Senior UX/UI (Product) Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX/UI (Product) Designer

Company: VML Enterprise Solutions

Location: Porto, Porto, Portugal

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / User Experience / User Interface

Date Posted: 2026-05-29T08:20:20

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end design process for digital products and services, from discovery and experience definition to high-fidelity UI execution.

• Drive design thinking and problem-solving across complex and ambiguous project scopes, ensuring user-centricity as a core principle.

• Masterfully bridge the gap between User Experience (UX) strategy and User Interface (UI) execution, delivering cohesive and impactful digital solutions.

• Collaborate effectively within cross-functional teams to craft exceptional digital experiences that enhance engagement and drive conversion for global clients.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is for a Senior Product Designer with a strong emphasis on both UX strategy and UI execution, requiring the ability to operate autonomously and influence senior stakeholders. The hybrid nature implies a balance between remote work and in-office collaboration. The company's focus on "Enterprise Solutions" and "Commerce" suggests a need for designs that are scalable, robust, and geared towards business outcomes and complex user journeys.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the design of digital products and services, encompassing user journey mapping, interaction modeling, and visual design refinement.

• Develop and maintain scalable, well-structured design files in Figma, ensuring seamless collaboration, efficient handover, and systemization.

• Translate user research and data insights into actionable design decisions, building confidence and alignment with stakeholders.

• Champion and implement best-in-class user experience and user interface design principles, ensuring consistency, purpose, and quality across all elements.

• Craft high-quality supporting design artifacts, including interactive prototypes, presentations, and visual assets, to facilitate stakeholder alignment and internal communication.

• Operate effectively within both Business As Usual (BAU) and retained delivery models, balancing pace and quality while managing multiple workstreams and priorities.

• Adapt design approach across a variety of clients, sectors, and problem spaces, quickly building domain understanding and working with different levels of design maturity.

• Ensure deep understanding and application of responsive design principles and behavior logic for consistent cross-device and platform experiences.

• Contribute to the evolution and adherence of complex, tokenized design systems, understanding component architecture, variants, and scalable patterns.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a senior-level expectation for strategic input, leadership in design execution, and strong client-facing communication, particularly in translating business needs and user insights into tangible design solutions. The emphasis on "end-to-end" and "bridging UX/UI" indicates a need for a holistic design perspective.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, is typically expected for a Senior Product Designer role. A strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent expertise will be highly valued.

Experience: A minimum of 5-10 years of progressive experience in Product Design (UX/UI), with a proven track record of leading design initiatives and delivering successful digital products and services.

Required Skills:

• Proven ability to <strong>work autonomously and lead design within complex, fast-paced environments</strong>, often with incomplete or evolving requirements.

• Strong experience in <strong>stakeholder management</strong>, with the ability to challenge, influence, and align senior stakeholders across disciplines.

• Demonstrated ability to <strong>frame problems, define opportunities, and shape product direction</strong>, not just respond to briefs.

• Proven ability to <strong>operate as a true end-to-end product designer</strong>, seamlessly transitioning between UX strategy, interaction design, and high-fidelity UI execution without loss of quality.

• Advanced proficiency in <strong>Figma</strong>, with the ability to create scalable, well-structured design files that support collaboration, handover, and systemization.

• Strong experience working with <strong>complex, tokenised design systems</strong>, with a deep understanding of component architecture including variants, properties, and scalable design patterns.

• Solid understanding of <strong>responsive design principles and behaviour logic</strong>, ensuring consistent and high-quality experiences across devices and platforms.

• Expertise in translating <strong>user research and data into actionable insights</strong>, driving informed design decisions and building stakeholder confidence.

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

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working across <strong>multiple brands and visual identities</strong>, with the ability to adapt design approach while maintaining consistency, quality, and alignment to brand guidelines.

• Ability to produce <strong>high-quality supporting design artefacts beyond core product UI</strong>, including prototypes, presentations, and visual assets (e.g. release notes, comms materials).

• Experience operating within <strong>BAU and retained delivery models</strong>, balancing pace and quality while managing multiple workstreams, priorities, and stakeholders.

• Confidence operating across a <strong>variety of clients, sectors, and problem spaces</strong>, quickly building domain understanding and adapting approach to different levels of design maturity and stakeholder expectations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications emphasize a high degree of autonomy, strategic thinking, and technical proficiency in design tools and systems. The "5-10 years" experience level suggests a need for demonstrated leadership and significant project impact. The preference for experience with multiple brands and BAU/retained models points to a consulting or agency-like environment.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing end-to-end product design projects, demonstrating UX strategy, interaction design, and high-fidelity UI execution.

• Case studies that clearly articulate the problem space, design process, your specific contributions, challenges faced, and the measurable impact of your solutions.

• Examples of how you have used user research and data to inform design decisions and drive product direction.

• Demonstrations of your proficiency in Figma, including well-structured, scalable design files and systemized components.

• Evidence of experience working with and contributing to design systems, including understanding of component architecture and tokenization.

Process Documentation:

• Examples of how you document your design process, including user journey maps, wireframes, user flows, and interaction specifications.

• Demonstrations of how you translate complex requirements into clear design documentation for development and stakeholder review.

• Evidence of your approach to testing and iterating on designs based on user feedback and performance data.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is critical for this role, as it will be the primary evidence of the candidate's ability to lead design and deliver end-to-end solutions. The emphasis on Figma, design systems, and detailed case studies indicates a need for meticulous documentation and a structured approach to design.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Senior Product Designer with 5-10 years of experience in Porto, Portugal, the estimated annual salary range is typically between €40,000 and €60,000. This estimate is based on regional salary benchmarks for experienced design professionals in the tech and creative industries in Portugal, considering VML's position as a large global agency within WPP.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive training opportunities to support continuous skill development.

• Medical insurance coverage.

• Dental insurance coverage.

• Meal cards to assist with daily expenses.

• Regular social events to foster team cohesion and networking.

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

• Discounts with a wide range of retailers, offering value beyond core compensation.

Working Hours: The role is full-time, with a standard expectation of around 40 hours per week. While the exact daily schedule can be flexible within a hybrid work model, consistent availability for core team collaboration and client meetings is expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on industry standards for Portugal. The benefits listed are directly from the job description and are highlighted to appeal to experienced professionals seeking a supportive and rewarding work environment.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Marketing and Advertising / Digital Transformation / Enterprise Solutions. VML is part of WPP, a global leader in marketing and communications services. Their Enterprise Solutions division focuses on helping large organizations deliver digital experiences across commerce platforms, D2C, B2B, and marketplaces.

Company Size: VML is a large global company with over 26,000 employees worldwide, and its Enterprise Solutions division alone comprises over 4,200 experts across 55 operational centers in 34 countries. This signifies a large, well-resourced organization with global reach and a diverse client base.

Founded: VML was founded in 1992. VML and WPP are established entities with a long history and significant market presence. This history suggests a stable yet innovative environment.

Team Structure:

• The design team is likely part of a larger Enterprise Solutions division, working within cross-functional teams that include strategists, architects, developers, and operators.

• Reporting structure will likely involve a Design Lead or Director, with the Senior Product Designer expected to lead specific projects or workstreams.

Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making and user-centric design principles are fundamental.

• Emphasis on creating "connected brands" through integrated customer experiences and commerce solutions.

• Agile methodologies are likely employed to manage complex projects and adapt to evolving client needs.

• Strategic consulting and technical architecture are core to the Enterprise Solutions division's approach.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: VML's culture is built on "Heart, Brains, and Courage," emphasizing empathy, innovation, and bold problem-solving. The Enterprise Solutions division operates with a significant client portfolio, including major global brands, requiring expertise in complex, large-scale digital transformations and commerce strategies.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Product Designer role, indicating a position of significant responsibility and expertise. It implies an expectation to not only execute design but also to influence strategy, lead projects, mentor junior designers, and manage stakeholder relationships effectively.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Design Manager, Director, or Head of Design within the Enterprise Solutions division. They will work closely with Project Managers, Product Managers, Business Analysts, and Development Leads within cross-functional project teams.

Operations Impact: This role has a direct impact on the success of digital products and services for major global brands. By crafting exceptional user experiences and interfaces, the designer influences customer engagement, conversion rates, brand perception, and ultimately, client revenue and loyalty. The ability to frame problems and shape product direction means influencing the strategic roadmap of client initiatives.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization & Leadership: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like design systems, accessibility, or e-commerce UX, and potentially move into a Lead Designer or Design Director role.

• Mentorship: Chance to mentor and guide junior designers, developing leadership and team management skills.

• Client Exposure: Work with a diverse portfolio of high-profile global brands, expanding industry knowledge and strategic consulting experience.

• Skill Development: Access to extensive training opportunities from VML/WPP to enhance technical and soft skills, including design thinking, strategy, and leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: The senior level suggests a clear path for career progression within VML/WPP, either through specialization, leadership, or by expanding strategic influence on client projects. The global nature of the company offers broad exposure to various industries and design challenges.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as "hybrid," meaning it involves a combination of remote work and in-office presence. The specific office locations are Lisbon, Porto, or Faro. This suggests a modern office environment designed for collaboration and creative work.

Office Location(s): The position is available in Lisbon, Porto, or Faro, Portugal. These are major cities with established business districts, offering accessibility and a vibrant professional atmosphere.

Workspace Context:

• The hybrid model allows for flexibility, enabling focused work from home and collaborative sessions, brainstorming, and client meetings in the office.

• VML's emphasis on innovation and human-centric work suggests an environment that supports creativity, experimentation, and open communication.

• Access to advanced design tools and technology, including Figma, is a given, supporting efficient and high-quality design output.

Work Schedule: Full-time, with a standard 40-hour work week. The hybrid arrangement likely offers some flexibility in daily hours, but core working times will be established to ensure effective team collaboration and client interaction.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model in key Portuguese cities offers a balance of flexibility and in-person collaboration, crucial for a design role that requires both deep focus and team synergy. This setup caters to professionals seeking work-life integration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio to assess qualifications and relevant experience. Be prepared to highlight your most impactful end-to-end product design projects.

• Skills Assessment/Challenge: Potentially a design exercise or case study presentation focusing on problem-solving, design thinking, and your ability to articulate design rationale and trade-offs. This might involve a complex, ambiguous problem space.

• Stakeholder/Team Interviews: Discussions with hiring managers, design leads, and cross-functional team members to evaluate your approach to stakeholder management, collaboration, and your fit within the VML culture (Heart, Brains, Courage).

• Final Interview: A discussion to finalize details, assess cultural alignment further, and confirm your suitability for the senior role and its impact.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-4 of your strongest end-to-end product design case studies that best demonstrate your senior-level capabilities in UX strategy, interaction design, and UI execution.

• Showcase the "Why" and "How": Clearly articulate the business problem, user needs, your design process, decision-making rationale, and your specific contributions. Use visuals to illustrate your journey from concept to final design.

• Highlight Impact: Quantify the results of your work whenever possible (e.g., conversion increases, engagement metrics, user satisfaction improvements). If exact metrics aren't available, discuss the expected business impact and how you would measure it.

• Demonstrate Figma Proficiency: Be ready to walk through a well-organized Figma file, showcasing your systemization, component usage, and collaboration features.

• Articulate Design Systems Knowledge: Be prepared to discuss your experience with tokenized design systems, component architecture, and how you ensure scalability and consistency.

• Storytelling is Key: Present your work as compelling narratives that highlight your problem-solving skills and strategic thinking, not just aesthetic execution.

Challenge Preparation:

• Practice framing ambiguous problems and defining clear design objectives.

• Prepare to discuss your approach to user research, data analysis, and translating insights into design solutions.

• Rehearse articulating your design decisions, trade-offs, and recommendations concisely and persuasively.

• Familiarize yourself with VML's core values (Heart, Brains, Courage) and be ready to discuss how your approach aligns with them.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely focus heavily on a candidate's ability to demonstrate strategic thinking, end-to-end design ownership, and strong interpersonal skills for stakeholder management. A well-prepared portfolio that tells a clear story of impact is paramount.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Advanced proficiency is a mandatory requirement. Candidates should be adept at creating scalable, well-structured design files, utilizing components, variants, and auto-layout for efficient design systems and collaboration.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma's prototyping capabilities are key, experience with other tools for advanced prototyping might be beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with user analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Mixpanel) to translate user research and data into actionable insights.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a primary design tool, an understanding of how design integrates with CRM systems and marketing automation platforms used by enterprise clients (e.g., Salesforce, Adobe Experience Cloud) can be advantageous for context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the critical tool for this role. Proficiency beyond basic usage, extending to design system management and collaborative workflows, is expected. An understanding of how design impacts business metrics through analytics is also important.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Heart: Empathy, trust, and fostering genuine connections are central. This translates to understanding user needs deeply and collaborating respectfully with colleagues.

• Brains: Relentless curiosity, collaborative intelligence, and innovative problem-solving are valued. This means a proactive approach to tackling complex challenges and seeking out new solutions.

• Courage: Speaking up, embracing experimentation, and advocating for bold solutions are encouraged. This fosters an environment where designers feel empowered to challenge the status quo and push creative boundaries.

• Impact-Driven: The company culture is focused on delivering tangible results for clients, emphasizing the impact of design on business outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are expected to work seamlessly with strategists, developers, project managers, and client stakeholders. Open communication and shared understanding are key.

• Process Review & Feedback: A culture that encourages constructive feedback and iterative refinement of designs and processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, learnings, and insights across the design team and the wider organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Heart, Brains, Courage" framework provides a clear lens through which VML evaluates candidates and guides its internal culture. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate how their work and collaboration style align with these values.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: Working on complex, sometimes ambiguous client projects with evolving requirements requires strong problem-framing and adaptability.

• Balancing Pace and Quality: Operating within both BAU and retained delivery models necessitates efficient workflow management while maintaining high design standards.

• Client Diversity: Adapting design approaches to a wide range of clients with varying levels of design maturity and different industry challenges.

• Influencing Senior Stakeholders: Successfully challenging, influencing, and aligning senior stakeholders across disciplines requires strong communication and strategic rationale.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Skills: Opportunities to deepen expertise in areas like advanced Figma techniques, design system architecture, and cutting-edge UX methodologies.

• Industry Trends: Staying abreast of the latest trends in digital experience, commerce, and enterprise solutions through workshops, conferences, and internal knowledge-sharing.

• Leadership Development: Pathways to develop leadership skills through mentoring, project leadership, and potential management roles.

• Cross-Disciplinary Exposure: Gaining insights into strategy, technology, and client business challenges through close collaboration with other expert teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant challenges that are also key drivers for professional growth. The opportunities for learning and development are substantial, leveraging VML/WPP's extensive resources and global client base.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to frame a complex, ambiguous problem for a client. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your problem-solving methodology, research, and strategic framing.)

• "How do you balance user needs with business objectives and technical constraints in your design process?" (Prepare examples showcasing your ability to find optimal solutions.)

• "Walk me through a project where you led the end-to-end design process, from initial discovery to high-fidelity UI. What were the key challenges and how did you overcome them?" (This is your opportunity to shine with a portfolio case study.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do your design principles align with VML's core values of Heart, Brains, and Courage?" (Be ready to provide specific examples of how you embody these values.)

• "What excites you about working for a large global agency like VML and on enterprise-level solutions?" (Show your understanding of their business and your motivation.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly present the problem, your role, the process undertaken, key decisions, challenges, solutions, and quantifiable results.

• Visual Storytelling: Use high-quality visuals (wireframes, mockups, prototypes, user flows) to illustrate your journey. Don't just show the final UI; show the thinking behind it.

• Highlight Figma Mastery: Be prepared to briefly showcase your Figma file organization, component usage, and collaborative features if asked.

• Focus on Impact: Emphasize the business value and user impact of your designs. Quantify results whenever possible.

• Be Concise and Confident: Practice your presentation to ensure it's engaging, clear, and within any time limits. Be ready to answer detailed questions about your process and decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, end-to-end design ownership, impact, and alignment with VML's values. A well-rehearsed portfolio presentation is crucial.

📌 Application Steps

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

• Submit your CV in English through the provided application link.

• Customize Your CV: Ensure your CV highlights your 5-10 years of experience, focusing on end-to-end product design, stakeholder management, Figma proficiency, and experience with design systems. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate 3-4 of your strongest case studies that demonstrate your senior-level capabilities. Ensure they clearly articulate the problem, process, your contribution, and impact. Be ready to present them effectively.

• Research VML & WPP: Familiarize yourself with VML's work, their Enterprise Solutions division, and their core values (Heart, Brains, Courage). Understand their client portfolio and approach to digital transformation.

• Practice Your Storytelling: Rehearse articulating your design process and project outcomes clearly and concisely, preparing to answer strategy and culture-related questions.

⚠️ 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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