117 Berlin, Germany. This is a central location in Berlin.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The office environment is designed to foster direct interaction and exchange, supporting the 80% office-based work requirement.

• Technology: Access to high-quality hardware (MacBook & iPhone) and software, ensuring designers have the tools needed for efficient and creative work.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for frequent, in-person collaboration with designers, researchers, product managers, and editorial teams, promoting a dynamic and integrated workflow.

Work Schedule: The role follows a hybrid model, requiring 80% presence in the Berlin office and allowing 20% for remote work. This structure balances in-person collaboration with individual flexibility, suitable for focused design tasks and team synergy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit 80/20 office/remote split signifies a structured hybrid approach. This is a critical operational detail for candidates who value specific work arrangements, impacting daily routines and team dynamics.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio to assess qualifications and design experience.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: An opportunity to present your work, discuss your design process, and elaborate on specific case studies. Expect questions about your approach to user-centered design, problem-solving, and collaboration.

• Technical/Skills Assessment: This might involve a design challenge or a discussion focused on your proficiency with design tools, design systems, and understanding of HTML/CSS.

• Team & Cultural Fit Interview: Meeting with potential team members and stakeholders to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and alignment with company values.

• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership to discuss strategic contributions and long-term vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Showcase 3-5 of your strongest projects that best represent your skills and experience relevant to this role. Prioritize projects that demonstrate end-to-end UX/UI design for digital products, especially in media or content-heavy environments.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly outline the problem statement, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, design, testing), key decisions made, and the impact/results achieved. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight Collaboration: Emphasize how you worked with cross-functional teams, handled feedback, and integrated different perspectives.

• Showcase Design System Work: If you have experience with design systems, clearly illustrate your contributions, whether it's building components, maintaining consistency, or advocating for their use.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics (e.g., conversion rate improvements, user satisfaction scores, task completion rates) to demonstrate the tangible outcomes of your design work.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a design challenge that might involve a short turnaround time to solve a specific UX/UI problem relevant to digital journalism. Focus on your process, problem-solving approach, and ability to articulate your rationale.

• Practice explaining your design decisions concisely and persuasively, linking them back to user needs and business goals.

• Be ready to discuss current trends in digital media design and how they might apply to Axel Springer's products.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes a strong portfolio and the ability to articulate design strategy and process. Candidates should prepare to demonstrate not just design skills but also critical thinking, collaboration, and an understanding of the media landscape.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Expected to be a primary tool for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency is essential.

• Sketch: Another widely used tool in the industry; familiarity is a strong asset.

• Adobe Creative Suite (CC): Including Photoshop and Illustrator for asset creation and manipulation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) to understand user behavior and measure design impact.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how user data from CRMs or other platforms informs design decisions is beneficial.

• Experience with project management tools (e.g., Jira, Asana) for workflow management and collaboration with development teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is highly likely to be a core requirement, given its industry prevalence for collaborative UI/UX design. Understanding how design integrates with analytics and development workflows is crucial for operational effectiveness.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of the user in all design decisions.

• Innovation: A drive to explore new ideas, technologies, and design approaches to push the boundaries of digital journalism.

• Collaboration: Valuing teamwork, open communication, and the collective creation of the best possible solutions.

• Quality & Craftsmanship: A dedication to producing high-quality, aesthetically pleasing, and functional designs.

• Freedom & Responsibility: Embracing the freedom to innovate while taking responsibility for the outcomes of design work.

Collaboration Style:

• Interdisciplinary: Working closely with product managers, developers, researchers, editorial staff, and marketers to ensure a holistic product approach.

• Open Dialogue: Encouraging constructive feedback, debate, and the sharing of diverse perspectives to refine designs.

• Agile & Iterative: Adapting to changing requirements and feedback through iterative design cycles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's values, such as freedom, innovation, and user-centricity, are deeply embedded in its operations and will influence how design decisions are made and executed.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Navigating the complexities of creating user-friendly interfaces while meeting the business objectives of a major media organization.

• Designing for a Large, Diverse Audience: Catering to the needs and preferences of millions of users with varying technical skills and content interests.

• Staying Ahead of the Curve: Keeping pace with rapid technological advancements and evolving user expectations in the digital media landscape.

• Maintaining Consistency Across Products: Ensuring a unified and coherent design language across multiple digital platforms and features.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Skills: Opportunities to deepen expertise in areas like interaction design, motion graphics, or user research.

• Design Leadership Training: Potential for leadership development programs to prepare for future management roles.

• Industry Conferences & Workshops: Access to events and training focused on the latest trends in UX/UI design and digital media.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Learning from and collaborating with experts in product management, technology, and journalism.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for senior roles in large tech/media companies, requiring strong strategic thinking and adaptability. The growth opportunities are well-defined, offering paths for both specialization and leadership.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to translate a complex user journey into a simple, intuitive interface. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on problem decomposition, user-centricity, and impact metrics.)

• "How do you approach collaborating with engineering and product management teams to ensure design feasibility and timely delivery?" (Highlight communication, negotiation, and understanding of development constraints.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Axel Springer's mission and its role in the digital media landscape?" (Showcase research and alignment with the company's vision.)

• "How do you see your role contributing to our team's goal of creating user-centered journalistic products?" (Connect your skills and passion to the team's objectives.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with an overview of your career and design philosophy. Then, dive into 2-3 key projects, detailing the problem, your process, your role, challenges, solutions, and measurable outcomes.

• Visuals: Use high-quality mockups, wireframes, user flow diagrams, and prototypes. Ensure they are clearly labeled and easy to understand.

• Storytelling: Frame each project as a narrative, highlighting the challenges and your journey to the solution. Emphasize your thought process and decision-making.

• Interaction: Be prepared to answer detailed questions about your design choices, tools, and collaboration methods. Engage the interviewers and invite questions throughout.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparing specific examples and structuring your portfolio presentation around a narrative arc will significantly improve your chances. Demonstrating an understanding of Axel Springer's business context in digital journalism is also crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX/UI Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on SmartRecruiters.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects that demonstrate your experience in digital product design, particularly within media or content-rich platforms. Emphasize your process for translating complex information into intuitive user experiences.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your years of experience, proficiency in key design tools (Figma, Sketch, Adobe CC), and specific accomplishments in UX/UI design, using keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio with a focus on storytelling and articulating your design process. Prepare answers for common UX/UI interview questions and be ready to discuss your approach to collaborative design.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Axel Springer's digital products, their mission, and current trends in digital journalism to align your responses with the company's strategic direction.

⚠️ 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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