UI Artist - RuneScape: Dragonwilds

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UI Artist - RuneScape: Dragonwilds

Company: Jagex: The RuneScape Company

Location: Cambridge, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Game Development - Art & Design

Date Posted: 2026-08-13

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

Remote Status: Hybrid (Predominantly Remote)

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and create high-fidelity UI artwork and interface assets for both front-end menus and in-game HUDs, ensuring a polished and intuitive player experience.

• Collaborate closely with UX designers, game designers, artists, and engineers to translate wireframes and design concepts into visually cohesive and functional game interfaces.

• Implement and iterate on UI elements within Unreal Engine, contributing to style guides and asset toolkits for consistent visual quality across the RuneScape: Dragonwilds project.

• Champion user-centred design principles, identifying and proposing visual improvements based on player feedback, user testing, and creative direction to enhance usability and aesthetics.

• Maintain a strong focus on visual consistency and branding, playing a crucial role in defining and upholding the art direction for the game's user interface.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically for the RuneScape: Dragonwilds project, indicating a focus on a new or significantly updated area within the existing RuneScape universe. The emphasis on Unreal Engine suggests a modernization or expansion of the game's technical foundation. The requirement for applicants to be within commuting distance of Cambridge, UK, even for a predominantly remote role, points to a need for occasional on-site collaboration or team events.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop visually appealing and user-friendly UI assets, including menus, HUDs, icons, buttons, and interactive elements, adhering to project style guides.

• Translate UX wireframes and user flow diagrams into refined visual designs, ensuring clarity, accessibility, and aesthetic appeal.

• Work within Unreal Engine to implement UI elements, providing annotated notes, design guidelines, and optimized assets to the engineering team.

• Contribute to the creation and maintenance of UI style guides, asset libraries, and toolkits to ensure a unified and consistent visual language.

• Proactively identify potential usability issues and propose creative visual solutions to enhance the player experience.

• Participate actively in design reviews, providing constructive feedback and incorporating feedback from UX, game design, art, and engineering teams.

• Iterate on UI designs based on player feedback, user testing results, and evolving project requirements, demonstrating adaptability and a commitment to continuous improvement.

• Collaborate with motion graphics artists or utilize engine animation tools to incorporate dynamic UI elements and animations where appropriate.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of artistic creation and technical implementation within a game development context. The emphasis on "translating UX wireframes" and "identifying usability issues" suggests a strong collaborative relationship with UX designers, where the UI Artist bridges the gap between conceptual design and visual execution. The mention of Unreal Engine implementation implies a need for practical understanding of game engine workflows for UI.

✅ Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Digital Art, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is often preferred for foundational knowledge.

Experience: 2-5 years of professional experience as a UI Artist, with a significant portion focused on game development or interactive applications.

Required Skills:

• Proven portfolio showcasing high-quality UI artwork, demonstrating expertise in visual hierarchy, typography, iconography, and overall interface design.

• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator) for creating and editing UI assets.

• Strong command of Figma for UI design, prototyping, and collaborative workflows.

• Experience creating UI assets such as buttons, HUDs, menus, and icons with a keen eye for detail.

• Familiarity with Unreal Engine and an understanding of its UI implementation pipelines and asset optimization techniques.

• Solid grasp of fundamental graphic design principles, including visual hierarchy, typography, color theory, composition, and accessibility.

• Demonstrated understanding of user-centered design principles and their application in creating intuitive interfaces.

• Ability to work independently, manage multiple tasks effectively, and meet project deadlines with minimal supervision. Preferred Skills:

• Motion graphics or UI animation skills using tools like Adobe After Effects or native engine animation tools.

• Illustration or concept design experience, which can inform unique visual styles for UI elements.

• Familiarity with Perforce for version control in a game development environment.

• Experience with UI asset optimization for performance in real-time applications.

• Understanding of accessibility standards and best practices in UI design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a strong portfolio is critical. Candidates should curate examples that clearly demonstrate their ability to create polished, functional, and aesthetically pleasing user interfaces, particularly within a gaming context. The specific mention of Figma and Adobe Creative Suite indicates these are core tools for asset creation and design iteration.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a range of UI projects, highlighting distinct visual styles and problem-solving approaches for different interface challenges.

• Include examples of front-end menus, in-game HUDs, icons, and any interactive components developed.

• Provide case studies that explain the design process, from initial wireframes or concepts to final polished assets, detailing the rationale behind design decisions.

• Demonstrate proficiency in translating UX requirements into visually compelling and user-friendly interfaces.

• Clearly articulate the role played in each project, especially in collaborative environments, and showcase individual contributions. Process Documentation:

• Detail the workflow for creating UI assets, from concept and sketching to final asset delivery.

• Explain the process of collaborating with UX designers and game designers to refine and implement UI designs.

• Illustrate how feedback from user testing and playtesting is incorporated into UI design iterations.

• Describe methods for ensuring visual consistency and adherence to style guides across multiple UI elements and screens.

• Outline the process for preparing and optimizing UI assets for implementation within Unreal Engine.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio should not just be a collection of images but a narrative of the candidate's design process and problem-solving capabilities. For this role, demonstrating an understanding of how UI art integrates with UX principles and technical implementation (Unreal Engine) will be key. Applicants should be prepared to discuss the "why" behind their design choices.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Given the mid-level experience (2-5 years), location (Cambridge, UK), and the specialized nature of UI Art in game development, a competitive salary range is expected. Based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in the UK, a range of £35,000 to £55,000 per annum is a reasonable estimate. This can vary based on specific experience, skill set, and the final negotiation.

Benefits:

• Private Healthcare, including a Dental Plan: Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their families.

• Discretionary annual performance bonus: An incentive tied to individual and company performance.

• Minimum 6% Pension contributions: Employer contributions towards retirement savings.

• Life Insurance: Financial security for dependents.

• Enhanced family leave policies from day 1: Generous parental and family leave provisions.

• Flexible working hours: Allows for better work-life balance and personal scheduling.

• 25 days annual leave + Bank holidays: Standard paid time off, with the option to buy or sell additional days.

• Access to company-provided tools and technology.

• Opportunities for professional development and training.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week, with a strong emphasis on flexible working arrangements. This allows employees to adjust their daily schedule to better suit personal needs while ensuring project deliverables are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on general UK market data for mid-level creative roles in technology and gaming, adjusted for the specific location. The benefits package is comprehensive and reflects a commitment to employee well-being and long-term retention, which is common in established game development studios.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Video Game Development, specifically MMORPGs and Live Service Games. Jagex is a prominent player in this sector, known for its long-standing and successful RuneScape franchise.

Company Size: Jagex is a medium-to-large sized company within the gaming industry, employing a significant number of staff dedicated to RuneScape and its expansion. This size allows for specialized teams while maintaining a collaborative environment.

Founded: Jagex was founded in 2001. The RuneScape franchise itself launched in 2001, making it one of the longest-running MMORPGs. The company has a rich history and deep-rooted community.

Team Structure:

• The UI/UX team is likely a specialized group within the broader game development department, comprising UX designers, UI artists, and potentially UI engineers.

• This team will report into a Lead Artist, Art Director, or Head of Design, depending on the organizational structure.

• Close collaboration with Game Designers, 3D Artists, Environment Artists, and Software Engineers is essential for integrating UI seamlessly into the game. Methodology:

• Jagex emphasizes a community-driven approach, with player feedback and long-term game evolution being central.

• For the RuneScape: Dragonwilds project, a blend of iterative development and agile methodologies is probable, allowing for flexibility and responsiveness to player input.

• Data analysis from player behavior and user testing will inform design decisions, ensuring that UI improvements align with player needs and engagement.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Jagex's long history with RuneScape means there's a strong culture of player focus and community engagement. The new "Dragonwilds" project, along with the move to Unreal Engine and Steam Early Access, indicates a strategic push towards modernization and broader audience reach, while still respecting the core RuneScape identity.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Level UI Artist. It requires a solid foundation of skills and a proven track record, but also offers significant opportunities for growth. The focus on a specific project like Dragonwilds means the artist will gain in-depth experience with a particular game system and potentially contribute to its future direction.

Reporting Structure: The UI Artist will likely report to a Lead UI/UX Designer or Art Director. They will work within a cross-functional team, collaborating daily with peers and stakeholders from design, art, and engineering departments.

Operations Impact: The UI Artist's work directly impacts player engagement, satisfaction, and the overall perception of game quality. Intuitive and visually appealing interfaces are critical for player retention, especially in an MMORPG like RuneScape where players spend extensive time navigating menus and interacting with the game world. Successful UI design can directly contribute to player success and enjoyment, indirectly impacting monetization and community sentiment.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in Unreal Engine UI implementation, advanced motion graphics for UI, or specific areas like accessibility in game UI.

• Leadership: Progress to a Senior UI Artist role, mentoring junior team members, and taking ownership of larger UI systems or entire game features.

• Cross-Discipline: Potentially transition into UX design roles with further training and experience, leveraging their strong understanding of user interaction and visual design.

• Project Ownership: Lead the UI art direction for future projects or significant content updates within the RuneScape ecosystem.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Operations" context here is interpreted as the operational aspects of game development and the career path within the game industry. The role offers a clear trajectory from mid-level to senior positions, with opportunities to specialize or move into leadership.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Jagex operates a hybrid work model. While the role is predominantly remote, the Cambridge office serves as a hub for collaboration, team meetings, and potentially project-specific events or brainstorming sessions.

Office Location(s): The primary office is located in Cambridge, England, United Kingdom. This location is known for its strong technology and academic presence.

Workspace Context:

• The remote work aspect provides flexibility, allowing artists to set up their preferred workspace at home.

• When on-site, the office environment is likely collaborative, with open-plan areas and meeting rooms designed to foster team interaction and creativity.

• Access to company-provided software licenses and potentially hardware (if required for specific tasks) will be available.

• The team culture encourages collaboration, so opportunities for virtual or in-person brainstorming and design critiques will be frequent.

Work Schedule: Flexible working hours are a key benefit. This means employees can generally set their own start and end times, provided they align with core team hours for collaboration and meet their weekly workload requirements. This flexibility is beneficial for artists who may find inspiration or productivity at different times of the day.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model balances the benefits of remote work (flexibility, reduced commute) with the advantages of in-office collaboration (team cohesion, spontaneous idea generation). Applicants should be comfortable with occasional travel to the Cambridge office for specific meetings or events.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or a recruiter will review applications and portfolios, focusing on essential skills and experience.

• Portfolio Review & Technical Interview: A deeper dive into the candidate's portfolio with a Lead Artist or Art Director. This will involve discussing specific projects, design choices, and technical proficiency in tools like Adobe Suite, Figma, and Unreal Engine.

• Skills Assessment/Challenge: Candidates may be given a small UI design task or a case study to assess their problem-solving abilities, design thinking, and practical application of skills under a time constraint.

• Team/Cultural Fit Interview: Meeting with potential team members (UX designers, other artists) to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and alignment with Jagex's company values.

• Final Interview: Potentially a discussion with a hiring manager or department head to finalize the offer.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Wisely: Select 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects. Focus on quality over quantity.

• Showcase Process: For each project, include a brief overview, your role, the problem you were solving, your design process (wireframes, iterations), and the final outcome.

• Highlight Relevance: Emphasize projects that demonstrate UI design for games, PC, or console platforms, and highlight any experience with Unreal Engine.

• Visual Clarity: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, easy to navigate, and visually appealing. Use high-resolution images and clear annotations.

• Prepare to Discuss: Be ready to talk in detail about your design decisions, challenges faced, and how you overcame them.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: Carefully read and understand any design challenge provided. Clarify any ambiguities.

• Focus on Core Skills: Apply your knowledge of visual hierarchy, typography, usability, and brand consistency.

• Time Management: Allocate your time effectively between ideation, design, and presentation.

• Articulate Your Rationale: Be prepared to explain your design choices and how they address the challenge's requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is the most critical element for this role. Candidates should ensure it directly addresses the requirements outlined in the job description, particularly demonstrating proficiency in the specified tools and game UI design principles. The technical interview will likely be heavily focused on practical application and problem-solving.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential for asset creation, image manipulation, and graphic design. Photoshop and Illustrator are likely to be heavily utilized.

• Figma: A key tool for UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaborative design workflows. Proficiency here is explicitly required.

• Unreal Engine: The primary game engine for RuneScape: Dragonwilds. Understanding how to implement UI within Unreal Engine, including UMG (Unreal Motion Graphics), is crucial.

Analytics & Reporting: While not directly operated by the UI Artist, understanding that UI performance might be tracked via analytics tools within the game environment (e.g., heatmaps for button clicks, conversion rates for menu interactions) is beneficial for informed design.

CRM & Automation: Not directly applicable to the UI Artist role's daily tasks.

Version Control:

• Perforce: A common version control system in game development. Familiarity is listed as a plus, indicating its potential use within the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Figma is non-negotiable. Experience with Unreal Engine's UI system (UMG) is a significant advantage and likely a focus during the technical interview. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with these tools in a game development context.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values: Jagex emphasizes four core values:

• We Embrace Fellowship: Collaboration, open sharing, and teamwork are paramount. This means actively participating in discussions, sharing work, and supporting team members.

• We Hone our Craft: Continuous learning, skill improvement, and dedication to quality are essential. This translates to staying updated on UI/UX trends, refining artistic techniques, and seeking opportunities for growth.

• We Honour our Vows: Honesty, transparency, and integrity in all dealings, both internally and with the player community. This means clear communication about design decisions and potential limitations.

• We are our Customers’ Heroes: A deep understanding of player needs and a commitment to creating excellent experiences for them. This requires empathy and a player-centric approach to design.

• We Seize The Day: Proactivity, seizing opportunities for innovation and improvement, and making the most of every project phase. This means taking initiative and driving progress.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional integration: The UI Artist will be deeply integrated with UX designers, game designers, and engineers, requiring strong communication and a collaborative spirit.

• Iterative feedback loops: Expect regular design reviews and opportunities to provide and receive constructive feedback from peers and stakeholders.

• Knowledge sharing: The team likely fosters an environment where best practices, new techniques, and learnings are shared openly to elevate the collective skill of the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values are strongly oriented towards community, craftsmanship, and integrity. Candidates should demonstrate how their work ethic and collaborative approach align with these principles. For a UI Artist, "Embrace Fellowship" and "Be our Customers' Heroes" are particularly relevant, emphasizing teamwork and a player-first mindset.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Aesthetics and Usability: A core challenge in UI design is creating interfaces that are both visually appealing and highly functional, especially within the complex systems of an MMORPG.

• Technical Constraints: Working within the limitations of a game engine (Unreal Engine) and optimizing assets for performance can present technical hurdles that require creative solutions.

• Evolving Player Expectations: RuneScape has a long-standing player base with established expectations. Adapting UI to meet these while also introducing modern design paradigms for Dragonwilds will be