Senior UI Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UI Designer

Company: VML

Location: Lisbon, Lisbon District, Portugal

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Creative & Design / User Interface Design

Date Posted: 2026-04-23

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive digital design excellence by creating visually compelling and user-centric interfaces for transactional and eCommerce websites.

• Lead the execution of online visual identities, focusing on conversion-led design principles and enhancing user experience.

• Contribute to and evolve sophisticated design systems, ensuring scalable and consistent design solutions across multiple brands.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including UX consultants, product managers, and developers, to translate business needs into intuitive digital products.

• Stay at the forefront of design trends, technology advancements, and tooling within the digital and eCommerce landscape.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior UI Designer with a strong emphasis on eCommerce and conversion-driven design, indicating a strategic contribution to client growth and digital experience optimization within a large agency setting.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Craft pixel-perfect, responsive user interfaces that align with client brand guidelines and meet both user needs and business objectives for digital platforms.

• Develop and maintain design systems, understanding component logic, variants, properties, and design tokens to enable efficient, scalable design work.

• Apply user-centered design best practices, conversion design principles, and accessibility standards to all design outputs.

• Own the visual execution of digital brand look and feel for a variety of clients, ensuring high standards and relevance in the eCommerce space.

• Proactively research and integrate the latest advances in technology, design trends, and tooling to enhance design quality and efficiency.

• Effectively communicate and confidently defend design decisions and solutions to clients, stakeholders, and internal teams.

• Collaborate closely with developers to ensure seamless design handover and accurate implementation, considering technical realities.

• Manage individual projects within a fast-paced environment, delivering high-quality work accurately and efficiently under tight deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of creative execution, strategic system thinking, and cross-functional collaboration typical of senior-level design roles in a client-facing agency environment, with a distinct focus on eCommerce outcomes.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Degree educated in Graphic/UI Design or a similar discipline.

Experience: 5-10 years of experience in UI design, with a significant portion focused on eCommerce and digital agency environments.

Required Skills:

• UI Design Expertise: Exceptional design skills with an outstanding eye for design and typography.

• Design Tool Proficiency: Proficient in Figma, Sketch, and Adobe Creative Suite.

• Design Systems: Ability to contribute to and evolve design systems, understanding component logic, variants, properties, and design tokens.

• eCommerce Experience: Demonstrable experience in designing for transactional websites and the eCommerce landscape.

• Responsive Design: Deep understanding of responsive behavior logic and implementation across various devices.

• User-Centered Design: Strong grasp of user-centered design best practices, conversion design, and accessibility principles.

• Brand Adaptation: Ability to manage multiple brands and visual identities, adapting design approaches while maintaining consistency and quality.

• Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively with developers, UX consultants, product managers, and stakeholders.

• Project Management: Capability to manage own projects, work accurately under tight deadlines, and multitask effectively.

• Communication: Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to confidently defend design decisions.

• Work Ethic: Strong work ethic, enthusiasm, self-confidence, self-motivation, and a willingness to adapt and take on new challenges.

Preferred Skills:

• Prototyping: Ability to create high-fidelity, interactive prototypes using tools like Figma (primary), ProtoPie, Principle, Framer, or Webflow.

• Content-Aware Design: Experience with designing layouts that adapt to varying content lengths and types.

• AI Tools: Experience utilizing AI tools to accelerate UI production workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize advanced proficiency in core design tools and a deep understanding of design systems, which are critical for scalable and efficient design operations in a large agency like VML. The preference for specific prototyping tools and AI experience indicates a forward-looking approach to design workflows.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A compelling portfolio that demonstrates high-quality digital design work, with a significant focus on eCommerce projects and conversion-driven interfaces.

• Showcase examples of how you have contributed to or evolved design systems, illustrating an understanding of component logic, variants, and design tokens.

• Include case studies that highlight your approach to responsive design logic and user-centered design principles.

• Present work that exhibits an outstanding eye for design and typography, demonstrating your ability to create visually appealing and effective interfaces.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate your understanding of the design process from concept to implementation, including how you approach user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, and final UI design.

• Showcase your experience with design system methodologies, including how you would contribute to or maintain a system's integrity and scalability.

• Illustrate your approach to accessibility and conversion optimization, detailing how these principles are integrated into your design workflow.

• Explain your process for collaborating with cross-functional teams, highlighting communication strategies and feedback incorporation methods.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are highly specific to UI/UX design, emphasizing practical application, system thinking, and demonstrable results in eCommerce and conversion optimization. This aligns with the need for senior designers to not only create but also maintain and scale design solutions.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior UI Designers in Lisbon, Portugal, with 5-10 years of experience, the estimated annual salary range is €40,000 - €60,000. This estimate considers the cost of living in Lisbon, the competitive nature of the digital agency market, and VML's position as a global leader within WPP.

Benefits:

• Hybrid working model, balancing remote flexibility with in-office collaboration.

• Regular social events to foster team connection and company culture.

• Comprehensive training opportunities for continuous professional development.

• Medical and dental insurance for health and well-being.

• Life assurance for peace of mind.

• Meal cards to support daily expenses.

• Opportunities to work with world-leading brands and gain exposure to diverse projects.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are estimated at 40 hours per week, with a hybrid arrangement requiring an average of four days per week in the office. Flexibility may be available and should be discussed with the hiring team.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimates are based on general market research for Senior UI Designers in major European cities like Lisbon, factoring in experience level and industry. Specific benefits are drawn directly from the job description.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Marketing & Advertising / Digital Experience Services / Commerce Solutions. VML operates within a highly competitive and dynamic industry, focused on delivering integrated brand, customer, and commerce experiences. As part of WPP, it collaborates with leading global brands and leverages extensive industry partnerships.

Company Size: VML is a large global agency with over 26,000 employees across 55+ markets. This scale provides opportunities for diverse project exposure, global collaboration, and career advancement, while also requiring efficient operational processes.

Founded: VML was founded in 1992 and merged with Wunderman to form VMLY&R in 2018, which then merged with WPP's Wunderman Thompson to form VML in 2024. This history reflects a legacy of innovation and growth within the digital marketing and creative services sector.

Team Structure: The role is part of a cross-functional creative team within VML Enterprise Solutions. This division is staffed with strategic consultants, creative and technical architects, developers, and operators. The Senior UI Designer will work closely with fellow designers, UX consultants, product managers, and developers, reporting into design leadership.

Methodology: VML emphasizes a human-first approach, combining brand experience, customer experience, and commerce. Their methodology likely involves agile project management, data-driven insights, collaborative design thinking, and a focus on measurable business outcomes (conversion, growth).

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context highlights VML's significant global presence and its strategic focus on integrated digital experiences and commerce solutions, positioning the Senior UI Designer role within a robust enterprise-level division.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior-level UI Designer position, indicating a role that requires not only strong individual contribution and design execution but also the ability to mentor junior designers, contribute to design strategy, and influence design system development. The focus on client interaction and project ownership suggests a key contributor role.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UI Designer will work closely with stakeholders, fellow designers, UX consultants, product managers, and developers. They will likely report to a Design Lead, Creative Director, or Head of UX/UI within the VML Enterprise Solutions division.

Operations Impact: The role directly impacts client success by designing interfaces that enhance user experience, drive conversion rates, and strengthen brand presence in the eCommerce landscape. This contributes to client revenue growth and VML's reputation for delivering impactful digital solutions.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Opportunity to mentor junior designers, lead design initiatives on key client projects, and potentially progress into Lead UI Designer or Design Director roles.

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like advanced prototyping, motion design, accessibility standards, or AI-driven design workflows.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain experience working across various client industries and digital platforms, expanding knowledge of different business models and user behaviors.

• Global Mobility: Potential for international project involvement or relocation within VML's global network.

• Continuous Learning: Access to VML's training opportunities, industry conferences, and internal knowledge-sharing sessions to stay current with design trends and technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The career analysis emphasizes the senior nature of the role, suggesting opportunities for leadership, specialized skill development, and broad exposure within a large global agency network, aligning with typical career progression for high-performing UI designers.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: VML operates with a hybrid working model, indicating a blend of remote work and in-office collaboration. The office environment is designed to foster creativity, collaboration, and connection among teams.

Office Location(s): The role is based in Lisbon, Portugal. VML has principal offices in multiple global markets, including Lisbon, Kansas City, New York, Detroit, London, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, and Sydney.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The office is expected to feature collaborative areas designed to facilitate brainstorming, team meetings, and cross-functional interactions.

• Technology & Tools: Access to industry-standard design software (Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite), prototyping tools, and potentially advanced hardware.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with fellow designers, UX professionals, product managers, developers, and client stakeholders, fostering a dynamic and interactive work environment.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, with an estimated 40 working hours per week. The hybrid model requires an average of four days per week in the office, allowing for flexibility in balancing personal and professional commitments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description of the work environment highlights a modern, hybrid setup designed to support both focused individual work and collaborative team efforts, which is crucial for creative roles in agency settings.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess your qualifications and alignment with the role requirements. Be prepared to showcase your best eCommerce and conversion-focused UI design work.

• Technical/Skills Interview: This stage will likely involve a deep dive into your design process, proficiency with tools like Figma, understanding of design systems, and experience with responsive and conversion-led design. Expect to discuss your approach to specific design challenges.

• Portfolio Presentation & Case Study: You will likely be asked to present a selection of your work from your portfolio, focusing on 1-2 key eCommerce projects. Prepare to articulate your design decisions, the problem you solved, your process, the tools used, and the impact achieved (e.g., conversion improvements, user satisfaction).

• Cross-functional/Behavioral Interview: An opportunity to meet with potential team members (UX, PM, Dev) and hiring managers. This assesses your collaboration style, communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit with VML's core values (Heart, Brains, Courage).

• Final Interview: May involve discussions with senior leadership to evaluate your strategic thinking, leadership potential, and overall fit for the agency.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects, emphasizing those with a clear impact on eCommerce conversion and user experience. Ensure a good mix of visual design, interaction design, and system thinking.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly outline the client's challenge, your role and responsibilities, your design process, key decisions made, and quantifiable results. Use visuals effectively to guide the narrative.

• Highlight System Contributions: If you've worked on design systems, clearly explain your contribution – whether it was creating components, defining properties, or evolving the system's structure.

• Showcase Process: Demonstrate your thought process, not just the final polished screens. Include wireframes, user flows, sketches, and iterations to show how you arrived at the solution.

• Be Ready for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, how you handle feedback, how you collaborate with developers, and how you approach accessibility and conversion optimization.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Challenge: You might be given a design exercise, either take-home or timed during the interview. This could involve designing a specific feature for an eCommerce site or improving an existing user flow. Focus on a clear, user-centered approach and present your rationale.

• System Thinking: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach building or scaling a design system for a new or existing product.

• Problem-Solving Scenarios: Think about common UI design challenges in eCommerce (e.g., cart abandonment, complex product filtering, checkout friction) and how you would address them.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application and portfolio review process is structured to assess not just design aesthetic but also strategic thinking, process rigor, and collaborative capabilities, crucial for a senior role in a large agency.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI design, prototyping, and collaborative workflows. Expect advanced usage, including component creation, variants, properties, and system management.

• Sketch: Proficiency may also be required for clients who still utilize it, or for specific project workflows.

• Adobe Creative Suite: Likely used for asset creation, image editing, and potentially more advanced visual design tasks (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator).

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly a data analysis role, understanding how to interpret analytics (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) to inform design decisions and measure impact (conversion rates, bounce rates, user flow drop-offs) is crucial.

CRM & Automation:

• Understanding of how UI design integrates with CRM platforms and marketing automation tools to create cohesive customer journeys.

Prototyping Tools:

• Figma: For high-fidelity interactive prototypes.

• Bonus: ProtoPie, Principle, Framer, Webflow for advanced interactive prototyping needs.

Other Potential Tools:

• Design Tokens: Experience with managing and implementing design tokens for design system consistency.

• AI Tools: Familiarity with AI tools that can assist in UI production workflows (e.g., content generation, image enhancement, layout suggestions).

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack emphasizes industry-standard design tools with a strong focus on collaborative platforms like Figma and the ability to work with design systems and advanced prototyping. Understanding the context of how these tools integrate with broader enterprise solutions and analytics is key.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Heart: Empathy and trust are central to VML's culture, fostering genuine connections and human-centric work. This translates to understanding user needs deeply and building strong relationships with colleagues and clients.

• Brains: Relentless curiosity and collaborative intelligence are valued for solving complex challenges. This means approaching problems analytically, seeking innovative solutions, and engaging in open dialogue.

• Courage: Embracing experimentation, speaking up, and advocating for bold solutions are encouraged. This implies a willingness to take calculated risks, challenge the status quo, and push creative boundaries.

• Impact-Driven: The focus is on delivering tangible business outcomes for clients, requiring a results-oriented mindset and a commitment to efficiency and effectiveness in design.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Strong emphasis on working seamlessly with diverse teams (UX, Dev, PM, Strategy) to deliver integrated digital experiences.

• Feedback Culture: Openness to giving and receiving constructive feedback to continuously improve designs and processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of insights, best practices, and learnings across projects and teams to foster collective growth.

• Agile & Iterative: A dynamic and fast-paced environment that embraces iterative development and continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: VML's core values (Heart, Brains, Courage) provide a strong framework for understanding the expected behaviors and mindset of employees, emphasizing a blend of empathy, intelligence, and boldness in their approach to creative problem-solving and client delivery.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Client Demands and Design Integrity: Effectively managing client expectations and project constraints while upholding high design standards and advocating for user-centered solutions.

• Scaling Design Systems: Contributing to and evolving complex design systems that serve multiple brands and product lines, ensuring consistency and efficiency.

• Keeping Pace with Technology: Continuously adapting to new design tools, AI advancements, and evolving web technologies to maintain a cutting-edge skill set.

• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Navigating diverse perspectives and technical constraints when working with developers, product managers, and business stakeholders to achieve optimal outcomes.

• Demonstrating ROI: Clearly articulating and quantifying the business impact of design decisions, particularly in conversion and user experience metrics.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced UI/UX Training: Access to specialized courses and workshops on topics like interaction design, accessibility, usability testing, and emerging design trends.

• Design System Expertise: Opportunities to become a subject matter expert in design system architecture, implementation, and governance.

• Client-Facing Skills: Development in presenting to clients, negotiation, and strategic design consultation.

• Industry Events: Potential to attend relevant design conferences and industry events to network and learn from peers.

• Mentorship Programs: Opportunities to be mentored by senior design leaders or to mentor junior designers, fostering leadership skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges and growth opportunities highlight the dynamic nature of agency work and the continuous learning required for senior designers, with a clear path for skill enhancement and career progression within a large, global organization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to advocate for a design decision that was met with resistance. How did you handle it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your communication, rationale, and use of data/user insights).

• "How do you approach designing for conversion on an eCommerce platform? Walk us through your process for optimizing a specific user journey, like checkout." (Prepare a case study or example demonstrating your understanding of conversion principles).

• "How do you ensure consistency and scalability when working with design systems, especially across multiple brands?" (Discuss your experience with component logic, design tokens, and system maintenance).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about VML and WPP, and why are you interested in working here?" (Research their recent work, client roster, and core values – Heart, Brains, Courage).

• "How do you embody our core values of Heart, Brains, and Courage in your design work and team interactions?" (Prepare specific examples for each value).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure your presentation: Start with a brief overview of your career and design philosophy. Then, dive into 2-3 key projects, dedicating significant time to one eCommerce case study.

• Focus on Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the business problem, your role, your design process, key decisions, and measurable results (conversion rates, user satisfaction, task completion times). Use data and visuals effectively.

• Showcase Process: Beyond final screens, include wireframes, user flows, sketches, and prototypes to illustrate your problem-solving approach.

• Explain System Contributions: If applicable, detail your involvement with design systems, component libraries, and design tokens.

• Be Prepared for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your design choices, how you handle feedback, your proficiency with tools, and your understanding of user needs and business goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation guidance is tailored to assess the candidate's strategic thinking, practical application of design principles, and cultural fit within VML's agency environment, with a strong emphasis on eCommerce impact and portfolio demonstration.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UI Designer position:

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

• Tailor your Resume: Highlight your 5-10 years of experience, specific skills in Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, design systems, and particularly your eCommerce and conversion design expertise. Quantify achievements wherever possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio prominently features your strongest eCommerce UI design projects. Clearly articulate your process, role, and the impact of your work, especially concerning conversion rates and user experience.

• Prepare for Case Studies: Be ready to present 1-2 detailed case studies from your portfolio, focusing on your problem-solving approach, design decisions, and quantifiable results. Practice explaining your work concisely and confidently.

• Research VML: Understand their client roster, recent campaigns, and core values (Heart, Brains, Courage). Be prepared to articulate why you are a good cultural fit and how you can contribute to their mission.

⚠️ 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.