Product Designer (UI/UX)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer (UI/UX)

Company: algo1

Location: London, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UI/UX

Date Posted: 2026-07-30

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the end-to-end user experience for a novel behavioural AI platform in the retail sector, from initial concept through to production deployment.

• Translate complex user challenges and behavioural insights into intuitive, elegant, and user-friendly interaction flows and interfaces.

• Establish and evolve the visual language, interaction patterns, and overall design culture for a rapidly growing stealth-mode startup.

• Leverage AI tools throughout the design workflow to accelerate concept exploration, enhance iteration speed, and improve overall design quality.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is explicitly described as "Product Designer (UI/UX)," indicating a dual focus on both user interface aesthetics and user experience strategy. The emphasis on a "clean slate" and defining the "visual language" suggests a foundational role in establishing design standards for a new product. The target industry is retail, with a specific focus on shopper experience enhanced by behavioral AI. The experience level is inferred to be mid-level based on the responsibilities and the expectation of contributing to a design system.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the complete shopper experience lifecycle, making critical design decisions that collectively define product usability and intuitiveness.

• Develop high-fidelity interfaces with meticulous attention to detail in typography, layout, spacing, visual hierarchy, and overall aesthetic appeal.

• Create and iterate on prototypes to rigorously test and answer complex product questions before they are translated into code.

• Strategically implement motion design and micro-interactions to enhance user clarity, provide effective feedback, and elevate the overall user delight.

• Elevate the quality bar for both engineering and design outputs, ensuring that shipped products reflect a high degree of thoughtful consideration.

• Contribute to the evolution of the design system by creating reusable components, tokens, and patterns, accompanied by comprehensive documentation to empower rapid team development.

• Integrate AI tools into daily design practices to explore innovative concepts, generate creative ideas, accelerate prototyping, and refine design quality.

• Conduct observational research with real shoppers in retail environments to gather behavioral insights and translate them into actionable design improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a hands-on design role with significant ownership. The emphasis on "raising the quality bar" suggests a proactive approach to design excellence beyond just execution. The explicit mention of using AI tools throughout the workflow and observing real shoppers indicates a data-informed and technologically forward design process.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: [Not specified, but a degree in Design, HCI, or a related field is often preferred for Product Designer roles.]

Experience: A minimum of 2-5 years of experience in designing and shipping digital products that are regularly used by customers. A strong portfolio demonstrating both UX strategy and exceptional visual craft is essential.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience in simplifying complex user journeys into intuitive and elegant experiences.

• Excellent visual design fundamentals, encompassing typography, layout, spacing, hierarchy, and interaction design.

• Demonstrated ability to build and evolve design systems that have been successfully adopted by engineering teams.

• High proficiency with Figma, advanced prototyping techniques, and modern product design workflows.

• Solid understanding of usability principles and accessibility standards, with the ability to balance ideal design with practical implementation constraints.

• Comfort and effectiveness working collaboratively with engineers and product managers in a fast-paced startup environment.

• Demonstrated AI-native design habits, utilizing modern AI tools to enhance exploration, iteration, and delivery processes. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with motion design, including a strong understanding of meaningful animation and interaction principles.

• Familiarity with Tokens Studio, design-to-code workflows, and contemporary frontend collaboration practices.

• Experience contributing to brand systems and visual identity beyond core product design.

• Prior experience designing AI-powered, consumer-facing, or retail technology products.

• Experience conducting observational user research in real-world environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Must Have" section clearly defines the core competencies. The "Nice to Have" section indicates areas where additional experience would be advantageous, particularly in specialized areas like motion design, advanced tooling, and retail-specific product experience. The AI-native design habit requirement is a strong signal for candidates to highlight their experience with AI-assisted design tools.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 2-3 distinct projects that demonstrate a deep understanding of user experience (UX) strategy and problem-solving.

• Highlight exceptional visual design craft, including precise typography, considered spacing, and clear visual hierarchy across presented work.

• Provide evidence of experience in building or significantly contributing to a design system, with examples of reusable components, patterns, or tokens.

• Detail your process for turning complex user problems into simple, elegant, and intuitive interaction flows.

• Include examples of how you've used AI tools within your design process to enhance exploration, iteration, or final output. Process Documentation:

• Clearly articulate your design process from initial concept and user research to final high-fidelity design and prototyping.

• Demonstrate your approach to iterating on designs based on feedback, user testing, or AI-driven insights.

• Show how you collaborate with engineering and product management throughout the design lifecycle, including handoff processes.

• Provide examples of how you have documented design system components, patterns, or guidelines for team adoption.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements emphasize a blend of strategic UX thinking, strong visual execution, and practical experience with design systems and modern tools, including AI. The inclusion of "AI-native design habits" in the required skills necessitates showcasing AI tool usage in the portfolio.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for mid-level Product Designers (2-5 years experience) in London, a competitive salary range of £60,000 - £85,000 per annum is estimated. This range accounts for the specific skills required, the early-stage startup environment, and the high cost of living in London.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary and meaningful equity, reflecting the company's growth potential and the candidate's contribution.

• 25 days of annual leave, providing ample opportunity for rest and personal time.

• Full autonomy over hardware strategy, allowing for personalized and efficient work setups.

• Real ownership and impact from day one, contributing directly to the company's foundational product and culture.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week, typical for a full-time role. However, as a startup, there may be periods requiring flexibility to meet project deadlines and achieve ambitious goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on typical London tech market rates for a mid-level Product Designer. The "meaningful equity" and "real ownership" are significant compensation components for early-stage startups, offering potential for substantial financial upside. The working hours are noted as standard but with an implicit understanding of startup demands.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Behavioural AI for the retail industry, specifically focusing on the in-store shopper experience. This niche combines cutting-edge AI technology with a traditional, high-volume consumer market.

Company Size: Stealth-mode startup, VC-backed. This implies a small, agile, and highly motivated team, likely in the range of 10-50 employees, with significant growth potential.

Founded: Stealth-mode, but the description suggests a relatively recent founding with a focus on building from a "clean slate" without legacy systems.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team is small and foundational, reporting directly to the Head of Design.

• Close collaboration is expected with Product Management and Engineering teams, forming a core product development triad.

• Cross-functional collaboration is essential, given the startup nature and the need to define new product categories. Methodology:

• Data-driven approach, leveraging behavioural AI and shopper insights to inform design decisions.

• Agile and iterative development process, emphasizing speed, experimentation, and rapid prototyping.

• AI-native workflow, integrating AI tools throughout the design and development process.

• Focus on building from scratch, allowing for innovative solutions without the constraints of legacy systems.

Company Website: https://algo1.ai/

📝 Enhancement Note: The "stealth-mode" nature means specific details about the company culture and team structure are inferred from common startup practices and the job description's tone. The emphasis on "building from the ground up" and a "clean slate" suggests an environment that values innovation and foundational work.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a foundational Product Designer (UI/UX) within a new company. It offers the opportunity to significantly influence the product's direction and establish its design identity. It's a mid-level role with significant autonomy and impact, suitable for individuals looking to grow into more senior or specialized design leadership roles as the company scales.

Reporting Structure: The designer will report directly to the Head of Design, benefiting from direct mentorship and guidance from a senior design leader. This close reporting line facilitates rapid feedback and alignment.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer will have a direct and profound impact on the core product offering. Their work will shape the user experience of millions of shoppers, directly influencing customer adoption, engagement, and the overall success of the behavioural AI platform in the retail sector. They will be instrumental in translating complex AI capabilities into accessible and valuable consumer interactions.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design System Leadership: Opportunity to lead the development and expansion of the company's design system as it scales.

• Specialization: Potential to specialize in areas like AI-driven UX, retail technology design, or advanced interaction/motion design.

• Mentorship: Grow under the guidance of the Head of Design, potentially taking on mentorship responsibilities for future design hires.

• Product Strategy: Contribute to broader product strategy discussions, leveraging design insights to shape the future roadmap.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth opportunities are framed around the potential for impact and leadership within a scaling startup. The role is an excellent stepping stone for designers looking to build something significant from the ground up and gain experience in a high-growth AI/retail tech environment.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as "primarily an office-based role," indicating a strong preference for in-person collaboration and the "quick conversations and shared momentum that comes from building together." This suggests a hybrid or fully on-site model with a dedicated office space.

Office Location(s): The office is located in London, near Tottenham Court Road, situated on a garden square. This central location is easily accessible and provides a pleasant working environment.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The emphasis on "being together" and "quick conversations" suggests an open and collaborative workspace designed to foster spontaneous interaction and brainstorming.

• Tools and Technology: While not explicitly detailed, it's assumed the company provides modern hardware (with full autonomy over strategy) and access to industry-standard design software and collaboration tools.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for frequent, informal interactions with design, product, and engineering teams are a key aspect of the work environment.

Work Schedule: The standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week. The startup environment may necessitate occasional flexibility to meet project demands, but the focus on "building together" implies a team-oriented schedule.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description strongly leans towards an on-site or hybrid model with significant in-office presence. The location in central London is a key perk. The work environment is characterized by a high-energy, collaborative startup culture.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Application & Portfolio Review: Candidates will submit their CV and portfolio. The portfolio will be crucial for demonstrating UX thinking, visual craft, and design system experience.

• Hiring Manager/Head of Design Interview: A discussion focused on your background, design philosophy, and how your skills align with the role's requirements, particularly your experience with complex problem-solving and visual design.

• Design Challenge/Case Study Presentation: You may be asked to complete a design challenge or present a detailed case study from your portfolio, focusing on a project that showcases your process, decision-making, and impact. This is where your ability to articulate your AI-native design habits will be assessed.

• Team/Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers and Engineers to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural fit within the fast-moving startup environment.

• Founder/Leadership Interview: A final conversation to discuss vision, company culture, and overall alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Process & Impact: Clearly articulate your design process for each project, emphasizing the problem you solved, your decision-making rationale, and the measurable impact of your work.

• Showcase Visual Craft & UX Strategy: Ensure your portfolio demonstrates both strong aesthetic sensibility and robust UX thinking. Use high-fidelity mockups and clear user flow diagrams.

• Design System Contributions: If you have design system experience, dedicate specific sections to showcase components, patterns, and documentation you've created or contributed to.

• AI Tool Integration: Explicitly detail how you've used AI tools in your workflow for specific projects. Quantify benefits where possible (e.g., "accelerated ideation by X%").

• Storytelling: Frame your projects as narratives. Explain the context, your role, the challenges, your solutions, and the outcomes.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Familiarize yourself with AI in retail, shopper behaviour, and the challenges of in-store digital experiences.

• Focus on Simplicity: For any problem-solving exercise, prioritize elegant solutions to complex user needs.

• Articulate AI Integration: Be prepared to discuss how AI could enhance user experiences or design processes in retail contexts.

• Practice Presentation: Rehearse presenting your portfolio and any case studies clearly and concisely, anticipating questions about your design choices and collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is structured to assess a candidate's comprehensive skill set, from design execution to strategic thinking and collaboration. The portfolio review is paramount, and specific emphasis is placed on demonstrating AI tool usage and design system experience.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration. High proficiency is a must.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma's capabilities, potentially specialized tools for advanced interactions or animations.

• AI Design Tools: A range of AI-powered tools for ideation, concept generation, asset creation, workflow automation, and design quality enhancement (e.g., Midjourney, Adobe Firefly, specialized AI design assistants).

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a direct responsibility, designers will likely interact with data from user analytics platforms to inform design decisions and measure impact. Familiarity with how user data is collected and interpreted is beneficial. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the Product Designer role, but understanding how customer data flows can inform user experience design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma and AI tools is critical. The "AI-native design habits" requirement implies a broad familiarity with emerging AI tools in the design space, not just one specific application.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Curiosity: A strong desire to understand user behaviour, explore new technologies (especially AI), and learn continuously.

• Proactivity: Taking initiative, identifying opportunities, and driving solutions without constant direction.

• Building: A passion for creation, for taking ideas from concept to tangible product, and for shaping something new.

• Speed and Agility: Comfort with a fast-paced environment, rapid iteration, and the ability to adapt quickly to changing priorities.

• Collaboration: A team-oriented mindset, valuing open communication, feedback, and shared problem-solving.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Product Teams: Working closely and continuously with Product Managers and Engineers, fostering a sense of shared ownership over the product.

• Open Feedback Culture: Encouraging constructive criticism and actively seeking feedback from peers and stakeholders to improve designs.

• Cross-Functional Understanding: Developing an appreciation for the challenges and perspectives of different disciplines (engineering, product, research) to create more holistic solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values are inferred from the "How We Work" section, which describes a "high-intensity environment" for those who are "curious, proactive, and love building." The emphasis on "building together" highlights a collaborative and hands-on culture.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Defining a New Category: Establishing the design language and user experience for a novel behavioural AI product in retail, where precedents may be limited.

• Balancing Innovation with Usability: Integrating advanced AI capabilities into intuitive and accessible interfaces for a broad consumer audience.

• Rapid Iteration and Scale: Keeping pace with rapid product development cycles and evolving the design system to support company growth.

• Data Interpretation: Translating complex behavioural AI data and shopper insights into actionable design improvements.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI in Design: Deepen expertise in leveraging AI tools and techniques for product design and workflow optimization.

• Retail Tech Innovation: Gain specialized knowledge in designing for the retail industry and applying AI to enhance shopper experiences.

• Design System Maturity: Contribute to building a robust and scalable design system from the ground up.

• Cross-functional Leadership: Develop skills in influencing product strategy and collaborating effectively across disciplines in a startup environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are framed around the unique aspects of a stealth-mode startup in a nascent field, offering significant opportunities for learning and impact.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to simplify a highly complex user journey into an intuitive experience. What was your process?" (Focus on UX problem-solving, iterative design, and user research.)

• "How do you approach building or evolving a design system? What are the key components and considerations for adoption by engineering?" (Highlight your experience with design systems, reusability, and cross-functional collaboration.)

• "You're tasked with designing an AI-powered feature for shoppers. What are your initial considerations, and how would you use AI in your design process for this?" (Demonstrate your understanding of AI in UX, your AI-native habits, and your process for integrating AI tools.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about behavioural AI in the retail industry and algo1's mission?" (Show your research and alignment with the company's vision.)

• "Describe your ideal collaborative environment when working with product and engineering teams." (Emphasize your proactive, communicative, and team-oriented approach.)

• "How do you ensure the quality and polish of your designs, especially when working in a fast-paced environment?" (Discuss your attention to detail, QA processes, and commitment to raising quality bars.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly define the problem, your role, your process (including AI tool usage), the solutions, and the outcomes/impact.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time, increased user engagement).

• Showcase Visual and UX Strengths: Use high-fidelity mockups, interactive prototypes, and clear user flow diagrams to illustrate both aesthetic quality and functional design.

• Highlight Design System Contributions: If applicable, dedicate a segment to your design system work, showing components, patterns, and documentation.

• Be Ready to Discuss AI Integration: Prepare to elaborate on specific instances where AI tools enhanced your workflow, ideation, or final output.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating a strong foundation in UI/UX principles, practical experience with design systems and modern tools (especially AI), and the ability to thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced startup environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer (UI/UX) position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest projects that best showcase your UI/UX thinking, visual design craft, and experience with design systems. Ensure each project clearly articulates the problem, your process, your role, and the impact.

• Highlight AI Tool Integration: Within your portfolio or cover letter, specifically detail how you've leveraged AI tools in your design workflow to achieve better results or improve efficiency.

• Optimize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to emphasize keywords from the job description, such as "UI/UX," "Product Design," "Design Systems," "Figma," "AI-native design," and "Retail Technology." Quantify achievements where possible.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio projects, focusing on clear communication, storytelling, and articulating your design rationale, especially concerning complex problems and AI integration. Be ready to discuss your experience in a startup environment.

• Research algo1: Understand their mission in behavioural AI for retail and prepare thoughtful questions about their product vision, design challenges, 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.

---