UI & UX Designer - Travel Development Department (TDD)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UI & UX Designer - Travel Development Department (TDD) Company: Rakuten Location: Rakuten Crimson House, Tokyo, Japan Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: Product Design / User Experience Design Date Posted: October 14, 2025 Experience Level: 5-10 Years

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the design of user experiences and interfaces for Rakuten Travel's digital products, translating product concepts into intuitive and engaging user journeys.
• Collaborate closely with Product Managers (PDMs) and Frontend Engineers to drive product development from early ideation through to successful launch, ensuring a cohesive and user-centric approach.
• Champion design excellence by conducting rigorous usability testing, iterative design reviews, and user research to validate and refine design solutions.
• Contribute to the evolution of Rakuten Travel's design language by defining and maintaining design systems and ensuring consistency across multiple products.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role focuses on the end-to-end product design lifecycle within the dynamic travel industry, emphasizing collaboration and a user-centric approach to drive innovation and customer satisfaction for Rakuten Travel's global expansion initiatives.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Translate complex user needs and business requirements into intuitive and visually appealing user interfaces and seamless user experiences.
• Develop wireframes, user flows, mockups, and interactive prototypes to effectively communicate design concepts and solutions to stakeholders.
• Conduct user research, including usability testing and user interviews, to gather insights and validate design decisions, iterating based on findings.
• Collaborate with Product Managers to define product vision, features, and user stories, ensuring alignment with business objectives and user needs.
• Partner with Frontend Engineers to ensure accurate implementation of designs and provide ongoing design support throughout the development cycle.
• Define, document, and maintain design system components and guidelines to ensure visual and interactive consistency across Rakuten Travel's product suite.
• Participate in design critiques and team review sessions, providing and receiving constructive feedback to elevate design quality.
• Proactively identify opportunities for design innovation and process improvement within the Travel Development Department.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description implies a hands-on design role with significant ownership over the user experience, requiring not only creative design skills but also strong analytical abilities for user research and a collaborative spirit for effective cross-functional teamwork.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong educational background in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a related field is often beneficial. Experience: Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in UI/UX design or product design, with a proven track record of delivering successful digital products.

Required Skills:

• 5+ years of experience in UI/UX design or product design.
• Demonstrated experience in mobile application design, understanding platform-specific design patterns and constraints.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale clearly and persuasively.
• Proven experience conducting usability tests and user research to inform design decisions.
• Strong logical thinking and problem-solving skills, enabling clear explanation of design choices and their underlying reasoning.
• Expertise in industry-standard design and prototyping tools, with a strong emphasis on Figma (or equivalent alternatives like Sketch, Adobe XD).
• Proficiency in wireframing and creating interactive prototypes to visualize user flows and interactions.
• Experience conducting user tests and synthesizing findings into actionable design improvements.
• Business-level proficiency in both English and Japanese languages.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience prototyping specifically within Figma.
• Proficiency with Adobe Illustrator for asset creation.
• Experience in defining and working with design systems.
• Familiarity with the travel industry or e-commerce platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "logical talk skill" and the requirement for business-level English and Japanese suggest that this role demands strong analytical and communication capabilities, crucial for navigating complex design discussions and collaborating within a global team.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio is critical, showcasing a diverse range of projects that demonstrate your UI/UX design expertise and product design capabilities.
• Projects should clearly articulate the design and thought process, including problem definition, user research, ideation, and iteration.
• Deliverables should include a collection of flows, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes that illustrate your design solutions.
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of user-centered design principles and their application in creating impactful user experiences.
• Highlight outcomes and measurable results where possible, showcasing the impact of your design work.

Process Documentation:

• Examples of how user behavior, pain points, and issues were identified and addressed through design.
• Demonstrations of clarifying UI design and interaction principles for complex features.
• Case studies illustrating collaboration with Product Managers to visualize UX through wireframes and prototypes.
• Examples of contributions to or creation of design systems, showcasing consistency across products.
• Documentation of user test methodologies and how findings influenced design iterations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for a "strong portfolio" and "demonstrations of the design and thought process" indicates that candidates will be evaluated not just on their final designs but also on their strategic thinking, problem-solving approach, and ability to articulate their creative journey.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: As specific salary details are not provided, a competitive range for a UI/UX Designer with 5-10 years of experience in Tokyo, Japan, would typically fall between ¥7,000,000 to ¥12,000,000 JPY annually. This range is an estimate based on industry benchmarks, cost of living in Tokyo, and the seniority of the role at a large tech company like Rakuten.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health insurance and social welfare programs.
• Retirement savings plans and pension contributions.
• Paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, and public holidays.
• Employee discounts on Rakuten services and partner offerings.
• Opportunities for professional development, training, and attending industry conferences.
• Potential for performance-based bonuses and stock options.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are typically 40 hours per week, with flexibility often available. Rakuten generally operates on a standard business schedule, with the possibility of flexible work arrangements that accommodate design review meetings and cross-functional collaboration needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimates are based on publicly available data for similar roles in Tokyo and the general compensation structure for experienced professionals at large Japanese corporations. Benefits are typical for major companies in Japan and can vary.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce, Technology, Travel & Hospitality. Rakuten operates at the intersection of these sectors, leveraging technology to innovate and lead in online services. Company Size: Rakuten is a large, global technology conglomerate with tens of thousands of employees worldwide. This scale offers significant resources, diverse career paths, and exposure to a wide array of business functions and markets. Founded: Rakuten was founded in 1997, with a history of consistent innovation and expansion, establishing itself as a major player in the global digital economy.

Team Structure:

• The Travel Development Department (TDD) is a key division within Rakuten's Commerce & Marketing Company, focused on the end-to-end development and operations of Rakuten Travel.
• The design team within TDD likely operates with a matrixed structure, where designers report to design leadership while collaborating daily with Product Managers and Engineers on specific product initiatives.
• Cross-functional collaboration is paramount, with designers working closely with Product Managers, Frontend Engineers, and potentially other departments to ensure a unified approach to product development and user experience.

Methodology:

• Rakuten Travel emphasizes a data-driven approach, using analytics to understand user behavior and identify areas for improvement.
• The department focuses on continuous improvement and innovation, challenging norms to enhance customer satisfaction and drive globalization efforts.
• Collaboration is key, with regular design reviews, knowledge-sharing sessions, and opportunities for internal design competitions to foster creativity and shared learning.

Company Website: https://global.rakuten.com/corp/

📝 Enhancement Note: Rakuten's culture is known for its emphasis on innovation, customer satisfaction, and a global mindset. The TDD's specific mission to globalize Rakuten Travel and enhance its domestic presence highlights a dual focus on ambitious expansion and meticulous user experience refinement.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This UI & UX Designer role is positioned as a mid-to-senior level position, requiring a solid foundation of 5+ years of experience. It offers the opportunity to take significant ownership of design projects and contribute strategically to product evolution.

Reporting Structure: Designers typically report to a Design Lead or Manager within the Travel Development Department. They will work closely with Product Managers and Frontend Engineers on a day-to-day basis, forming agile product teams.

Operations Impact: As a UI/UX Designer, your impact will be directly tied to the usability, desirability, and effectiveness of Rakuten Travel's digital products. By creating intuitive interfaces and engaging user experiences, you will directly influence customer satisfaction, conversion rates, and the overall success of Rakuten Travel's domestic and global expansion goals. Your work will be instrumental in driving user adoption and loyalty.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas such as mobile UX, interaction design, design systems, or user research.
• Leadership: Progress into Senior Designer, Lead Designer, or Design Manager roles, mentoring junior designers and leading larger design initiatives.
• Cross-functional Mobility: Explore related roles within product management, UX research, or even front-end development if desired.
• Global Exposure: Contribute to Rakuten's global initiatives, potentially working on international product adaptations or collaborating with teams in different regions.
• Continuous Learning: Access internal workshops, knowledge-sharing sessions, and external training opportunities to stay abreast of the latest design trends and technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a clear path for growth within a large, innovative organization like Rakuten, appealing to designers who seek both technical skill development and career advancement within the product development lifecycle.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Rakuten Crimson House in Tokyo is a modern, collaborative office space designed to foster innovation and teamwork. It is likely equipped with amenities that support a productive and engaging work environment. Office Location(s): The primary location is Rakuten Crimson House, located in Tokyo, Japan. This central Tokyo location offers excellent access to public transportation and the vibrant city life.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is designed for collaboration, with open areas, meeting rooms, and potentially dedicated quiet zones to accommodate different work styles.
• Expect access to industry-standard design tools and technology, including high-performance workstations, large displays, and the necessary software licenses for Figma, prototyping tools, and other relevant applications.
• Opportunities for frequent interaction with the design team, product managers, and engineers are abundant, fostering a dynamic and supportive team atmosphere.

Work Schedule: While standard full-time hours apply, Rakuten often promotes a flexible work environment. This flexibility can be beneficial for designers needing to balance focused design work with collaborative meetings and user testing sessions. The focus is on results and effective collaboration rather than strict adherence to rigid schedules.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on collaboration and the provision of modern facilities suggest an environment conducive to creative problem-solving and iterative design processes, aligning well with the needs of a UI/UX designer.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess foundational qualifications and design experience.
• Design Challenge/Case Study: You may be asked to complete a take-home design challenge or present a detailed case study from your portfolio, focusing on your problem-solving process, design decisions, and outcomes.
• Interviews with Design Team: Discussions with other designers to evaluate your design thinking, collaboration style, and technical proficiency.
• Interviews with Product Management: Conversations with Product Managers to understand your ability to translate business needs into user-centric solutions and your collaborative approach.
• Final Interview: Potentially a discussion with senior leadership to assess cultural fit and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Wisely: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best represent your skills and experience relevant to mobile and web product design, ideally within e-commerce or travel.
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, design, testing), your key decisions, and the impact of your work. Use visuals effectively.
• Showcase Process: Include wireframes, user flows, early sketches, and prototypes to demonstrate your iterative design approach. Explain why you made certain design choices.
• Highlight Collaboration: Mention how you worked with PMs, engineers, and other stakeholders, and how you incorporated their feedback.
• Quantify Impact: If possible, include metrics or outcomes that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased conversion rates, improved user satisfaction scores).
• Tailor to Rakuten: If possible, subtly tailor your presentation to show an understanding of Rakuten Travel's user base and business goals.

Challenge Preparation:

• If a design challenge is provided, thoroughly understand the brief and constraints. Allocate your time effectively between ideation, design, and justification.
• Be prepared to present your work clearly and concisely, focusing on your thought process and the rationale behind your design decisions.
• Anticipate questions about your design choices, alternative solutions you considered, and how you would handle feedback or further iterations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio review and potential design challenge highlights the practical, hands-on nature of this role. Candidates should prepare to not only show their work but also to deeply explain their design thinking and collaborative process.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly mentioned as an expertise requirement. This will be the primary tool for UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and potentially design system management.
• Prototyping Tools: While Figma is specified, familiarity with other prototyping tools (e.g., Adobe XD, InVision) can be beneficial.
• Wireframing Tools: Integrated within Figma or standalone tools for rapid ideation and structure definition.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with web and mobile analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Mixpanel) is highly advantageous for understanding user behavior and measuring design impact.
• Ability to interpret data from these tools to inform design decisions.

CRM & Automation:

• While not core to the UI/UX role, an understanding of how CRM systems (like Salesforce) and marketing automation tools integrate with user-facing applications can provide valuable context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The strong emphasis on Figma indicates it's the central tool for this role. Proficiency here is non-negotiable. Exposure to analytics tools is crucial for demonstrating data-informed design practices.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Focus: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the user, as evidenced by the emphasis on user research and testing.
• Innovation & Challenge: A culture that encourages pushing boundaries and challenging the status quo to create new value, aligning with Rakuten's global ambitions.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: Strong emphasis on working together across disciplines to achieve shared goals, with regular design reviews and knowledge sharing.
• Excellence & Quality: A drive for high standards in design execution, user experience, and product delivery.
• Data-Driven Decisions: Utilizing data and user insights to guide design strategies and validate solutions.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are expected to be active participants in product teams, working closely with Product Managers and Engineers throughout the development lifecycle.
• Open Feedback Culture: Regular design review meetings encourage constructive feedback exchange among designers and with other stakeholders.
• Knowledge Sharing: The mention of "workshop or knowledge sharing MTG" indicates a culture that values continuous learning and the dissemination of best practices within the design community.

📝 Enhancement Note: Rakuten's values, particularly "Ichiban" (customer-centricity) and "Speed," are likely reflected in the TDD. The emphasis on collaboration and continuous improvement suggests an environment where designers are empowered to contribute significantly and evolve professionally.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Effectively translating diverse user needs and business objectives into cohesive and user-friendly designs within project constraints.
• Globalizing a Product: Adapting designs for international markets, considering cultural nuances, language differences, and varying user expectations.
• Maintaining Design Consistency: Ensuring a unified and high-quality user experience across a growing suite of products and platforms.
• Rapid Iteration: Working in a fast-paced environment that requires quick design cycles and responsiveness to feedback and evolving requirements.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Design System Mastery: Opportunity to contribute significantly to or lead the development and evolution of Rakuten Travel's design system.
• Cross-Cultural Design: Gain invaluable experience in designing for diverse global audiences and working within an international team.
• Advanced Prototyping & Research: Deepen skills in advanced prototyping techniques and user research methodologies.
• Industry Exposure: Participate in workshops, knowledge-sharing sessions, and potentially attend design conferences to stay updated on industry trends.
• Mentorship: Opportunities to mentor junior designers or be mentored by senior design leaders within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for a global product development role in a large tech company. The growth opportunities highlight the potential for significant professional development and impact within Rakuten Travel.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting user needs and business requirements. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your problem-solving methodology and decision-making process.)
• "How would you approach designing a new feature for Rakuten Travel for a market entirely different from Japan (e.g., Southeast Asia)? What research would you conduct?" (Demonstrate your understanding of localization and user research in new markets.)
• "Walk us through a project where you significantly improved a user experience. What was the problem, your solution, and the measurable impact?" (Prepare a strong portfolio case study emphasizing process and results.)
• "How do you ensure design consistency across multiple products or features, especially when working with different teams?" (Discuss your experience with design systems and collaborative workflows.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Rakuten Travel and its mission to 'Make People Happy with Travel'?" (Research Rakuten Travel's products, mission, and recent initiatives.)
• "How do you approach collaboration with Product Managers and Engineers? Describe a challenging collaboration and how you navigated it." (Highlight your communication and teamwork skills.)
• "How do you stay updated on the latest UI/UX design trends and technologies?" (Show your commitment to continuous learning.)
• "What are your thoughts on Rakuten's global expansion strategy for its travel business?" (Demonstrate strategic thinking and awareness of the company's goals.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with a brief overview of your career, then dive into 2-3 key projects. For each project: Problem, Your Role, Process (research, ideation, design, testing), Solution (showcase visuals), and Outcome/Impact (quantify if possible).
• Storytelling: Frame your projects as narratives. Explain the challenges, your thought process, and how you overcame obstacles.
• Visuals: Use high-quality mockups, wireframes, and prototypes. Ensure they are clearly labeled and easy to understand.
• Focus on "Why": Be prepared to explain the reasoning behind every design decision you made.
• Interactive Element: If possible, have a live prototype ready in Figma to demonstrate interactions.
• Conciseness: Practice your presentation to fit within the allotted time, ensuring you cover key points without rushing.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on showcasing not only design skills but also strategic thinking, strong communication, and a collaborative mindset, all crucial for success in a global organization like Rakuten.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UI & UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Rakuten careers portal using the provided link.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date, highlights relevant projects (mobile/web product design, e-commerce/travel experience preferred), and clearly articulates your design process and impact. Tailor your case studies to emphasize the skills most relevant to Rakuten Travel.
• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to prominently feature your 5+ years of UI/UX and product design experience, specific tool proficiencies (especially Figma), experience with mobile applications, usability testing, and any experience in global product development or the travel industry. Use keywords from the job description.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, decision-making rationale, and collaborative experiences. Prepare to present 2-3 key portfolio projects in detail, focusing on problem-solving and outcomes.
• Company Research: Thoroughly research Rakuten, Rakuten Travel, and the Travel Development Department's mission, products, and recent news to demonstrate your genuine interest and understanding of their business objectives and user base.

⚠️ 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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