Senior UX/UI Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX/UI Designer

Company: VML

Location: Faro, Lisbon, Porto, Portugal

Job Type: CONTRACTOR

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Technology / Marketing / Consulting

Date Posted: 2026-08-18T11:41:26

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (4 days in office average)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end digital product design, from discovery and experience definition to high-fidelity UI execution.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to solve complex problems and deliver impactful, user-centric digital solutions.

• Drive design thinking and strategic product direction within fast-paced, dynamic project environments.

• Seamlessly transition between UX strategy, interaction design, and visual design execution, ensuring quality and consistency across all touchpoints.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically a contract position in Portugal, with the selection process conducted entirely in English. The hybrid nature implies a structured in-office presence, averaging four days per week, emphasizing collaboration and team synergy.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the entire design lifecycle for digital products and services, from initial user research and concept development through to polished, high-fidelity UI execution.

• Develop comprehensive user journeys, interaction models, and wireframes that effectively address user needs and business objectives.

• Craft intuitive and visually appealing user interfaces, ensuring consistency in design language, component behavior, and visual identity across various platforms and devices.

• Collaborate closely with product managers, developers, and other stakeholders to translate complex requirements into elegant and functional design solutions.

• Champion user-centric design principles, incorporating user research findings, A/B testing results, and conversion optimization strategies into the design process.

• Manage and evolve complex, tokenized design systems, ensuring scalability, maintainability, and adherence to component architecture best practices.

• Produce high-quality supporting design artifacts, including interactive prototypes, presentations, and visual assets for communication and user research purposes.

• Adapt design approaches and methodologies to suit diverse client needs, sector-specific requirements, and varying levels of design maturity within organizations.

• Operate effectively within both Business As Usual (BAU) and retained delivery models, balancing speed, quality, and stakeholder expectations across multiple workstreams.

• Proactively identify design opportunities and shape product direction, rather than merely responding to assigned briefs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "end-to-end product designer" and "shaping product direction" indicates a strategic, proactive role that goes beyond execution. The requirement to work across "multiple brands and visual identities" suggests a need for adaptability and strong brand stewardship.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent practical experience and mastery of design principles is essential. A background in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is often beneficial.

Experience: 5-10 years of progressive experience in UX/UI and Product Design, with a proven track record of leading complex digital design projects from concept to completion.

Required Skills:

• Proven ability to work autonomously and lead design initiatives in complex, fast-paced environments with evolving requirements.

• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the capacity to challenge, influence, and align senior leaders across diverse disciplines.

• Demonstrated ability to frame problems, define opportunities, and shape product strategy, not just execute briefs.

• Expertise as a true end-to-end product designer, seamlessly integrating UX strategy, interaction design, and high-fidelity UI execution.

• Experience working across a variety of clients, sectors, and problem spaces, quickly building domain understanding and adapting approaches.

• Comfort operating within BAU and retained delivery models, managing multiple workstreams, priorities, and stakeholders.

• Deep experience with complex, tokenized design systems, including component architecture (variants, properties, scalable patterns).

• Solid understanding of responsive design principles and behavior logic across devices and platforms.

• Advanced proficiency in Figma, including the creation of scalable, well-structured design files for collaboration and handover.

• Ability to work with multiple brands and visual identities, maintaining consistency and quality.

• Skill in producing supporting design artifacts such as prototypes, presentations, and visual assets.

• Expertise in translating user research and data into actionable insights to inform design decisions.

• Strong communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale and trade-offs clearly.

• Deep understanding of accessibility standards, conversion principles, and user-centered design best practices. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with user research methodologies and conducting usability testing.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies and cross-functional team collaboration.

• Knowledge of front-end development principles to facilitate effective design handoff.

• Experience in creating motion graphics or micro-interactions to enhance user experience.

• Familiarity with other design and prototyping tools beyond Figma.

📝 Enhancement Note: The extensive list of required skills, particularly the emphasis on autonomy, stakeholder management, and end-to-end ownership, signifies a senior-level role where strategic contribution is as critical as design execution. The specific mention of Figma and complex design systems points to a need for deep technical proficiency in modern design workflows.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a range of end-to-end product design projects, illustrating your ability to handle complex problem spaces from discovery through to polished UI.

• Demonstrations of your strategic thinking, including how you framed problems, defined opportunities, and influenced product direction.

• Case studies detailing your experience with complex, tokenized design systems, including examples of component architecture, variants, and scalable patterns.

• Evidence of your proficiency in Figma, with examples of well-structured, scalable design files and collaborative workflows.

• Visual examples of how you've applied responsive design principles and ensured consistent user experiences across different devices and platforms.

• Documentation of your process for translating user research and data into actionable insights that informed design decisions.

• Examples of supporting design artifacts produced beyond core UI, such as interactive prototypes, detailed presentations, and visual assets for communication. Process Documentation:

• Case studies should clearly outline your design process, from user research and ideation to wireframing, prototyping, UI design, and final handover.

• Detail your approach to stakeholder management, including how you challenged, influenced, and aligned senior stakeholders on design decisions.

• Illustrate your experience working within agile or other project delivery frameworks, highlighting your ability to manage multiple workstreams and priorities.

• Provide examples of how you have adapted your design approach for different clients, sectors, and levels of design maturity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "end-to-end product designer" and "shaping product direction" means the portfolio should not just showcase final designs but the strategic thinking, problem-solving process, and collaborative efforts that led to those outcomes. Explicitly demonstrating work with complex design systems and Figma is crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior UX/UI Designers with 5-10 years of experience in Portugal, and considering the contract nature of the role, the estimated annual gross salary range is €45,000 - €65,000. This range can vary based on specific client projects, the depth of experience, and negotiation.

Benefits:

• Training opportunities to enhance skills and career development.

• Medical insurance coverage.

• Dental insurance coverage.

• Meal cards to assist with daily expenses.

• Social events to foster team cohesion and networking.

• Family-friendly policies to support work-life balance.

• Discounts with hundreds of retailers, providing cost savings on various goods and services.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are expected, likely around 40 hours per week. While the role is hybrid, specific daily schedules and flexibility will be discussed and agreed upon with the hiring team, balancing in-office collaboration with individual work needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on typical market rates for a senior-level contract UX/UI Designer in Portugal, factoring in the specified experience level and hybrid work model. Actual compensation will depend on the specific client engagement, negotiation, and the candidate's demonstrated expertise. The benefits listed are standard for permanent employees, and contract roles may have variations; this should be clarified.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Advertising, Marketing, Technology, and Digital Transformation. VML operates at the intersection of creativity, technology, and data, aiming to drive growth for global brands.

Company Size: VML is a large, global organization, part of WPP, a major player in the marketing and communications industry. This implies access to extensive resources, a wide network of professionals, and opportunities to work on significant, high-profile projects.

Founded: VML was formed through the merger of VML and Wunderman Thompson, bringing together decades of experience and a rich history in digital innovation and client service. This heritage suggests a culture that values both established expertise and forward-thinking disruption.

Team Structure:

• The design team is likely part of a larger creative or digital services department, with designers working in cross-functional pods or project teams.

• Reporting structures may vary but typically involve a Design Lead or Creative Director overseeing the team's output and providing mentorship.

• Collaboration is key, with designers working closely with strategists, account managers, developers, and client teams to deliver integrated solutions. Methodology:

• VML emphasizes a human-first, impact-driven approach, combining creativity with strategic thinking and data-driven insights.

• Design processes likely adhere to agile principles, focusing on iterative development, continuous feedback, and rapid prototyping.

• The company leverages its proprietary platform, WPP Open, for data solutions and intelligence, suggesting a data-informed design culture.

Company Website: www.vml.com

📝 Enhancement Note: VML's positioning as a "leading creative company" and its merger with Wunderman Thompson indicate a robust, established, yet dynamic environment. The company's affiliation with WPP provides significant scale and access to resources, while the emphasis on "connected brands" and "growth" suggests a focus on business outcomes driven by creative and digital solutions.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as Senior, indicating a level of autonomy, expertise, and responsibility beyond mid-level positions. Senior designers are expected to lead projects, mentor junior team members, and significantly influence design strategy and execution.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX/UI Designer will likely report to a Design Lead, Creative Director, or Head of Design within a specific VML office or client-focused team. They will collaborate closely with project managers, product owners, and development teams.

Operations Impact: Senior designers at VML have a direct impact on the success of digital products and campaigns by creating user experiences that drive engagement, conversion, and brand loyalty. Their strategic input shapes product direction and ensures alignment with business goals, contributing significantly to client growth.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Progression to Lead UX/UI Designer, Creative Director, or Head of Design roles, managing teams and driving design vision.

• Specialization: Deepening expertise in specific areas such as user research, interaction design, design systems architecture, or accessibility.

• Cross-functional Mobility: Opportunities to move into roles focused on product strategy, experience strategy, or even client management, leveraging design expertise.

• Global Mobility: Potential to work on international projects or relocate to different VML offices worldwide.

• Continuous Learning: Access to VML's training programs, workshops, and industry events to stay abreast of the latest design trends and technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title, combined with the emphasis on leadership and strategic influence, suggests clear pathways for career advancement within VML. The company's global presence and focus on diverse client work offer a broad spectrum of growth opportunities for ambitious designers.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: VML embraces a hybrid work model, with teams typically spending an average of four days per week in their designated office locations in Faro, Lisbon, or Porto. This model aims to balance the benefits of in-person collaboration, team building, and spontaneous idea generation with the flexibility of remote work.

Office Location(s): The role is available across multiple VML offices in Portugal: Faro, Lisbon, and Porto. These locations offer vibrant working environments within established business hubs.

Workspace Context:

• Offices are designed to foster collaboration, with meeting rooms, breakout spaces, and open-plan areas conducive to teamwork.

• Access to modern design tools and technology, including high-performance workstations and software licenses, is standard.

• Opportunities for informal interaction and knowledge sharing with colleagues from diverse disciplines (strategy, creative, technology, account management) are encouraged.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, with an expectation of being in the office an average of four days per week. Specific daily working hours can be flexible and will be discussed with the hiring team, aiming to accommodate project needs and individual preferences while ensuring team synchronicity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model with a significant in-office component is central to VML's culture, aiming to harness the synergy of in-person collaboration. The availability across three Portuguese cities provides geographic flexibility for candidates within Portugal.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio to assess your experience, skills, and fit for the Senior UX/UI Designer role.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A session where you will present key projects from your portfolio, discussing your design process, strategic thinking, problem-solving approach, and impact. Expect questions about your experience with design systems, Figma, stakeholder management, and working in complex environments.

• Skills-Based Exercise (Potential): You may be asked to complete a design challenge or case study, either before or during an interview, to evaluate your practical design skills, problem-solving abilities, and how you approach ambiguous briefs.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with potential team members, design leads, or client-facing stakeholders to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural fit within VML's values (Heart, Brains, Courage).

• Final Interview: A concluding discussion, potentially with a senior leader, to finalize details and confirm mutual fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Showcase 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects that demonstrate end-to-end ownership, complex problem-solving, and strategic impact.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, the key decisions you made (and why), the challenges you overcame, and the measurable outcomes or impact.

• Highlight Strategy: Emphasize how you framed problems, influenced direction, and used research and data to drive your design decisions.

• Showcase Figma Mastery: Include examples of well-structured Figma files, component systems, and collaborative workflows.

• Demonstrate Adaptability: Showcase projects across different clients, sectors, and design maturity levels.

• Prepare for Questions: Be ready to discuss trade-offs, design rationale, stakeholder management scenarios, and how you handle ambiguity.

Challenge Preparation:

• If a design challenge is given, focus on understanding the brief thoroughly. Ask clarifying questions.

• Structure your approach logically: define the problem, identify users, brainstorm solutions, choose a direction, detail the UX/UI, and consider edge cases or future iterations.

• Time management is critical. Allocate time for each phase of the challenge.

• Clearly articulate your assumptions, decisions, and rationale, even if you don't reach a fully polished solution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess not only design skills but also strategic thinking, problem-solving capabilities, and the ability to navigate complex stakeholder relationships. A well-prepared portfolio that tells a compelling story of process and impact is essential.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Advanced proficiency is a core requirement for UI design, prototyping, collaboration, and managing design systems.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma is primary, familiarity with other prototyping tools (e.g., InVision, Adobe XD) may be beneficial for specific project needs or legacy systems.

• Design System Tools: Experience with component libraries, tokenization, and version control within design systems.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting user interviews, usability testing, and surveys (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze).

• Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with interpreting data from platforms like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or product-specific dashboards to inform design decisions and measure impact.

• Heatmapping & Session Recording: Tools like Hotjar or FullStory to understand user behavior on digital interfaces.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a primary tool for designers, an understanding of how CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms integrate with user-facing digital products can be advantageous for context.

• Familiarity with project management and collaboration tools such as Jira, Asana, Trello, or Monday.com for workflow management and team communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for advanced Figma proficiency, coupled with the need to work with complex, tokenized design systems, highlights the technical backbone of this role. Understanding how design integrates with user data and analytics is also crucial for demonstrating impact.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values: VML operates under a guiding ethos of Heart, Brains, and Courage:

• Heart: Fosters empathy, trust, and genuine connections, leading to human-centric work and strong team relationships. This translates to collaborative design processes where team members feel valued and understood.

• Brains: Champions relentless curiosity, innovative thinking, and collaborative intelligence to solve complex challenges. This means a drive for continuous learning, data-informed decision-making, and creative problem-solving.

• Courage: Inspires team members to speak up, embrace experimentation, and advocate for bold solutions. This encourages a culture of constructive feedback, pushing boundaries, and taking calculated risks to achieve exceptional outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: VML emphasizes strong collaboration between design, strategy, technology, and account management teams to deliver holistic solutions. Designers are expected to actively participate in cross-functional discussions and contribute their expertise.

• Process Review & Feedback: A culture that encourages open feedback loops and iterative refinement of design processes and outputs. Designers are expected to both give and receive constructive criticism.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouragement of sharing best practices, design trends, and insights across teams and offices to foster collective growth and maintain high standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's values (Heart, Brains, Courage) are central to VML's culture and directly influence how teams collaborate and approach their work. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate how they embody these values in their design practice and team interactions.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: Working with evolving requirements and complex, sometimes ambiguous problem spaces requires strong analytical skills and the ability to define clarity.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Influencing and aligning senior stakeholders with diverse perspectives and priorities can be challenging, requiring strong communication and negotiation skills.

• Balancing Pace and Quality: Operating within fast-paced client environments and retained delivery models necessitates efficiently balancing speed with the high-quality standards expected of a senior designer.

• Adapting to Diverse Needs: Quickly understanding and adapting design approaches to various clients, sectors, and levels of design maturity requires flexibility and a broad strategic toolkit.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Skill Development: Opportunities to deepen expertise in areas like interaction design, advanced prototyping, motion design, or accessibility through internal training and workshops.

• Industry Exposure: Participation in industry conferences, webinars, and VML-sponsored events to stay current with design trends, tools, and best practices.

• Mentorship Programs: Access to mentorship from senior design leaders within VML to guide career progression and skill development.

• Leadership Training: Opportunities to develop leadership capabilities through project leadership, team collaboration, and potential management roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents opportunities to tackle complex, high-impact design challenges for global brands, fostering significant professional growth. The emphasis on continuous learning and development ensures designers remain at the forefront of the industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to shape product direction on a project where the initial brief was unclear. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Preparation: Focus on your problem-framing, research, and stakeholder alignment process.)

• "How do you balance the needs of different stakeholders (e.g., business, users, development) when making design decisions, especially when there are conflicts?" (Preparation: Prepare examples of negotiation, compromise, and prioritizing based on strategic goals.)

• "Walk us through a complex design system you've worked with. What were its key components, and how did you ensure scalability and consistency?" (Preparation: Be ready to discuss component architecture, tokenization, and your role in its evolution or maintenance.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do VML's values of Heart, Brains, and Courage resonate with your own approach to design and collaboration?" (Preparation: Reflect on specific examples of how you've demonstrated empathy, innovative thinking, and courage in your career.)

• "Describe your experience working in a hybrid environment and collaborating with cross-functional teams. How do you ensure effective communication and productivity?" (Preparation: Highlight your experience with collaboration tools, agile methodologies, and proactive communication.)

• "How do you measure the success of your design work, and what role does data play in your process?" (Preparation: Prepare examples of using analytics, user feedback, and conversion metrics to demonstrate the impact of your designs.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Begin with a brief overview of your career and design philosophy, then dive into 2-3 case studies. For each, clearly outline the problem, your specific role and contribution, your process, key decisions, challenges, and the measurable results.

• Highlight Process & Strategy: Don't just show final screens. Explain why you made certain decisions, how you used research, and how you influenced the product’s direction.

• Demonstrate Figma Proficiency: Be prepared to share specific examples from your Figma files, showing your file structure, component usage, and collaboration features.

• Tell a Compelling Story: Engage your audience by making your case studies relatable and demonstrating your passion for user-centered design and business impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, and the ability to articulate design rationale clearly. Be ready to showcase your proficiency with Figma and complex design systems, and to connect your work to business outcomes and VML’s core values.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX/UI Designer position:

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

• Tailor your CV: Ensure your CV highlights your 5-10 years of experience, your advanced Figma skills, experience with complex design systems, and your ability to manage stakeholders and work end-to-end. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your strategic thinking, problem-solving, UX/UI expertise, and experience with complex design systems. Ensure your portfolio clearly outlines your process, impact, and results.

• Prepare for the Interview: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on storytelling, articulating your design rationale, and demonstrating how you embody VML's values (Heart, Brains, Courage). Prepare to discuss your experience with Figma and complex design systems in detail.

• Research VML: Understand VML's work, client roster, and company culture. Be prepared to discuss how your skills and approach align with their emphasis on connected brands and driving growth.

⚠️ 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.