UI Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UI Designer

Company: Playtika Ltd

Location: Herzliya, Tel-Aviv District, Israel

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design

Date Posted: 2026-02-19

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is pivotal in shaping the player experience for a new mobile game by leading the UI design process from conceptualization through to implementation.

• The UI Designer will be responsible for creating visually stunning, intuitive, and player-centric interfaces that directly impact player engagement and retention.

• Collaboration is key, with close work alongside game designers, product managers, developers, and the art director to ensure cohesive and high-quality visual output.

• This position offers a unique opportunity to work within a small, agile team environment, benefiting from the creative autonomy of a startup while having the robust support of a leading global gaming company.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the core role is UI Design, the emphasis on "player-centric," "engagement," and "retention" strongly suggests a focus on User Experience (UX) principles within the UI design framework. The role's context within the gaming industry implies a need to understand player psychology and game mechanics.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize and Design UI: Lead the entire UI design lifecycle for a new mobile game, from initial concept sketches and wireframes to high-fidelity mockups and final in-game assets.

• Develop Engaging Player Interfaces: Craft visually appealing and intuitive user interfaces that enhance player engagement and contribute significantly to player retention strategies.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with UX designers, product managers, game designers, and developers to ensure UI designs are technically feasible, align with game mechanics, and meet product goals.

• Artistic Direction & Consistency: Collaborate with the Art Director to define and maintain the game's visual identity, ensuring artistic consistency across all UI elements, features, and in-game events.

• Prototyping and Iteration: Create interactive prototypes to effectively communicate design concepts, gather feedback, and iterate on designs to optimize the player experience.

• Platform Optimization: Design and adapt UI elements to be optimized for various screen resolutions, aspect ratios, and mobile platforms, ensuring a seamless experience on diverse devices.

• Trend Analysis & Innovation: Stay abreast of the latest trends in mobile and casual gaming UI/UX, continuously seeking opportunities to innovate and elevate the game's aesthetic and functional quality.

• Developer Integration Support: Work closely with development teams to ensure smooth implementation of UI assets, providing necessary assets and guidance to overcome technical constraints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility to "optimize UI for different screen resolutions and mobile platforms" and "familiarity with implementation constraints in Unity or similar engines" points to a need for practical, production-oriented UI design skills, not just theoretical concepts. The mention of "AI tools usage" suggests an expectation to explore or integrate AI in the design workflow.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong educational foundation in Graphic Design, UI/UX Design, Digital Art, or a related field is expected, supplemented by demonstrable professional experience.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of dedicated experience as a UI Artist or in a similar UI design role, with a strong preference for candidates with a proven track record in the mobile gaming industry, particularly within casual games.

Required Skills:

• Expert UI Design: Proven ability to lead UI design and create compelling, intuitive interfaces for mobile applications.

• Visual Design Prowess: Strong aesthetic sense with the ability to create visually appealing interfaces that align with brand and art direction.

• Player-Centric Design: Deep understanding of UX principles and how to design for optimal player engagement, satisfaction, and retention.

• Cross-Functional Teamwork: Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to work effectively in fast-paced, agile team environments.

• Prototyping Tools: Proficiency in creating mockups, wireframes, and interactive prototypes using industry-standard tools.

• Artistic Versatility: Ability to adapt design styles and maintain visual consistency across diverse game features and thematic events.

• Platform Adaptability: Skill in optimizing UI for various mobile screen resolutions and platforms.

• Industry Software Mastery: Expert-level proficiency in design software such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Figma.

• Game Engine Familiarity: Experience working closely with developers and an understanding of implementation constraints within game engines like Unity.

• AI Tool Integration: Familiarity with and willingness to utilize AI tools within the design workflow.

Preferred Skills:

• Motion Graphics & Animation: Experience with UI animation tools such as Adobe After Effects, Spine, or similar for creating dynamic UI elements.

• Unity UI Workflow: Direct experience working with Unity's UI systems and workflows.

• Game Psychology: A passion for games and an understanding of player psychology, motivation, and behavior.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "5+ years of experience" coupled with the "mobile gaming industry" requirement, especially for "casual games," indicates a need for specialized, production-ready talent. The explicit mention of "Photoshop, Illustrator, Figma" and "Unity" signifies core technical competencies. The preference for "motion graphics or UI animation tools" suggests an opportunity to add value through dynamic UI elements.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Comprehensive Case Studies: A strong portfolio showcasing high-quality UI art for mobile titles, demonstrating the complete journey from concept to final in-game execution. Each case study should clearly illustrate your design process and problem-solving approach.

• Visual Design Examples: Showcase a range of visually appealing interfaces that align with different art directions and brand identities, highlighting your versatility.

• Player-Centric Solutions: Provide examples of UI designs that specifically address player engagement and retention, explaining the rationale behind your design decisions.

• Technical Integration Evidence: Include examples or descriptions of how your UI designs were implemented, demonstrating an understanding of technical constraints and collaboration with developers.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Illustrate your process for creating wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes, detailing how you gather requirements and iterate on designs.

• Artistic Consistency: Provide examples of how you maintained visual consistency across different game features, events, or updates.

• Platform Optimization Strategies: Showcase how you adapted UI designs for various screen resolutions and mobile platforms.

• Tool Proficiency Demonstration: Ensure your portfolio clearly reflects your expertise with Photoshop, Illustrator, Figma, and any other relevant design tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "strong portfolio showcasing high-quality UI art for mobile titles from concept to final in-game execution" is paramount. Candidates must be prepared to walk through their portfolio, explaining their design decisions, the problems they solved, and the impact of their work on player experience and game success metrics.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a UI Designer with 5-10 years of experience in a competitive tech hub like Herzliya, Israel, the estimated annual salary range for this role is expected to be between ₪200,000 - ₪350,000 (approximately $54,000 - $95,000 USD, subject to current exchange rates). This range accounts for the specialized skills in mobile gaming UI/UX, proficiency in key design tools, and the creative leadership expected.

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary: Reflecting experience and market value.

• Health Insurance: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.

• Retirement Plan: Contribution to a pension or provident fund.

• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation days, sick leave, and public holidays.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for training, workshops, and conferences to enhance skills in UI/UX, game design, and emerging technologies.

• Game Perks: Access to Playtika's game portfolio and potentially other gaming-related benefits.

• Stock Options/Grants: Potential for equity participation in a publicly traded company.

• On-site Amenities: Access to modern office facilities, potentially including cafeterias, relaxation areas, and fitness centers.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are expected to be around 40 hours per week, aligning with industry norms. While the role is on-site, Playtika may offer flexibility, though core hours will likely be required for team collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on general market data for experienced UI Designers in Israel, considering the tech and gaming industry's compensation trends. Verification with the company is recommended for precise figures. The benefits listed are typical for a company of Playtika's size and industry.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Interactive Entertainment / Mobile Gaming. Playtika is a global leader in the social casino and casual games market, leveraging AI and machine learning to create immersive player experiences. Their success is built on a foundation of innovation, data-driven decision-making, and a strong player-first approach.

Company Size: Playtika is a large, publicly traded company (NASDAQ: PLTK) with a significant global presence, employing thousands of individuals across multiple studios and offices. However, this specific role is within a "small, agile team," suggesting a more focused, startup-like environment within the larger organization.

Founded: Playtika was founded in 2010 in Israel, growing from a small mobile games company into a dominant force in interactive entertainment. This history highlights a culture of rapid growth, adaptation, and continuous innovation.

Team Structure:

• Core Game Team: This UI Designer will be part of a small, dedicated team focused on a new mobile title. This team likely includes game designers, product managers, developers, and potentially other artists.

• Reporting Structure: The UI Designer will likely report to a Lead UI/UX Designer, Art Director, or Product Manager within the new game's project team.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The role necessitates close collaboration with various departments, including game design, product management, engineering, and marketing, to ensure the UI effectively serves both player needs and business objectives.

Methodology:

• Agile Development: Playtika emphasizes an "agile DNA," suggesting that teams operate using agile methodologies (like Scrum or Kanban) for efficient development cycles, rapid iteration, and continuous feedback integration.

• Data-Driven Decisions: The company's use of AI and machine learning indicates a strong reliance on data analytics to inform design choices, optimize player experiences, and drive business growth.

• Player-Centric Design: A core tenet is a relentless focus on the player, ensuring that all design decisions prioritize player satisfaction, engagement, and long-term retention.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The duality of being part of a "small, agile team" within a "large, publicly traded company" is a key aspect. This implies a need for both independent initiative and the ability to navigate larger organizational structures and leverage corporate resources.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-to-senior level UI Designer. It requires significant autonomy and leadership within the UI design domain for a specific project. The expectation is to "lead UI design from concept to final implementation," indicating a high degree of responsibility and ownership.

Reporting Structure: The UI Designer will report into a project-specific hierarchy, likely under an Art Director or Lead Designer, and will collaborate closely with Product Managers and Lead Engineers. This structure allows for focused project execution while integrating with broader studio leadership.

Operations Impact: The UI Designer's work directly influences key operational metrics such as:

• Player Engagement: Intuitive and attractive UI encourages longer play sessions.

• Player Retention: A seamless and enjoyable user experience is critical for keeping players invested in the game over time.

• Monetization: Effective UI design can guide players towards in-app purchases or other monetization strategies.

• User Acquisition: A polished and appealing UI can positively influence download rates and initial player impressions.

Growth Opportunities:

• Lead UI/UX Designer: Progression to a Lead role, managing a team of UI/UX designers on future projects or taking on more complex design challenges.

• Art Director: Potential to move into a broader Art Director role, overseeing the visual style and execution across multiple game features or even entire games.

• Product Management: Transitioning to Product Management, leveraging design expertise to define game vision and strategy.

• Specialization: Deepening expertise in specific areas like UI animation, UX research, or technical art.

• Studio Leadership: With significant contributions and experience, opportunities may arise for leadership roles within specific game studios or Playtika's broader creative departments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role explicitly offers "creative freedom of a startup" with the "backing of a global leader," suggesting a culture that supports internal mobility and diverse career paths, particularly within the creative and product development spheres of the gaming industry.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as "On-site," implying a traditional office environment. Given Playtika's status as a major gaming company, the office is likely modern, well-equipped, and designed to foster creativity and collaboration.

Office Location(s): Herzliya, Israel. This is a major technology and business hub in Israel, offering a vibrant professional ecosystem. The specific office location will likely be in a modern business park or commercial center within Herzliya.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The office environment is expected to feature collaborative zones, meeting rooms, and open-plan areas designed to facilitate teamwork and idea exchange essential for a "small, agile team."

• Technology & Tools: Access to high-performance workstations, the latest design software (Photoshop, Illustrator, Figma), and potentially VR/AR development tools or specialized hardware relevant to game design.

• Team Interaction: Frequent opportunities for direct interaction with team members, including designers, developers, and product managers, fostering a dynamic and iterative design process.

• Creative Atmosphere: A work environment that encourages innovation, playfulness, and a passion for gaming, aligning with Playtika's "life needs play" ethos.

Work Schedule: While the standard is likely 40 hours per week, the "agile DNA" and startup-like team environment might encourage a degree of flexibility, provided project deadlines and team collaboration needs are met. Effective communication and availability during core business hours will be crucial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement, combined with the mention of a "small, agile team," suggests an environment where spontaneous collaboration and direct feedback are highly valued, typical of many game development studios.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio by a recruiter to assess basic qualifications and experience.

• Portfolio Presentation & Technical Interview: A session where you present your portfolio, discussing your design process, problem-solving skills, and specific contributions to past projects. This will likely involve technical questions related to UI design principles, software proficiency, and game development workflows.

• Team/Hiring Manager Interview: An interview with the hiring manager and potentially key team members (e.g., Lead Designer, Art Director) to evaluate cultural fit, collaboration style, and alignment with the team's vision.

• Take-Home Assignment (Potentially): A practical design challenge to assess your skills in a scenario relevant to the game's UI needs.

• Final Interview: A concluding interview, possibly with a senior leader, to finalize the decision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Showcase 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects for mobile gaming UI.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, your design process (ideation, wireframing, prototyping, execution), the tools used, challenges faced, and the quantifiable impact (e.g., improved engagement, retention, user satisfaction).

• Highlight Mobile Focus: Emphasize projects specifically for mobile platforms, demonstrating an understanding of mobile constraints and best practices.

• Showcase Versatility: Include examples that demonstrate your ability to adapt to different art styles and game genres.

• Explain Your Rationale: Be prepared to defend your design decisions, explaining why you made certain choices.

• Technical Details: Briefly touch upon your experience with developers and implementation, especially if you have Unity experience.

• Professional Presentation: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, visually polished, and easy to navigate.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Game: If a take-home challenge is provided, thoroughly research the game's genre, target audience, and existing mechanics (if any).

• Focus on Problem-Solving: Approach the challenge by first defining the problem, then outlining your design strategy, and finally executing the UI solution.

• Demonstrate Process: Show your thought process, not just the final output. Include sketches, wireframes, and rationale.

• Adhere to Constraints: Pay close attention to any specific requirements or constraints provided in the challenge brief.

• Time Management: Practice completing design tasks within realistic timeframes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "small, agile team" suggests that interviewers will be looking for candidates who are not only skilled but also adaptable, collaborative, and proactive in problem-solving. Be ready to discuss how you handle ambiguity and drive projects forward independently.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Photoshop: Essential for creating high-fidelity UI assets, textures, and detailed visual elements.

• Adobe Illustrator: Crucial for vector-based UI elements, icons, logos, and scalable graphics.

• Figma: A primary tool for UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaborative workflows, increasingly standard in modern design teams.

• Prototyping Tools: Figma's prototyping capabilities, or potentially standalone tools like Adobe XD, InVision, or Axure, for creating interactive mockups.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

Game Development Specific:

• Unity: Strong familiarity with Unity's UI implementation workflows is highly preferred, enabling better collaboration with developers and understanding of technical limitations.

• Motion Graphics/Animation Tools: Adobe After Effects, Spine, or similar tools for creating dynamic UI animations and transitions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "Photoshop, Illustrator, Figma" and "Unity" confirms these as core technical requirements. The "Nice to Have" for motion graphics tools indicates an area where candidates can differentiate themselves and add significant value to a mobile game's user experience.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values: Playtika's core values likely revolve around:

• Playfulness: A fundamental belief in the power of play and its integration into work and life.

• Innovation: A drive to constantly push boundaries with new technologies (AI, ML) and creative approaches.

• Player Focus: A commitment to delivering exceptional experiences for millions of players worldwide.

• Agility & Speed: Operating with an agile DNA to adapt quickly to market changes and player feedback.

• Collaboration: Fostering an inclusive environment where diverse talents work together towards common goals.

• Excellence: Striving for the highest standards in game development and operational execution.

Collaboration Style:

• Agile & Iterative: Expect a dynamic, collaborative process with frequent feedback loops and iterative design adjustments.

• Cross-Functional Synergy: The team values seamless integration between design, product, and engineering, encouraging open communication and shared problem-solving.

• Data-Informed: While creativity is paramount, design decisions are often informed by data and player analytics to ensure effectiveness.

• Inclusive & Supportive: As an equal opportunity employer, Playtika promotes an inclusive culture where contributions are valued, and team members support each other's growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "small, agile team" context implies a culture that is likely more tight-knit and fast-paced than a large, hierarchical department. Candidates should be prepared for a hands-on, collaborative environment where individual initiative is highly valued.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Innovation and Constraints: Creating novel UI experiences while adhering to technical limitations of mobile platforms and game engines requires creative problem-solving.

• Maintaining Visual Consistency: Adapting a core art style across a wide range of game features, events, and UI elements, especially in a fast-moving development cycle.

• Integrating AI Tools Effectively: Learning and incorporating new AI tools into the design workflow efficiently and ethically to enhance productivity and creativity.

• Fast-Paced Development: Working within an agile environment means adapting to frequent changes, tight deadlines, and evolving project requirements.

• Cross-Disciplinary Communication: Effectively translating design vision to developers and understanding technical feedback requires strong communication skills.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Cutting-Edge Technologies: Exposure to AI and machine learning applications in game development and design.

• Industry Trends: Staying at the forefront of mobile gaming UI/UX trends and best practices.

• Skill Expansion: Opportunities to learn new design tools, animation techniques (e.g., After Effects, Spine), and potentially game engine workflows (Unity).

• Mentorship & Growth: Learning from experienced designers, art directors, and product managers within a leading gaming company.

• Career Progression: Clear pathways for advancement into Lead Designer, Art Director, or Product Management roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role explicitly mentions the "creative freedom of a startup," which implies that employees are empowered to tackle challenges creatively and are encouraged to learn and adapt. The company's focus on "cutting-edge technologies like AI and machine learning" presents significant learning opportunities.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• UI Design Philosophy: "Describe your approach to designing player-centric UI for mobile games. How do you balance aesthetics with usability and retention?" Be ready to discuss your core principles and how they translate into practice.

• Portfolio Deep Dive: "Walk us through your most impactful mobile UI project. What was the problem, your role, your process, the challenges, and the results?" Prepare detailed explanations for your chosen portfolio pieces.

• Problem-Solving Scenarios: "Imagine our new game needs a system for daily login rewards. How would you approach designing the UI for this feature to maximize player engagement?" Think about user flows, visual appeal, and integration with other game elements.

• Collaboration & Conflict Resolution: "Describe a time you had a disagreement with a developer or product manager about a UI decision. How did you resolve it?" Highlight your communication and negotiation skills.

Company & Culture Questions:

• Playtika's Mission: "What excites you about Playtika's mission to 'deliver infinite ways to play' and our focus on AI/ML?" Show you've researched the company and understand its strategic direction.

• Team Fit: "How do you see yourself contributing to a small, agile team environment?" Emphasize your adaptability, proactivity, and collaborative spirit.

• Passion for Gaming: "What are your favorite mobile games from a UI/UX perspective, and why?" Demonstrate your passion for the industry and your critical eye.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: Organize your presentation logically: Project Overview -> Problem Statement -> Your Role & Process -> Key Design Decisions & Rationale -> Technical Implementation Notes -> Results/Impact.

• Visual Storytelling: Use clear visuals (screenshots, mockups, prototypes) to guide the audience through your work. Avoid text-heavy slides.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data (even if estimated or from previous roles) to demonstrate the positive impact of your UI designs on player metrics.

• Be Concise and Engaging: Practice your presentation to ensure it flows well and stays within the allotted time, keeping the audience engaged.

• Prepare for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your design choices, technical challenges, and how you'd handle specific scenarios related to the new game.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the "small, agile team" context, interviewers will likely probe for your ability to work independently, take initiative, and contribute positively to team dynamics. Demonstrating a proactive mindset and a passion for gaming will be crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UI Designer position:

• Submit Your Application: Utilize the provided application link on the Playtika careers page.

• Tailor Your Resume: Ensure your resume clearly highlights your experience in mobile gaming UI design, your proficiency with Photoshop, Illustrator, Figma, and Unity, and any experience with casual games. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your strongest mobile UI projects. Prepare a digital portfolio (PDF or website) that clearly showcases your process, design rationale, and successful outcomes. Be ready to present this during an interview.

• Prepare for Technical Questions: Review core UI/UX principles, common mobile design patterns, and the specifics of working within game engines like Unity.

• Research Playtika: Familiarize yourself with Playtika's game portfolio, company values, and recent news to demonstrate genuine interest and cultural alignment.

⚠️ 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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