Senior UX/UI (Product) Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX/UI (Product) Designer

Company: VML Enterprise Solutions

Location: Faro, Faro District, Portugal (Hybrid)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design

Date Posted: 2026-04-21

Experience Level: Senior (Estimated 5-10 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end product design initiatives, from initial discovery and experience definition through to polished, high-fidelity UI execution, ensuring a seamless user journey.

• Drive design thinking and problem-solving within complex, ambiguous, and fast-paced environments, often with evolving requirements, demonstrating strong autonomy.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including strategists, developers, and account managers, to deliver exceptional digital experiences that meet client objectives and user needs.

• Manage and influence senior stakeholders across various disciplines, effectively communicating design rationale, trade-offs, and recommendations to foster alignment and drive product direction.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior Product Designer, implying a need for leadership in design execution, problem-framing, and stakeholder management. The emphasis on "end-to-end" and "bridging the gap between UX and UI" suggests a comprehensive design responsibility. The hybrid model in Portugal indicates a blend of in-office collaboration and remote flexibility.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Translate user research, data insights, and client briefs into actionable design strategies and tangible product solutions that drive engagement and conversion.

• Develop and refine user journeys, interaction models, wireframes, and prototypes to articulate design concepts and user flows, ensuring a user-centric approach.

• Execute high-fidelity visual design, define micro-interactions, and specify component behavior, ensuring consistency, quality, and alignment with brand guidelines.

• Operate autonomously and lead design efforts within complex projects, adapting approaches to diverse client sectors, varying levels of design maturity, and evolving stakeholder expectations.

• Manage and contribute to complex, tokenized design systems, with a deep understanding of component architecture, variants, properties, and scalable design patterns to ensure consistency and efficiency.

• Produce high-quality supporting design artifacts, including interactive prototypes, presentations, visual assets for communication, and user research reports, to facilitate stakeholder alignment and internal communication.

• Ensure adherence to accessibility standards, conversion principles, and user-centered design best practices throughout the design process.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic design thinking and detailed execution. The requirement to work with "complex, tokenised design systems" and "multiple brands and visual identities" suggests a need for sophisticated design system management and adaptability. The emphasis on producing "supporting design artefacts beyond core product UI" points to a need for strong communication and presentation skills.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for senior-level product design roles. Equivalent practical experience will also be highly valued.

Experience: Significant professional experience in UX/UI and Product Design, with a proven track record of leading design for complex digital products and services. Estimated 5-10 years of relevant experience.

Required Skills:

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

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

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

• Proven ability to operate as a true end-to-end product designer, seamlessly transitioning between UX strategy, interaction design, and high-fidelity UI execution.

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

• Comfortable operating within BAU and retained delivery models, balancing pace and quality while managing multiple workstreams and priorities.

• Strong experience working with complex, tokenised design systems, understanding component architecture, variants, properties, and scalable design patterns.

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

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

• Experience working with multiple brands and visual identities, adapting design approach while maintaining consistency and quality.

• Ability to produce high-quality supporting design artifacts beyond core product UI, including prototypes, presentations, and visual assets.

• Expertise in translating user research and data into actionable insights, driving informed design decisions.

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

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with user research methodologies and translating findings into design solutions.

• Familiarity with front-end development principles to facilitate effective collaboration with engineering teams.

• Experience in e-commerce, D2C, B2B, or marketplace platforms.

• Knowledge of other design and prototyping tools beyond Figma.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a blend of hard and soft skills crucial for senior-level design roles. The explicit mention of "autonomous work," "stakeholder management," and "shaping product direction" indicates a need for leadership and strategic thinking. Advanced Figma proficiency and experience with complex design systems are critical technical requirements.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate end-to-end product design process, showcasing how you move from problem identification through to high-fidelity UI execution.

• Include case studies that highlight your ability to frame complex problems, define opportunities, and shape product direction, rather than just executing briefs.

• Showcase experience with complex, tokenized design systems, illustrating how you've worked with component architecture, variants, and scalable patterns.

• Present examples of work that demonstrate strong understanding and application of responsive design principles and behavior logic across various devices and platforms.

• Highlight your proficiency in Figma, with examples of well-structured, scalable design files that support collaboration and systemization.

• Include examples of how you've translated user research and data into actionable insights that informed design decisions.

Process Documentation:

• Clearly articulate your design process, from discovery and research phases through to interaction design, visual design, and final UI execution.

• Document how you manage and contribute to design systems, including component creation, documentation, and governance.

• Illustrate your approach to user research and data analysis, detailing how insights are captured, synthesized, and applied to design decisions.

• Showcase your methods for collaborating with cross-functional teams (developers, strategists, product managers) to ensure seamless design handover and implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is paramount for this role. It should not only display visual design skills but also demonstrate a robust understanding of the entire product design lifecycle, strategic problem-solving, and collaborative capabilities. Emphasis on design systems and user research integration is key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Given the Senior UX/UI (Product) Designer title and location in Faro, Portugal, with an estimated experience level of 5-10 years, a competitive salary range can be estimated. In Portugal, for a senior role in a major agency like VML, salaries can range from approximately €45,000 to €70,000 annually, depending on exact experience, specific skills, and negotiation.

Benefits:

• Discretionary bonus scheme

• Training and professional development opportunities

• Competitive pension plan

• Medical insurance

• Life assurance

• Regular social events

• Opportunities to buy and sell holidays

• Family-friendly policies

• Discounts with hundreds of retailers

Working Hours: The standard working hours are estimated at 40 hours per week, typical for a full-time permanent position. The hybrid work arrangement suggests flexibility within this structure.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on general market data for senior design roles in Portugal and considers the reputation and scale of VML as part of WPP. The benefits package is comprehensive and aligns with typical offerings for permanent employees in large international agencies.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Marketing & Advertising, Digital Experience, Enterprise Solutions. VML is a leading creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce, operating within the broader WPP network. The Enterprise Solutions division specifically focuses on helping organizations deliver digital experiences across various market routes.

Company Size: VML is a large global agency with over 26,000 employees worldwide, and its Enterprise Solutions division has over 4,200 experts in 55 operational centers across 34 countries. This indicates a vast network, significant resources, and opportunities for global collaboration.

Founded: VML was founded in 1992. Its integration into WPP signifies a strong market presence and established reputation.

Team Structure:

• The Enterprise Solutions division is structured with strategic consultants, creative and technical architects, skilled developers, and operators. The UX/UI Designer will likely be part of a project-based or discipline-specific team within this division.

• Reporting lines would typically involve a Design Lead or Creative Director, with strong collaboration expected across account management, strategy, development, and client teams.

Methodology:

• VML emphasizes a data-driven approach, leveraging insights to inform strategies and creative execution.

• Workflow planning and optimization are critical for delivering complex digital experiences across multiple channels and platforms for large enterprise clients.

• Automation and efficiency practices are likely integrated to manage the scale and complexity of projects for global brands.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: VML's culture is built on a foundation of "Heart, Brains, and Courage." This translates to a human-centric, innovative, and bold approach to client work. The company's scale offers exposure to a wide array of clients and projects, providing a rich learning environment for operations professionals.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at a Senior level, indicating a need for demonstrated expertise, leadership in design execution, and the ability to mentor or guide junior designers. Senior Product Designers are expected to lead complex projects, manage significant stakeholder relationships, and contribute strategically to product direction.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Design Director, Head of Design, or a similar leadership role within the Enterprise Solutions division. They will also work closely with project managers, account leads, and client teams.

Operations Impact: The work of a Senior Product Designer directly impacts client success by shaping digital experiences that drive engagement, conversion, and loyalty. This role influences revenue generation for clients through optimized user journeys and effective interface design, and by extension, contributes to VML's reputation and client retention.

Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Opportunities to specialize in specific areas of UX/UI, such as service design, design systems architecture, or UX research leadership.

• Leadership Development: Progression into Lead Designer, Design Manager, or Art Director roles, involving team management, client leadership, and strategic oversight.

• Client & Project Exposure: Gaining experience across a diverse portfolio of global brands and industries, enhancing versatility and strategic advisory capabilities.

• Continuous Learning: Access to WPP and VML's training programs, industry conferences, and internal knowledge-sharing sessions to stay abreast of design trends and technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Senior title implies significant responsibility and a clear path for further growth within VML's extensive global network, including leadership and specialization opportunities within the operations and design disciplines.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as Hybrid, meaning it will involve a combination of working from a VML office location in Portugal (Lisbon, Porto, or Faro) and remote work. This offers a blend of collaborative in-office time and personal flexibility.

Office Location(s): The position is open to VML offices in Lisbon, Porto, or Faro, Portugal. This provides candidates with geographical choice within the country.

Workspace Context:

• The office environment is expected to be collaborative, with opportunities to engage with cross-functional teams, share ideas, and participate in design critiques.

• Access to standard design tools and technology, including advanced Figma capabilities, will be available.

• Team interaction will be crucial for brainstorming, problem-solving, and ensuring seamless design handover and project execution.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is expected, with a hybrid arrangement allowing for flexibility in balancing office and remote work days. The nature of agency work may sometimes require flexibility to meet project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key aspect of the work environment, appealing to professionals seeking work-life balance while still valuing in-person collaboration within a professional agency setting.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of CV and portfolio to assess experience, skills, and alignment with role requirements. Candidates are asked to submit their CV in English.

• First Interview: Likely with a hiring manager or senior designer to discuss experience, design philosophy, approach to problem-solving, and understanding of UX/UI principles. Expect questions about your career path and motivation.

• Portfolio Presentation/Design Challenge: This stage typically involves presenting a curated selection of your work from your portfolio, discussing your process, rationale, and impact. You may also be given a design challenge, either a take-home assignment or a live exercise, to assess your problem-solving skills and design execution under pressure.

• Stakeholder/Team Interviews: Interviews with other team members, potentially including cross-functional stakeholders (e.g., strategists, developers, account managers), to assess collaboration skills, communication style, and cultural fit.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader to discuss overall fit, career aspirations, and confirm suitability for the role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-4 strong case studies that best represent your end-to-end product design capabilities, stakeholder management experience, and ability to work with complex design systems.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, the challenges you faced, your solutions, and the measurable outcomes or impact. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight Process & Rationale: Don't just show final screens. Explain why you made certain design decisions, how you incorporated user research and data, and how you navigated trade-offs.

• Showcase Figma Proficiency: Include examples of well-structured Figma files, demonstrating your understanding of components, variants, and design system organization.

• Demonstrate Adaptability: If possible, showcase work across different brands or sectors to highlight your ability to adapt your design approach.

• Focus on Impact: Quantify results whenever possible (e.g., increased conversion rates, improved user satisfaction scores, efficiency gains).

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: If given a design challenge, thoroughly understand the problem statement, target audience, and objectives before starting.

• Structure Your Approach: Outline your thought process, including research, ideation, sketching, wireframing, and UI design steps.

• Prioritize & Justify: Be prepared to make design decisions and justify them based on user needs, business goals, and best practices.

• Time Management: Practice working within time constraints to deliver a coherent and well-reasoned solution.

• Communication: Be ready to articulate your thinking clearly and concisely, both in written documentation and potential verbal presentations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess not only design skills but also strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and collaborative potential. A well-prepared portfolio and thoughtful approach to challenges are critical for success.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Advanced proficiency is a mandatory requirement for creating scalable, well-structured design files, managing design systems, prototyping, and collaborating with teams.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma has robust prototyping capabilities, experience with dedicated tools like InVision, Axure, or similar may be beneficial for complex interactions or specific client needs.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Research & Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with tools for user testing, heatmaps, session recordings, and analytics dashboards (e.g., Google Analytics, Hotjar, UserTesting.com) to translate user research and data into actionable insights.

CRM & Automation:

Design Systems:

• Experience working with and contributing to complex, tokenized design systems is a core requirement. This involves understanding component architecture, variants, properties, and scalable design patterns.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the central tool for this role. The emphasis on design systems and translating data into insights suggests a need to be familiar with the broader ecosystem of digital product development tools and platforms.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values: VML operates under the core values of Heart, Brains, and Courage.

• Heart: This translates to fostering empathy, building trust, and prioritizing human-centricity in all aspects of work, including client relationships and internal team dynamics. For operations professionals, this means understanding user needs and collaborating with empathy.

• Brains: This value champions innovation, relentless curiosity, and collaborative intelligence to solve complex challenges. Operations professionals are expected to leverage data and analytical thinking to drive smart solutions and process improvements.

• Courage: This encourages speaking up, embracing experimentation, and advocating for bold solutions. Operations professionals should be willing to challenge the status quo, propose innovative process enhancements, and champion new methodologies.

Collaboration Style:

• VML emphasizes cross-functional integration, requiring seamless collaboration between design, strategy, development, and account management teams to deliver cohesive digital experiences.

• A culture of open feedback and process review is likely encouraged to continuously improve workflows and client outcomes.

• Knowledge sharing is vital in a large, global agency, promoting a collaborative environment where best practices are disseminated and shared.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Heart, Brains, Courage" ethos shapes a dynamic and forward-thinking work environment. Operations professionals are expected to be collaborative, analytical, and unafraid to innovate and advocate for impactful solutions.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: Working with complex, sometimes ambiguous problem spaces and evolving client requirements demands adaptability and strong problem-framing skills.

• Managing Diverse Stakeholders: Effectively influencing and aligning senior stakeholders with varying perspectives and levels of design maturity requires strong communication and negotiation skills.

• Balancing Pace and Quality: Operating within BAU and retained delivery models necessitates efficiently balancing speed with high-quality design output across multiple workstreams.

• Adapting to Multiple Brands: Consistently delivering high-quality design across diverse brands and visual identities while maintaining brand consistency and alignment requires meticulous attention to detail and flexibility.

• Leveraging Design Systems: Mastering and contributing to complex, tokenized design systems requires a deep understanding of component architecture and scalability.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunities to deepen expertise in areas like advanced UX research, design system architecture, accessibility standards, or emerging design technologies.

• Industry Exposure: Participation in industry conferences, workshops, and training programs to stay current with UX/UI trends, tools, and best practices.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Potential for mentorship from senior design leaders and pathways to take on leadership roles within project teams or design disciplines.

• Cross-Functional Learning: Gaining insights into strategy, development, and commerce operations through close collaboration with diverse teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for a senior role in a large agency and offer significant opportunities for professional growth and skill development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to frame a complex design problem for a client or stakeholder. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on problem definition, user-centricity, and impact.)

• "How do you manage conflicting priorities or feedback from multiple senior stakeholders? Provide an example." (Highlight negotiation, communication, and consensus-building skills.)

• "Walk us through your process for designing within or contributing to a complex, tokenized design system. What are the key considerations?" (Emphasize understanding of component architecture, scalability, and consistency.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What attracts you to VML and our 'Heart, Brains, Courage' values?" (Research the values and connect them to your own work philosophy.)

• "How do you see your role contributing to the success of VML Enterprise Solutions and our clients?" (Focus on impact, collaboration, and client-centricity.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly outline the "Why" (problem/opportunity), "What" (your role/solution), and "How" (your process/tools).

• Focus on Impact: Quantify results where possible. Explain the business value and user benefits of your design decisions.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (screenshots, prototypes, diagrams) to illustrate your process and final outcomes effectively.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design choices, trade-offs, and how you integrated user feedback.

• Highlight Figma Skills: Be ready to discuss your Figma workflow, file organization, and how you leverage its features for collaboration and design system management.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on articulating your design process, demonstrating strategic thinking, showcasing your ability to handle complex projects and stakeholders, and aligning your approach with VML's core values.

📌 Application Steps

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

• Submit your application through the provided link on Greenhouse.

• Tailor your CV: Ensure your CV is in English and highlights your experience in end-to-end product design, stakeholder management, complex design systems, and advanced Figma proficiency, using keywords from the job description.

• Curate your Portfolio: Select 3-4 compelling case studies that demonstrate your strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, and ability to deliver high-quality UX/UI designs across various platforms and brands. Prioritize case studies that showcase your work with design systems and user research.

• Prepare your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio case studies, clearly articulating your design process, rationale, challenges, and outcomes. Be ready to discuss your Figma workflow and how you contribute to design systems.

• Research VML: Familiarize yourself with VML's work, client portfolio, and core values ("Heart, Brains, Courage") to articulate your interest and cultural fit during the interview process.

⚠️ 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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