UI & Motion Designer (Design System)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UI & Motion Designer (Design System)

Company: Abacum

Location: Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Design & Creative Operations

Date Posted: 2026-06-18

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

Remote Status: Hybrid (Primarily office-based in Barcelona)

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is focused on the foundational visual language of the Abacum product, specifically through the lens of a robust and scalable Design System.

• A key aspect involves integrating AI consumability into the design system, preparing it for future generative design and automation workflows.

• The position requires strong capabilities in motion design and video production to create compelling product showcases and marketing assets.

• This role operates within the Product Design team, collaborating closely with Product Designers, Engineers, Brand Designers, and Marketing to ensure visual consistency and enhance product storytelling.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the input job title is "UI & Motion Designer (Design System)", the core responsibilities and company context strongly suggest a role deeply embedded within product operations and GTM enablement through design. The emphasis on AI-consumability and product storytelling positions this role as critical for streamlining design-to-development handoffs and enhancing marketing collateral, which are key components of efficient GTM operations. The "Hybrid" work arrangement implies a need for strong on-site collaboration, crucial for design system alignment and team synergy.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design System Ownership: Maintain, evolve, and scale the Abax Design System, ensuring its components, tokens, and patterns serve as a single source of truth within Figma and Storybook.

• AI Integration for Design Systems: Structure design system elements and documentation to enable AI tools and agents for reliable on-system UI generation and assembly.

• Motion Design & Prototyping: Create dynamic internal videos, micro-interactions, transitions, and prototypes that enhance the perceived quality and user experience of the Abacum platform.

• Brand & Marketing Collaboration: Partner with the Brand Designer and Marketing team to produce high-quality motion effects and videos for product launches, campaigns, and sophisticated product storytelling.

• UI Pattern & Token Management: Ensure consistency and pixel-perfect detail across all UI elements, adhering to established design principles and scalability requirements.

• Cross-Functional Design Collaboration: Work closely with Product Designers and Engineers to implement design system standards and ensure seamless integration of UI components.

• Visual Language Development: Contribute to the evolution of Abacum's visual identity through thoughtful application of design system principles and motion graphics.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities are framed to highlight the operational impact of design, particularly in areas like standardization (design system), future-proofing (AI-consumability), and marketing enablement (motion graphics). The emphasis on "owning" the design system and collaborating across teams underscores the operational responsibility inherent in this role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• While specific degree requirements are not stated, a strong portfolio demonstrating proficiency in UI design, design systems, and motion graphics is essential.

• A background in Graphic Design, Interaction Design, or a related field is typically beneficial. Experience:

• 2-5 years of experience in UI design with a significant focus on building and maintaining design systems.

• Proven experience in motion design and video production, with a portfolio showcasing animation, micro-interactions, and polished video content.

• Experience working in fast-paced environments, ideally within early-stage startups, demonstrating adaptability and end-to-end project ownership. Required Skills:

• Expert Proficiency in Figma: Deep understanding of Figma's capabilities for design system creation, component management, and collaboration.

• Design System Craft: Comprehensive knowledge of UI patterns, design tokens, scalable structures, and best practices for design system governance.

• Motion Design Expertise: Proficiency in motion tooling such as After Effects, Rive, or Spline, with a strong sense of timing, easing, and visual storytelling through animation.

• AI & Systems Thinking: Ability to logically structure complex systems for human and AI consumption, with an interest in generative design principles.

• Front-end Fundamentals Understanding: Familiarity with software development principles, particularly front-end development, to ensure efficient and scalable UI solutions (without coding).

• Professional English: Essential for communication within a global team.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with Storybook for design system documentation and implementation.

• Familiarity with contemporary AI tools and their application in design workflows.

• Spanish/Catalan language proficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The skills section is augmented to include operations-relevant keywords such as "governance," "implementation," and "scalability." The emphasis on "front-end fundamentals understanding" is crucial for operations roles, as it bridges the gap between design and engineering, a common area for process optimization. The AI and Systems Thinking requirement is particularly forward-looking and points to the role's strategic importance.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Design System Showcase: A dedicated section demonstrating your experience with design systems, including examples of components, token structures, and documentation. Highlight the scalability and consistency achieved.

• Motion Design Reel: A curated reel showcasing your motion design capabilities, including micro-interactions, transitions, UI animations, and polished video content. Demonstrate strong timing, easing, and storytelling.

• AI-Consumability Examples (if possible): If you have experience structuring design systems for AI generation or automation, include relevant examples or explanations.

• Figma Proficiency Demonstration: Showcase complex Figma files, component libraries, or interactive prototypes that highlight your mastery of the tool.

• Process Explanation: Be prepared to articulate your design process, particularly how you approach design system maintenance, evolution, and collaboration.

Process Documentation:

• While not explicitly requested as a deliverable, candidates should be prepared to discuss how they document design system guidelines, component usage, and best practices to ensure adoption and consistency.

• Understanding how to translate design system specifications into actionable guidelines for engineering teams is key.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section is crucial for operational roles. The emphasis on "process explanation," "documentation," and "governance" aligns with the operational aspects of managing a design system, ensuring it functions as a robust and efficient tool for product development.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for a Mid-Level UI & Motion Designer with 2-5 years of experience in Barcelona, Spain, the estimated annual salary range is €35,000 - €55,000. This range can vary based on the candidate's specific experience, portfolio strength, and negotiation. Benefits:

• Competitive compensation including an equity package.

• Competitive vacation policy.

• Medical Insurance.

• Learning & Development (L&D) budget.

• Access to Meditopia (wellbeing platform).

• Language courses (English / Spanish). Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours, typically around 40 hours per week. The hybrid model suggests flexibility with core working hours, allowing for collaboration during key periods.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on average market data for Barcelona in design roles, considering the mid-level experience. The benefits are directly pulled from the provided data and framed to appeal to professionals seeking a comprehensive package. The working hours are inferred from the "Full-Time" employment type.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry:

• Software / SaaS (Business Planning Software). Abacum operates in the FinTech and Business Intelligence space, providing a critical solution for finance teams to drive performance through automated reporting, planning, and forecasting. This industry context means the product is complex, data-driven, and requires a high degree of precision and reliability, influencing design decisions. Company Size:

• 100+ employees. As a growing company, Abacum likely offers a dynamic environment where individuals can have a significant impact. This size suggests a balance between established processes and the agility of a startup, with opportunities for direct influence on product direction and operational efficiency. Founded:

• 2020. Being a relatively young company, Abacum is likely in a phase of rapid scaling and product refinement. This implies a culture that values innovation, adaptability, and the ability to build processes from the ground up, a key characteristic for operations roles. Team Structure:

• Design Team: Operates within the broader Product organization, working closely with Product Designers, Engineers, Brand Designers, and Marketing. This cross-functional structure is vital for ensuring design system consistency and effective product storytelling.

• Reporting: The role reports into the Design leadership, likely contributing to a centralized design function that supports product development and GTM efforts.

• Collaboration: Emphasis on close collaboration with engineers for implementation, brand for visual identity, and marketing for external communications, highlighting the operational need for seamless handoffs and unified messaging.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: The nature of Abacum's product (business planning) suggests a strong reliance on data to inform design decisions and measure impact.

• Scalability Focus: The emphasis on design systems and AI-consumability highlights a methodical approach to building scalable and future-proof design foundations.

• Agile Development: Given the startup environment, an agile methodology is likely employed, requiring designers to be responsive to evolving product requirements and priorities.

Company Website: https://www.abacum.ai/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context is fleshed out to emphasize aspects relevant to operations professionals. The industry, size, and founding date all point to a dynamic, growth-oriented environment where operational efficiency and strategic design implementation are critical. The team structure highlights the cross-functional nature of design work, crucial for GTM success.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level:

• This role is positioned as a specialized individual contributor, focusing on the foundational elements of product design (Design System) and its outward expression (Motion Design). It requires a high degree of technical craft and system thinking. The "AI-consumable" aspect suggests a forward-thinking specialization that is increasingly valuable in operations. Reporting Structure:

• The designer will report to a Design Lead or Head of Design, working within a team that likely includes other Product Designers, Researchers, and potentially a Brand Designer. This structure allows for mentorship and guidance while providing autonomy. Operations Impact:

• Efficiency: By owning and scaling the design system, this role directly impacts the efficiency of the product development process, reducing redundant design and coding efforts.

• Consistency: Ensures a consistent user experience and visual identity across the product, which is critical for brand perception and user trust – key GTM elements.

• Marketing Enablement: High-quality motion graphics and videos directly support marketing efforts, enhancing product understanding, driving engagement, and aiding customer acquisition.

• Future-Proofing: The focus on AI-consumability positions the design system as a strategic asset for future product development and automation, impacting long-term operational scalability.

Growth Opportunities:

• Senior Design System Specialist: Deepen expertise in design systems, potentially leading the evolution of the system and its governance.

• Motion Design Lead: Specialize further in motion graphics, potentially leading video production efforts for marketing and product showcases.

• Product Design Leadership: Transition into a Product Design role with broader product ownership, leveraging design system expertise for more comprehensive product strategy.

• Operations Integration: Develop a stronger understanding of how design systems interface with development and marketing operations, potentially moving into a more operations-centric design role.

• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior designers on design system principles and motion design best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: This analysis connects the design role to broader operations and GTM impacts, highlighting how design system proficiency translates into business value and career progression within the operations ecosystem.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type:

• Hybrid work environment. This implies a blend of remote work flexibility and in-office collaboration. The "essential" requirement for being based in Barcelona suggests the company values in-person interaction for team cohesion, design system alignment, and collaborative ideation. Office Location(s):

• Barcelona, Spain. The specific office details are not provided, but being in Barcelona offers a vibrant European tech hub environment. Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model necessitates intentional collaboration. Expect regular team syncs, design critiques, and cross-functional working sessions, likely facilitated through tools like Figma and video conferencing.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design tools (Figma, After Effects, etc.) will be provided. The company's focus on AI integration suggests an openness to exploring new technologies in the design workflow.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with Product Designers, Engineers, Brand Designers, and Marketing teams, fostering a holistic understanding of the product lifecycle and GTM strategies.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time, likely with some flexibility around core working hours to accommodate the hybrid model and international team members (e.g., NY HQ). This flexibility is beneficial for managing design system updates and production timelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment description is tailored to highlight the operational aspects of a hybrid setup – the need for structured collaboration, the tools supporting it, and the importance of local presence for team dynamics.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess core skills in UI, design systems, and motion design.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A session where the candidate presents their portfolio, focusing on design system craft, motion examples, and their approach to AI-consumability. Expect questions on process, problem-solving, and collaboration.

• Technical Interview/Workshop: Potentially a hands-on exercise or deep dive into Figma and motion design tools, or a case study related to design system expansion.

• Team/Hiring Manager Interview: Evaluation of cultural fit, communication skills, and alignment with Abacum's values. Discussion on how the candidate would integrate into the existing team and contribute to product strategy.

• Final Interview: May involve senior leadership to discuss overall impact and long-term vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure for Impact: Organize your portfolio to clearly showcase your strengths in each requested area: Design Systems, Motion Design, and UI Craft.

• Design System Deep Dive: For your design system examples, explain the why behind your decisions: component structure, token strategy, scalability considerations, and any documentation practices.

• Motion Storytelling: For motion work, explain the purpose and context of each piece. How does the motion enhance the user experience or communicate a message?

• AI-Consumability Focus: If you have relevant experience, articulate how you've structured design elements or documentation to be machine-readable or generative. This is a key differentiator.

• Figma Mastery: Showcase complex Figma files, interactive prototypes, or component libraries that demonstrate advanced usage and best practices for system building.

• Conciseness: Be prepared to walk through your portfolio efficiently, highlighting key achievements and relevant skills.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design System Challenge: Be ready to discuss how you would approach expanding or evolving the Abax Design System, potentially including considerations for AI integration or a specific new component.

• Motion Design Scenario: Prepare to discuss how you would create a short video or animation to showcase a specific feature of Abacum's business planning software, demonstrating your understanding of the product's value proposition.

• Problem-Solving: Anticipate questions about how you handle design challenges, conflicting priorities, or feedback from engineers and stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application process advice is tailored to the specific requirements of this role, emphasizing the portfolio's critical components—design systems, motion, and AI-readability—and how to present them effectively to demonstrate operational readiness.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Expert proficiency required for UI design, component creation, prototyping, and design system management.

• Motion Design Software: Hands-on experience with tools such as:

  • After Effects: For complex animations, video editing, and motion graphics.
  • Rive: For interactive, performant animations integrated into applications.
  • Spline: For 3D design and animation, often used for web and interactive experiences.

Design System Management:

• Storybook: Preferred tool for documenting and showcasing design system components, facilitating collaboration between design and engineering.

Collaboration & Project Management:

• Notion: Likely used for documentation, team knowledge sharing, and project management (as indicated by provided links).

• Standard collaboration suites: Tools like Slack, Google Workspace, etc.

AI & Future Technologies:

• Familiarity with concepts related to AI-driven design, generative UI, and structured data for AI consumption.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section details the specific technology stack, emphasizing the critical design tools and their operational relevance in building and maintaining a consistent, scalable product experience. The inclusion of Storybook and Notion highlights standard operational tools for design systems and knowledge management.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Obsession: A core value driving the creation of value for customers. For this role, it means ensuring the design system and motion assets directly contribute to a superior user experience and effectively communicate product value.

• Audacious Ambition: Embracing big dreams and calculated risks. This translates to pushing creative boundaries with motion design and strategically evolving the design system to meet future needs, including AI integration.

• Good People: Valuing diversity, self-reflection, and having fun. This encourages a positive and collaborative team environment where constructive feedback is welcomed.

• Tough Love: Embracing honest feedback and radical candor. This fosters a culture of continuous improvement, critical for maintaining high standards in design systems and motion quality.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Strong emphasis on working closely with Product Designers, Engineers, Brand Designers, and Marketing to ensure alignment and seamless execution.

• Process-Oriented: A focus on structured workflows, documentation (design system), and efficient handoffs between design and development.

• Feedback-Driven: A culture that encourages open feedback loops for continuous improvement of both the product and internal processes.

• Efficiency and Automation Mindset: Reflecting the company's mission in business planning, the team likely values efficiency, automation, and data-driven decision-making in their own workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values are interpreted through the lens of operations, highlighting how they translate into practical behaviors and expectations for team members, particularly concerning efficiency, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the design and product development lifecycle.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Design System Evolution with AI Integration: Keeping the design system robust, scalable, and user-friendly for designers while simultaneously structuring it for AI consumption presents a complex technical and strategic challenge.

• Maintaining Consistency Across Diverse Assets: Ensuring visual and motion consistency across the product UI, internal videos, and marketing materials requires meticulous attention to detail and strong governance.

• Rapidly Evolving Design & AI Landscape: Staying current with advancements in UI design, motion graphics, and AI tools requires continuous learning and adaptation.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Effectively communicating and implementing design system standards across different teams (Product, Engineering, Marketing) can be challenging due to differing priorities and perspectives.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Skill Advancement: Deepen expertise in advanced motion graphics, AI-driven design tools, and complex design system architecture.

• Industry Exposure: Potential opportunities to attend design conferences, workshops, or online courses focused on design systems, motion design, and emerging technologies.

• Mentorship: Guidance from experienced design and engineering leaders within Abacum.

• Strategic Impact: Contributing to the future direction of Abacum's design infrastructure, particularly in pioneering AI-consumable design systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges are framed to highlight areas where operational problem-solving and strategic thinking are required, while growth opportunities focus on skill development relevant to advanced design operations and GTM enablement.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach structuring our current design system in Figma to make it more AI-consumable? What are the key considerations?" (Assesses AI integration thinking and system architecture.)

• "Describe your process for creating a short, engaging motion graphic video to showcase a new feature of a business planning SaaS product." (Evaluates motion design process and product storytelling.)

• "Imagine a scenario where engineers are struggling to implement a design system component correctly. How would you address this to ensure consistency and offer support?" (Tests problem-solving, collaboration, and operational support skills.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do Abacum's values—Customer Obsession, Audacious Ambition, Good People, Tough Love—align with your approach to design and teamwork?" (Assesses cultural fit and understanding of company ethos.)

• "Given our fast-paced startup environment, how do you prioritize tasks when managing both design system maintenance and creative motion projects?" (Evaluates time management, prioritization, and adaptability.)

• "How do you measure the success or impact of a design system or a piece of motion design?" (Probes understanding of metrics, ROI, and operational impact.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• The Narrative Arc: Structure your portfolio presentation around a compelling narrative. Start with your design system philosophy, showcase its implementation, then demonstrate how your motion design brings the product to life.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: For each project, use visuals and concise explanations. Demonstrate the components, animations, and final outputs.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics or specific outcomes to illustrate the success of your work (e.g., "Increased design efficiency by X%," "Supported marketing campaign resulting in Y leads").

• Focus on Process: Be ready to articulate your thought process, design decisions, and how you collaborated with others. This is critical for understanding your operational approach.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview questions are designed to probe the candidate's operational thinking, system-level approach, and ability to translate creative skills into tangible business value, particularly in the context of AI and design systems.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UI & Motion Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Ashby link.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to prominently feature your experience with design systems, motion design, and Figma. Ensure your motion reel is easily accessible and highlights your best work.

• Highlight AI & Systems Thinking: If you have any experience or interest in AI-consumable design systems, explicitly mention this in your application or cover letter.

• Barcelona Focus: Clearly state your location and willingness to work in a hybrid capacity in Barcelona.

• Prepare for Case Studies: Be ready to discuss your design process, how you manage design systems, and your approach to motion design challenges, potentially through portfolio walkthroughs or specific exercises.

⚠️ 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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