UX Design - New Grad

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Design - New Grad

Company: SeatGeek

Location: New York, New York, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Design

Date Posted: November 19, 2025

Experience Level: Early Career (0-2 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on early-career UX Design talent, offering a foundational opportunity within SeatGeek's User Experience team.

• The primary objective is to contribute to the design and delivery of high-quality, user-friendly experiences for millions of live event attendees.

• Collaboration with cross-functional teams, including Product Management, Engineering, and Research, is central to the role's success.

• The position emphasizes learning, growth, and making a tangible impact on SeatGeek's mission to modernize the ticketing industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is listed as "UX Design - New Grad," the description emphasizes the "User Experience" team, suggesting a broader application of UX principles that may extend to product strategy and user research. The "fan-first attitude" and "modernizing the ticketing industry" context indicate a focus on enhancing customer journeys within a live entertainment ecosystem.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and leverage a profound understanding of customer needs, motivations, pain points, and behaviors through close collaboration with Product Management, Research, and Analytics teams.

• Partner with a cross-functional team of product managers and engineers to conceptualize, design, and deliver intuitive and impactful user experiences that address real user problems and contribute to long-term business objectives.

• Actively participate in and contribute to experience reviews, providing constructive feedback to refine and elevate the quality of personal designs and the collective output of the User Experience team.

• Translate user insights and business requirements into compelling user interface designs, wireframes, prototypes, and user flows that effectively communicate design intent and functionality.

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of design systems and best practices within the UX team, fostering a culture of shared learning and iterative design excellence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of user-centric research, collaborative design execution, and quality assurance through peer review. This indicates that the role requires not only individual design contribution but also active participation in team-wide design critiques and process improvements, typical of growing UX teams seeking to scale their impact.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

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

Experience: Coursework, personal projects, or internship experience demonstrating a solid understanding of core UX principles, user-centered design methodologies, and design thinking.

Required Skills:

• Strong foundational knowledge of User Experience (UX) principles, including user research methodologies, information architecture, interaction design, and usability best practices.

• Proficiency with design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, or similar, with a demonstrated ability to iterate rapidly based on feedback.

• Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions clearly and work effectively within a cross-functional team environment.

• A genuine curiosity about users, their motivations, and their pain points, coupled with a passion for solving problems through design.

• Eagerness to learn, adapt, and grow within a fast-paced, dynamic, and fan-focused industry.

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with user research techniques and the ability to synthesize research findings into actionable design insights.

• Experience with design systems and component-based design approaches.

• Basic understanding of front-end development concepts (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to inform design feasibility.

• A portfolio showcasing personal projects, academic work, or internship contributions that highlight UX design process, problem-solving skills, and user-centric solutions.

• Understanding of the live events or ticketing industry, with insights into user behavior and market dynamics.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "New Grad" designation implies that extensive professional experience is not expected. The emphasis is on foundational knowledge, a strong portfolio demonstrating design thinking, and the potential to learn and grow. The "collaboration skills, adept at working with a diverse group of people" suggests that cultural fit and teamwork are highly valued.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated collection of UX design projects (academic, personal, or internship) that clearly demonstrate your design process, from initial research and problem definition to ideation, prototyping, and iteration.

• Visual representations of key UX artifacts, including user personas, user journey maps, wireframes, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes.

• Case studies that articulate the problem statement, your role and contributions, the design challenges faced, the solutions developed, and the outcomes or learnings achieved.

• Evidence of iterative design, showcasing how feedback was incorporated and how designs evolved through user testing or team critiques.

Process Documentation:

• While formal process documentation is not explicitly required for a new grad, candidates are expected to be able to articulate their design process clearly and concisely during interviews.

• Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they approach understanding user needs, defining problems, exploring solutions, and iterating on designs based on feedback.

• The ability to explain the rationale behind design decisions and how they align with user goals and business objectives will be crucial.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a new graduate role, the portfolio is paramount. It serves as the primary evidence of a candidate's understanding and application of UX principles. The focus should be on demonstrating a structured design process, even if applied to academic or personal projects, and the ability to communicate that process effectively.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $100,000 - $115,000 USD per year. This range is based on the provided information and industry benchmarks for entry-level UX Designer roles in New York City. Actual compensation may vary based on candidate qualifications, experience, and specific skill sets.

Benefits:

• Equity Stake: Opportunity to own a piece of SeatGeek's growth and success.

• Flexible Work Environment: The ability to choose your work location, with options for significant remote work or full-time office presence.

• WFH Stipend: Financial support for setting up an effective home office.

• Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO): Encourages a healthy work-life balance and personal well-being.

• Generous Paid Family Leave: Up to 16 weeks of paid leave to support new parents and families.

• 401(k) Matching Program: Financial assistance for retirement savings.

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Includes health, vision, dental, and life insurance plans.

• Family Building Services: Up to $25,000 in financial support for family-building initiatives.

• Wellness Reimbursement: $500 annually for wellness-related expenses.

• Mental Health & Wellness Subscriptions: Access to Headspace (meditation), Headspace Care (therapy), and One Medical membership.

• Live Event Stipend: $120 per month specifically for purchasing tickets to live events, aligning with SeatGeek's core business.

• Music Subscription: Annual subscription to Spotify, Apple Music, or Amazon Music.

Working Hours: While not explicitly stated, a standard full-time role typically involves around 40 hours per week. The flexible work environment and unlimited PTO suggest a focus on results and work-life balance rather than strict adherence to a 9-to-5 schedule.

📝 Enhancement Note: The benefits package is robust and employee-centric, with a strong emphasis on well-being, work-life balance, and unique perks directly related to SeatGeek's product (live event tickets). The salary range is competitive for a new graduate UX role in a high-cost-of-living area like New York City.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, E-commerce, Live Entertainment Ticketing. SeatGeek operates at the intersection of technology and entertainment, aiming to disrupt and modernize the ticketing industry with a fan-first approach.

Company Size: SeatGeek is a well-established company with a significant presence in the tech industry. While the exact employee count isn't provided, the comprehensive benefits package and structured interview process suggest a mature organization capable of supporting a large user base and employee base.

Founded: SeatGeek was founded in 2009, indicating a decade-plus of experience in the ticketing market, allowing for significant refinement of its platform and business strategies.

Team Structure:

• The User Experience team likely comprises UX Designers, UI Designers, UX Researchers, and potentially UX Writers, working collaboratively.

• This role is part of the broader User Experience team, which in turn collaborates closely with Product Management, Engineering, Analytics, and potentially Marketing teams.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: SeatGeek emphasizes understanding customer needs through data from Analytics and Research, suggesting a data-informed approach to design decisions.

• User-Centricity: The core mission revolves around a "fan-first attitude," indicating that user needs and experiences are paramount in all product development.

• Agile Development: While not explicitly stated, the mention of cross-functional teams and delivering "high quality and easy to use experiences" in a "fast-moving environment" suggests an agile or iterative development process.

• Continuous Improvement: The emphasis on "experience reviews" and refining work points to a culture of ongoing learning and iterative enhancement of both products and processes.

Company Website: https://seatgeek.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: SeatGeek's culture appears to be a blend of tech-forward innovation, a passion for live events, and a strong commitment to employee well-being and development. For a UX designer, this means working in an environment that values user empathy, data, and collaborative problem-solving within a dynamic industry.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is an entry-level ("New Grad") position within the User Experience (UX) Design discipline. It's designed for individuals at the beginning of their professional careers, offering a structured environment to learn and apply foundational UX skills. The scope of responsibilities is focused on contributing to existing projects and learning from senior team members.

Reporting Structure: The UX Designer will report to a Design Lead, UX Manager, or a Senior UX Designer. This reporting line will provide guidance, mentorship, and performance feedback. Collaboration will extend to Product Managers and Engineers within specific project teams.

Operations Impact: While not a traditional "operations" role focused on backend processes, this UX Design position has a significant impact on the "customer operations" and overall user experience. By designing intuitive and effective interfaces, the designer directly influences customer satisfaction, conversion rates, ease of use, and brand perception. A well-designed experience reduces friction for users, leading to more successful ticket purchases and a stronger brand loyalty, ultimately driving revenue and business value.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas of UX, such as user research, interaction design, UI design, or accessibility, based on project involvement and personal interest.

• Mentorship and Learning: Direct access to experienced UX professionals who provide guidance, feedback, and knowledge sharing, fostering rapid skill development.

• Career Progression: Potential to advance to Junior UX Designer, UX Designer, Senior UX Designer, and potentially lead design initiatives or manage a team over time, contingent on performance and demonstrated growth.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Experience working closely with Product Management and Engineering provides a holistic understanding of the product development lifecycle, valuable for future career growth in product-focused roles.

• Industry Exposure: Deep involvement in the live entertainment and ticketing industry offers unique insights and domain expertise.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Operations Career Level" is framed within the context of UX Design, emphasizing foundational learning and contribution. The "Operations Impact" section reinterprets "operations" to mean customer-facing operational efficiency and user journey optimization, a common overlap for UX roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: SeatGeek operates on a hybrid work model. While there's flexibility to work remotely, the position explicitly requires coming into the New York City office at least 3 days a week. This suggests a preference for in-person collaboration and team building.

Office Location(s): The primary office location for this role is New York City. Specific details about the office amenities or accessibility would typically be provided during the interview process or on the company's careers page.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office environment is designed to foster collaboration, with teams expected to work together in person for a portion of the week. This facilitates spontaneous idea sharing, design critiques, and team bonding.

• Tools and Technology: Employees will have access to standard office equipment and potentially dedicated design workstations. The company provides access to necessary software and tools, including Figma, and offers a WFH stipend for home office setups.

• Team Interaction: The hybrid model encourages regular face-to-face interaction with colleagues, fostering a strong sense of team community and facilitating direct communication and feedback loops essential for design work.

Work Schedule: A standard full-time work schedule is expected, likely around 40 hours per week. The hybrid model and unlimited PTO policy indicate a focus on results and employee autonomy, allowing for some flexibility in managing personal schedules around core collaboration days and project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model with mandated office days is a key aspect of the work environment. This indicates that while flexibility is valued, SeatGeek prioritizes in-person interaction for team cohesion, brainstorming, and mentorship, which is particularly beneficial for junior designers learning and integrating into a team.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter will likely review applications and conduct a brief phone screen to assess basic qualifications, interest, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: Candidates will be asked to present their portfolio, walking through 1-2 key projects that demonstrate their UX process and problem-solving skills. This may be followed by a practical design challenge (e.g., a take-home assignment or an in-person whiteboarding exercise) to evaluate design thinking and execution under pressure.

• Team Interviews: Interviews with members of the UX team, Product Management, and Engineering to assess technical skills, collaboration style, and alignment with team values.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A final interview with the Design Manager or Hiring Manager to discuss career goals, role expectations, and overall fit within SeatGeek.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your specific role and contributions, the design process you followed, the challenges you encountered, and the outcomes or learnings.

• Show Your Process: Don't just show final screens; include sketches, wireframes, user flows, research insights, and iterations to demonstrate your thinking and problem-solving approach.

• Highlight Impact: Quantify results where possible (e.g., "improved conversion by X%" or "reduced user errors by Y%"). If direct metrics aren't available, articulate the potential impact and the reasoning behind it.

• Tailor Your Presentation: Select projects that are most relevant to SeatGeek's business (e.g., e-commerce, mobile apps, user-facing platforms) and showcase your ability to design for a large user base.

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design decisions, how you handle feedback, and how you collaborate with others.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: Carefully read and understand the problem statement for any design challenge. Ask clarifying questions if needed.

• Prioritize: For time-bound challenges, focus on the most critical aspects of the design problem. It's better to deliver a well-reasoned partial solution than a rushed, incomplete one.

• Communicate Your Thinking: Articulate your assumptions, design choices, and rationale clearly, whether in writing or verbally.

• Focus on Process: Demonstrate your UX process, even in a condensed format. Show how you'd approach understanding the problem and ideating solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "New Grad" role means the interview process will likely focus more on potential, foundational skills, and coachability rather than extensive experience. The portfolio presentation is the most critical component for showcasing these attributes.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly mentioned as a required design tool. Proficiency in Figma for wireframing, prototyping, and collaborative design is essential.

• Other Design & Prototyping Tools: Familiarity with tools like Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision, or similar is beneficial and demonstrates adaptability.

• Collaboration Tools: Experience with tools like Slack, Jira, Confluence, or Google Workspace for team communication and project management.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Analytics Platforms: While not explicitly required for a new grad, familiarity with how user data is collected and analyzed (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel) can inform design decisions.

• User Research Tools: Experience with tools for usability testing, surveys, or user interviews.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to this UX Design role, but understanding how design impacts customer journeys within CRM or marketing automation systems could be a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma highlights its importance within SeatGeek's design workflow. A candidate's ability to leverage Figma effectively for collaborative design and prototyping will be a key assessment point.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Fan-First: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of live event attendees, driving all design and product decisions with the customer experience at the forefront.

• Curiosity: An inherent desire to understand user behaviors, motivations, and pain points, coupled with a proactive approach to learning and exploration.

• Collaboration: A strong belief in the power of teamwork, encouraging open communication, mutual respect, and shared problem-solving across diverse teams.

• Quality & Excellence: A dedication to delivering high-quality, polished, and effective user experiences that meet rigorous standards and drive business value.

• Impact-Driven: A focus on designing solutions that not only solve user problems but also contribute measurably to SeatGeek's business objectives and growth.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers work hand-in-hand with Product Managers and Engineers, ensuring that designs are technically feasible, strategically aligned, and meet user needs.

• Iterative Feedback: A culture of continuous improvement through regular design reviews, feedback sessions, and open communication channels.

• Mentorship and Knowledge Sharing: Senior team members are expected to mentor junior designers, and all team members are encouraged to share insights and learn from each other's experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: SeatGeek's values emphasize a customer-centric approach, intellectual curiosity, and collaborative execution. For a UX Designer, this means being empathetic to users, proactive in learning, and effective in working within a team to achieve shared goals.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: As a new grad, learning to navigate the complexities of satisfying diverse user needs while aligning with SeatGeek's business objectives and technical constraints will be a key challenge.

• Rapid Iteration in a Fast-Paced Environment: The live events industry is dynamic. Adapting quickly to changing market conditions, user feedback, and project timelines will require agility and resilience.

• Translating Abstract Concepts into Tangible Designs: Moving from user research insights and abstract ideas to concrete, user-friendly designs can be challenging, requiring strong problem-solving and visualization skills.

• Integrating into a Hybrid Work Model: Effectively collaborating and building relationships within a hybrid team structure, ensuring seamless communication and contribution regardless of physical location, will be an ongoing aspect.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Formal Mentorship Program: Access to experienced UX professionals for guidance, skill development, and career advice.

• Design System Contribution: Opportunity to learn about and contribute to the company's design system, which is crucial for scalable and consistent design.

• User Research Exposure: Gaining hands-on experience with various user research methodologies and contributing to research initiatives.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Working closely with Product Managers and Engineers provides valuable insights into product strategy, business operations, and technical implementation.

• Industry Events & Training: Potential for SeatGeek to sponsor attendance at relevant UX conferences, workshops, or online courses to enhance skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers significant opportunities for learning and development, leveraging SeatGeek's expertise and culture. The challenges presented are typical for entry-level roles and are framed as opportunities for growth and skill acquisition.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Tell me about a time you had to balance conflicting user needs or stakeholder requirements. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?"

  • Preparation: Think of a project where you encountered differing opinions or needs. Focus on how you gathered information, explored options, communicated your rationale, and reached a resolution. Emphasize empathy and data-driven decision-making.

• "Describe your process for taking a complex problem and breaking it down into actionable design steps. Can you walk me through an example from your portfolio?"

  • Preparation: Be ready to articulate your design methodology clearly. Use a portfolio case study to illustrate each step: problem definition, user research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration.

• "How do you incorporate user feedback into your design process, especially when the feedback might be critical or suggests changes you disagree with?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about SeatGeek and our mission to modernize the ticketing industry?"

  • Preparation: Research SeatGeek's products, recent news, and company values. Connect your passion for design and live events to their mission. Mention specific aspects of their platform or approach that resonate with you.

• "How do you approach collaboration with engineers and product managers? What's your ideal working relationship with these roles?"

  • Preparation: Emphasize your understanding of cross-functional teamwork. Discuss the importance of clear communication, mutual respect, and shared ownership of the product. Highlight your ability to articulate design rationale and be receptive to technical constraints and product strategy.

• "Our culture values curiosity and a fan-first approach. How do these values align with your own design philosophy?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, begin with a clear problem statement, your role, and the project's goals. Then, detail your process (research, ideation, design, testing), highlighting key decisions and challenges. Conclude with outcomes, learnings, and potential next steps.

• Focus on Process, Not Just Pixels: While polished visuals are important, emphasize the why behind your design choices. Show your thought process, iterations, and how you arrived at the final solution.

• Quantify Impact: If possible, present data or metrics that demonstrate the success of your designs. If direct metrics aren't available, discuss the intended impact and the reasoning behind it.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about specific design decisions, research methods, and problem-solving approaches. Be honest about what you don't know and demonstrate willingness to learn.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a new graduate role, interviewers will be looking for foundational UX knowledge, a strong design process, excellent communication and collaboration skills, and a genuine enthusiasm for SeatGeek and the live events industry. Your portfolio is your primary tool for demonstrating these attributes.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the SeatGeek careers portal, ensuring all required fields are completed accurately.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature 1-2 projects that best showcase your UX design process, problem-solving abilities, and understanding of user-centered design principles. Tailor the project selection and descriptions to highlight relevance to SeatGeek's mission and the live events industry.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your UX skills, relevant coursework, internship experience, and any projects that demonstrate proficiency with design tools like Figma. Use keywords from the job description (e.g., "UX principles," "user research," "collaboration," "Figma") and quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process and portfolio projects using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Prepare to discuss your motivations for pursuing a UX design career at SeatGeek and how you approach collaboration.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research SeatGeek's website, product, mission, and recent news. Understand their business model, target audience, and the competitive landscape of the ticketing industry. Prepare thoughtful questions about the role, team, and company culture.

⚠️ 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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