UX Design Director

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Design Director

Company: Blizzard Entertainment

Location: Irvine, California, United States / Village of Colonie, New York, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Game Design / User Experience

Date Posted: January 19, 2026

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and mentor a high-performing UI/UX design team within the iconic Diablo franchise, focusing on creating engaging and approachable ARPG experiences.

• Define and maintain comprehensive interface guidelines and interaction patterns to ensure a cohesive, readable, and accessible player experience across multiple platforms and control schemes.

• Drive design validation and iteration through close collaboration with User Research and analytics teams, translating player data and playtest feedback into actionable improvements.

• Oversee the creation of wireframes and mockups, facilitate efficient implementation within the game engine, and clearly communicate functional requirements to engineering teams.

• Champion UX principles by fostering strong cross-disciplinary collaboration with art, design, audio, engineering, and production teams throughout the development lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is critical for the Diablo franchise, demanding a deep understanding of ARPG mechanics and player psychology to translate complex gameplay into intuitive user interfaces. The emphasis on "approachable gameplay" suggests a need to balance depth with accessibility, a key challenge in live-service ARPGs.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Team Leadership & Development: Build, mentor, and manage a team of UI/UX designers, establishing clear standards, workflows, and quality benchmarks to foster a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.

• UI/UX Strategy & Guidelines: Develop and enforce robust interface guidelines, design patterns, and style guides to ensure visual and functional consistency across all game elements, platforms (PC, console), and input methods (keyboard/mouse, controller).

• Player-Centric Design & Validation: Partner closely with User Research to plan and execute usability testing, playtests, and player feedback sessions. Utilize data analytics to validate design decisions and drive iterative improvements that enhance the overall player experience.

• Feature Design & Implementation: Conceptualize and design core game features through wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes. Collaborate with engineers to implement UI elements efficiently within the game engine, ensuring seamless integration and performance.

• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Act as a key liaison between the UI/UX team and other development disciplines (Art, Game Design, Audio, Engineering, Production), ensuring that UX considerations are integrated from concept to completion and that communication flows effectively.

• Live-Service UX Evolution: Stay abreast of industry trends, accessibility best practices, and player expectations for live-service titles (seasons, events, in-game shops, battle passes), proactively identifying opportunities for UI/UX innovation and ongoing content support.

• Presentation & Communication: Regularly present design concepts, progress, and findings to stakeholders, effectively gathering feedback and advocating for the player experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility for "live-service needs" indicates a significant focus on the ongoing evolution of the game's UI/UX post-launch, requiring strategic thinking for content updates, monetization features, and player retention.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Minimum of 12+ years of experience in UI/UX design for games or other interactive products, with a demonstrable track record of shipping successful titles, particularly within the ARPG genre.

Required Skills:

• Expert-level understanding of UI/UX design principles, including hierarchy, layout, usability, visual design, color theory, and interaction design craft.

• Proficiency in industry-standard UX design tools such as Figma, Miro, Sketch, Adobe XD, or similar for wireframing, prototyping, and documentation.

• Hands-on experience integrating UI within AAA game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity), with a strong grasp of art and tech workflows, performance constraints, and cross-discipline handoffs.

• Demonstrated ability to design and ship complex UI systems end-to-end across distinct inputs (Keyboard/Mouse vs. Controller) and platforms (PC, Console).

• Exceptional communication skills, including persuasive writing, clear presentation abilities, and effective collaboration with diverse creative and technical teams.

• A robust portfolio showcasing shipped work, particularly in ARPGs or action-RPGs, demonstrating mastery of complex systems like inventory, skill trees, loot flows, and readability in fast-paced combat scenarios.

• Strong understanding of user research methodologies and the ability to synthesize findings from user research, playtests, and analytics to inform design decisions.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with motion graphics or animation tools (e.g., After Effects, Spine) applied to UI transitions, ability activations, and diegetic elements that enhance immersion.

• Familiarity with manipulating UI materials and effects, including dynamic elements, animations, and combat-driven feedback loops that align with a dark fantasy aesthetic.

• Active player of ARPGs and live-service titles, with a deep understanding of progression systems, endgame loops, player expectations around customization, and accessibility features.

• Familiarity with mobile UI patterns and considerations, where relevant.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "ARPG-friendly readability, hierarchy, and interaction craft" and "mastery of inventory systems, skill trees, loot flows" highlights the specific challenges and expertise required for this role within the Diablo universe.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Shipped Titles: A portfolio clearly showcasing shipped game titles, with a strong emphasis on ARPG or action-RPG UI/UX.

• System Design Examples: Detailed case studies demonstrating the design of complex UI systems such as inventory management, character progression (skill trees, talent systems), loot acquisition and management, quest logs, and in-game shops.

• Input & Platform Versatility: Evidence of designing for multiple input methods (e.g., keyboard/mouse, controller) and platforms (PC, console), highlighting how design adaptability was achieved.

• Process & Collaboration: Documentation or case studies illustrating your design process, including user research integration, iterative design, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and how feedback was incorporated.

• Visual & Interaction Craft: High-fidelity mockups, prototypes, or video examples showcasing strong visual design, hierarchy, readability, and engaging micro-interactions.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Examples of how you have established and refined UI/UX design workflows within a development team, including task management and handoff procedures.

• Guideline Creation: Samples of UI style guides, component libraries, or design pattern documentation created to ensure consistency and efficiency.

• Research & Iteration: Documentation demonstrating how user research, playtesting, and data analytics were used to validate design hypotheses and drive iterative improvements.

• Problem-Solving Case Studies: Detailed walkthroughs of how you approached and solved complex UI/UX challenges within game development, outlining the problem, your solution, and the resulting impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates must be prepared to present detailed case studies that not only showcase visual design but also the strategic thinking, process, and collaborative efforts behind their UI/UX solutions, particularly for complex game systems.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance; Health Savings Account (HSA) or Health Reimbursement Account (HRA); dependent care spending accounts; life and AD&D insurance; disability insurance.

• Financial & Retirement: 401(k) with company match; tuition reimbursement; charitable donation matching.

• Time Off: Paid holidays, vacation, sick time, and floating holidays; compassion and bereavement leaves; parental leave.

• Additional Perks: Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and various voluntary benefits (supplemental life & disability, legal services, ID protection, rental insurance).

• Relocation Assistance: May be provided if relocation is required for the role.

Working Hours:

• Standard 40 hours per week, with a flexible hybrid work arrangement. Employees are welcome to work on-site full-time if preferred.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is a U.S. national average for this role and experience level. Specific compensation will be discussed by the Talent Professional and will reflect local cost of living, the candidate's specific qualifications, and the designated work location. The extensive benefits package is typical for large entertainment companies, emphasizing holistic employee well-being.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Interactive Entertainment / Video Game Development (ARPG, PC/Console/Mobile)

Company Size: Large (Activision Blizzard, a division of Microsoft, employs thousands globally).

Founded: Blizzard Entertainment was founded in 1991, and Activision Blizzard was formed in 2008. Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard in 2023.

Team Structure:

• Diablo Franchise Team: This role is part of the dedicated development team for the Diablo franchise, a highly collaborative and specialized group.

• Reporting Structure: The UX Design Director will report to a senior leadership position within the game development hierarchy, likely a Game Director or Head of Design for the Diablo franchise.

• Cross-Functional Integration: The UI/UX team operates in close partnership with Game Design, Art, Engineering, Audio, User Research, and Production departments, requiring significant cross-functional communication and alignment.

Methodology:

• Agile Development: Development likely follows an agile or hybrid agile methodology, emphasizing iterative development, frequent feedback loops, and adaptability to changing priorities.

• Data-Informed Design: A strong emphasis is placed on using player data, analytics, and user research to inform and validate design decisions, ensuring the player experience is optimized for engagement and retention.

• Player-Centric Approach: The core philosophy revolves around creating immersive, engaging, and enjoyable experiences for players, with a deep understanding of player motivations and expectations within the ARPG genre.

Company Website: https://careers.blizzard.com/global/en

📝 Enhancement Note: Blizzard's culture is historically known for its focus on "gameplay first" and a commitment to quality. Within the Diablo franchise, this translates to a deep dive into ARPG mechanics, dark fantasy aesthetics, and the specific player needs of a live-service game.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership role, equivalent to a Director or Head of Department, responsible for a critical function within a major game franchise. It requires strategic oversight, team management, and significant individual contribution to design direction.

Reporting Structure: The UX Design Director will report to senior leadership within the Diablo development team, likely a Game Director or Executive Producer, and will manage a team of UI/UX designers at various experience levels.

Operations Impact: The UX Design Director's work directly influences player engagement, retention, and overall satisfaction. Effective UI/UX is crucial for the success of ARPGs, impacting everything from core gameplay loops (inventory, combat feedback) to monetization and long-term player investment. This role has a direct impact on the commercial success and player perception of the Diablo franchise.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Expansion: Potential to expand leadership scope to encompass multiple franchises or broader design disciplines within Blizzard.

• Strategic Design Influence: Opportunity to shape the long-term UI/UX vision and strategy for the Diablo franchise, influencing future game development and live-service content.

• Mentorship & Skill Development: Lead and mentor a talented team, fostering their growth and developing future leaders in game UI/UX design.

• Industry Recognition: Contribute to a highly visible and critically acclaimed franchise, offering opportunities for industry recognition and professional advancement.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a significant leadership opportunity within a major AAA game franchise, with potential for substantial impact on player experience and franchise direction. Career growth is likely tied to the success of the Diablo titles and the candidate's ability to lead and innovate.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Blizzard Entertainment operates large, modern studio facilities designed to foster collaboration and creativity. The hybrid work model allows for a mix of in-office collaboration and remote flexibility.

Office Location(s):

• Irvine, California: A major hub for Blizzard Entertainment, offering state-of-the-art facilities.

• Albany, New York: Another primary studio location, also equipped to support game development.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The studios feature open-plan work areas, meeting rooms, and breakout spaces designed to facilitate spontaneous collaboration and team interaction.

• Technology & Tools: Access to high-end development hardware, industry-standard software, and potentially specialized UI development tools and engine integrations.

• Team Interaction: The hybrid model encourages intentional in-office days for focused team meetings, design reviews, and cross-disciplinary syncs, while remote days allow for focused individual work.

Work Schedule: The role adheres to a standard 40-hour work week, with the flexibility of a hybrid arrangement. However, the demanding nature of game development, especially for AAA titles and live-service games, may require occasional extended hours during critical project phases or launch periods.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role requires strong self-management and communication skills to maintain team cohesion and project momentum, regardless of physical location.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application and resume, focusing on experience level, leadership background, and relevance to ARPG UI/UX.

• Portfolio Presentation & Interview: Candidates will typically be invited to present their portfolio to the hiring team. This is a critical stage where you will walk through key projects, explaining your process, design rationale, and impact. Expect in-depth questions about your leadership style, team management, and problem-solving approaches.

• Technical & Design Deep Dive: Interviews may include discussions on specific UI/UX challenges, design principles, and technical considerations relevant to game engines and performance. You might be asked to critique existing UIs or propose solutions to hypothetical problems.

• Cross-Disciplinary Interviews: You may meet with individuals from Art, Engineering, Game Design, and Production to assess your collaboration style and ability to integrate UX into broader development workflows.

• Leadership & Culture Fit: Final interviews will likely focus on your leadership philosophy, strategic thinking, ability to mentor, and how you align with Blizzard's culture and values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Focus on 3-5 of your most relevant and impactful projects, prioritizing those that demonstrate ARPG/action-RPG experience, leadership, and complex system design.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process (research, ideation, iteration), your specific contributions, the technical constraints, and the measurable outcomes or impact.

• Highlight Leadership: For this Director role, explicitly showcase instances where you led teams, mentored designers, defined processes, or influenced project direction.

• Showcase Process & Rationale: Don't just show final screens; explain why you made certain design decisions. Include wireframes, user flows, research insights, and early concepts.

• Prepare for Engine/Technical Questions: Be ready to discuss how your designs translate into the game engine, performance considerations, and collaboration with engineers.

• Practice Your Presentation: Rehearse your portfolio walkthrough to ensure it's concise, engaging, and within the allotted time. Be prepared to answer questions on the fly.

Challenge Preparation:

• Anticipate Design Exercises: Be prepared for potential design challenges, which might involve critiquing an existing UI, proposing a UI solution for a new game feature, or outlining a strategy for a specific player experience problem.

• Focus on Process and Rationale: Even in a short exercise, demonstrating your thought process and design methodology is key. Outline your approach, potential solutions, and how you would validate them.

• Consider Live-Service Dynamics: Think about how your solutions would scale, be maintained, and potentially integrate with monetization or live-service events.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is paramount for this role. It must demonstrate not only design talent but also leadership capabilities and a deep understanding of the unique demands of UI/UX design in AAA game development, particularly for live-service ARPGs.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• UX Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly preferred), Sketch, Adobe XD, Axure RP.

• Collaboration & Whiteboarding: Miro, Mural.

• Visual Design & Asset Creation: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator.

• Game Engines: Experience with integrating UI into engines like Unreal Engine or proprietary Blizzard engines.

• Project Management: Jira, Confluence, Asana, or similar for workflow and documentation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with in-game analytics platforms and tools for tracking player behavior, UI engagement, and feature adoption.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly CRM-focused, understanding how UI/UX impacts player accounts, progression systems, and potentially in-game store interactions is relevant.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is increasingly becoming an industry standard for collaborative UI/UX design, making it a critical skill. Experience with game engines and their UI implementation pipelines is also essential.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Quality & Craftsmanship: A deep commitment to delivering high-quality, polished experiences that meet Blizzard's renowned standards.

• Player Focus: Prioritizing the player experience above all else, ensuring games are engaging, fun, and accessible.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Fostering an environment where diverse perspectives are valued and teams work together effectively to achieve common goals.

• Innovation & Passion: Encouraging creative thinking, pushing boundaries, and maintaining a genuine passion for game development.

• Accountability & Ownership: Taking responsibility for designs, processes, and team performance, driving projects to completion with integrity.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Disciplinary Partnership: A highly collaborative approach, working closely with game designers, artists, engineers, and producers to integrate UX seamlessly.

• Feedback-Driven: An open and constructive approach to giving and receiving feedback, essential for iterative design and continuous improvement.

• Transparent Communication: Maintaining clear, consistent, and honest communication across all levels and departments to ensure alignment and mitigate risks.

• Shared Vision: Working towards a unified vision for the game, ensuring all design decisions contribute to the overall player experience and franchise goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: Blizzard's culture emphasizes a strong sense of ownership and a passion for creating exceptional gaming experiences. The ideal candidate will embody these values and be adept at fostering a positive and productive team environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Complexity and Accessibility: Designing intuitive UIs for deep ARPG mechanics (inventory, skills, loot) that are accessible to both veteran players and newcomers.

• Live-Service Evolution: Adapting and expanding UI/UX for ongoing content updates, seasonal events, and potential monetization features while maintaining a cohesive experience.

• Cross-Platform & Input Consistency: Ensuring a seamless and effective UI experience across PC and consoles with different input methods (controller vs. KBM).

• Technical Constraints: Working within the performance limitations and technical pipelines of AAA game engines.

• Managing a Remote/Hybrid Team: Maintaining team cohesion, communication, and productivity across distributed team members.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Industry Leadership: Opportunity to lead and shape the direction of UI/UX for one of the most iconic ARPG franchises in gaming.

• Advanced Game Design: Deepen understanding of ARPG mechanics, player psychology, and live-service game design principles.

• Mentorship Programs: Formal and informal opportunities to mentor junior designers and learn from senior leadership within Blizzard and Activision Blizzard.

• Conferences & Training: Potential for participation in industry conferences, workshops, and specialized training to stay at the forefront of UI/UX trends in gaming.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant challenges inherent to AAA live-service game development, but also offers substantial rewards in terms of professional growth, impact, and career advancement within a leading entertainment company.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your approach to leading a UI/UX team through the development of a major AAA title, focusing on building culture and driving quality."

• "How would you establish and enforce UI/UX guidelines for a franchise like Diablo to ensure consistency across platforms and inputs, while allowing for innovation?"

• "Walk us through a complex UI system you designed for an ARPG or similar genre. What were the key challenges, your design process, and the final impact?" (Be prepared to present this as part of your portfolio review).

• "How do you leverage user research and analytics to validate design decisions and iterate on features in a live-service environment?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What aspects of the Diablo franchise's current UI/UX do you find compelling, and where do you see opportunities for improvement?"

• "How do you see your leadership style contributing to Blizzard's culture of quality and player-centricity?"

• "What are your thoughts on designing for live-service games and supporting ongoing content updates?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly define the problem, your role, the process (research, ideation, iteration, testing), your specific contributions, the solutions, and the outcomes/impact.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data or metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved player retention, reduced task completion time, positive player feedback).

• Showcase Leadership: Highlight instances where you mentored designers, managed workflows, or influenced strategic decisions.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your design choices, technical implementation considerations, and collaboration.

• Engage and Discuss: Be ready to have a conversation, not just a presentation. Show your passion and enthusiasm for the role and the Diablo franchise.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should thoroughly research the current state of Diablo's UI/UX, understand the challenges of live-service ARPGs, and be ready to articulate a clear vision for leading a design team at Blizzard, backed by concrete examples from their portfolio.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Design Director position:

• Submit your application through the Blizzard Entertainment careers portal via the provided link.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight your most relevant ARPG/action-RPG UI/UX experience, leadership accomplishments, and complex system design examples. Focus on projects that showcase your ability to create engaging, readable, and functional interfaces for core game mechanics.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 12+ years of experience, leadership roles, specific UI/UX skills, and any shipped AAA titles, using keywords from the job description such as "UI/UX Design Director," "ARPG," "Game Development," "Team Leadership," and "Figma."

• Interview Preparation: Practice your portfolio presentation, focusing on storytelling, design rationale, and leadership examples. Prepare to discuss your approach to team management, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and player-centric design within the context of a live-service game.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Blizzard Entertainment's history, its key franchises (especially Diablo), and its stated values. Understand the unique challenges and opportunities of working on a beloved, long-standing game series.

⚠️ 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.