UI Design Associate

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UI Design Associate

Company: Kyndryl

Location: Frisco, Texas, United States

Job Type: Full time

Category: UI/UX Design & Product Development

Date Posted: 2026-09-08T00:00:00

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: Remote Solely

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and develop intuitive, visually cohesive user interfaces for digital products that enhance user experience across various platforms.

• Translate complex product requirements and user needs into clear, production-ready interface designs, focusing on both skeleton and surface-level interactions.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including product managers, engineers, and other designers, to ensure seamless execution from concept to implementation.

• Apply and contribute to established design systems and component libraries to maintain consistency and efficiency in product development.

• Champion accessibility and inclusive design principles throughout the user interface design process.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is explicitly stated as "Remote Solely," indicating a fully remote work arrangement within the United States. The experience level is inferred to be 2-5 years based on the "Associate" title and the typical progression within UI design roles. The job description focuses heavily on the visual and interactive aspects of UI design, emphasizing user flow and screen transitions.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design user interfaces for web and digital applications, focusing on visual hierarchy, layout, typography, color, and interaction design principles.

• Create both low-fidelity (skeleton) and high-fidelity (surface) designs to effectively communicate user flows and interface elements.

• Develop and maintain production-ready interface designs that accurately translate product intent and user requirements.

• Actively contribute to and leverage existing design systems and component libraries to ensure design consistency and scalability.

• Collaborate with front-end engineers to ensure accurate implementation of designs and to provide necessary design specifications.

• Integrate accessibility and inclusive design standards into all UI design outputs, ensuring products are usable by a diverse range of users.

• Participate in usability testing sessions and incorporate user feedback to iterate and improve interface designs.

• Work closely with product managers and stakeholders to understand requirements and align design solutions with business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary responsibilities are derived from the "Your role" and "Required skills and experience" sections, focusing on the actionable tasks expected of a UI Designer. Emphasis is placed on translating requirements into production-ready designs and collaborating with engineering teams, which are critical for a successful UI/UX role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While specific educational requirements are not detailed, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for roles of this nature. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: 2-5 years of professional experience in designing user interfaces for web or digital applications.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience designing user interfaces for web or digital applications.

• Strong understanding of visual hierarchy, layout principles, typography, color theory, and interaction design.

• Ability to design at both the skeleton (structural) and surface (visual and interactive) levels of the user experience.

• Proficiency with industry-standard design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision).

• Experience applying and contributing to design systems and component libraries.

• Ability to translate technical and business requirements into clear, production-ready interface designs.

• Demonstrated experience collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams in a product or delivery environment. Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for accessibility (WCAG) and inclusive design standards.

• Familiarity with conducting usability testing and incorporating findings into design iterations.

• Experience working closely with front-end engineers during the implementation phase.

• Exposure to designing for enterprise-level or complex digital products.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required and preferred skills are directly extracted from the "Required skills and experience" and "Preferred skills and experience" sections of the job description. The "Associate" title and typical industry standards suggest an experience level of 2-5 years. Educational requirements are inferred based on industry norms for UI design roles.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio showcasing a range of UI design projects for web and digital applications.

• Demonstrations of your ability to design at both skeleton and surface levels, illustrating user flows and interaction details.

• Examples of your contribution to or application of design systems and component libraries, highlighting consistency and scalability.

• Case studies that detail your design process, problem-solving approach, and the impact of your UI designs on user experience and business goals.

• Evidence of your understanding and application of visual hierarchy, typography, color theory, and interaction design principles. Process Documentation:

• Case studies should clearly outline the problem statement, your role, the design process undertaken, and the final solution.

• Documentation of how you leveraged design systems or contributed to their development, including examples of reusable components.

• Visualizations of user flows, wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes that articulate the user journey.

• Evidence of consideration for accessibility standards and inclusive design principles within your project work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Portfolio requirements are inferred based on the "Required skills and experience" and the general expectations for a UI Design Associate role. The focus is on showcasing practical application of design principles, system thinking, and collaborative processes, which are crucial for demonstrating competence in this field.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $63,360 to $114,120 annually.

• Note on Geographic Adjustments: Specific compensation ranges are provided for various U.S. locations, including California (San Francisco Bay Area: $76,080 - $137,040; All Other: $69,720 - $125,640), Colorado ($63,360 - $114,120), Massachusetts ($63,360 - $125,640), New York City ($76,080 - $137,040), Washington ($69,720 - $125,640), and Washington DC ($69,720 - $125,640). The base range of $63,360 to $114,120 applies to the Dallas Frisco, Texas location.

• Minimum Wage Compliance: Compensation will not be below any applicable state, city, or local minimum wage requirement.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical and dental coverage.

• Disability insurance.

• Retirement benefits.

• Paid leave.

• Paid time off.

• Kyndryl's discretionary annual bonus program (performance-based).

• Access to extensive employee learning programs, including certifications from Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Skillsoft, and more.

• Opportunities to participate in company-wide volunteering and giving initiatives.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week (full-time schedule).

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range, geographic adjustments, and benefits are directly extracted from the provided text. The working hours are inferred from the "full-time schedule" mention and the standard 40-hour work week for such positions. The detailed salary breakdown by region is significant for candidates in different locations.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Information Technology & Services, IT Services and Consulting. Kyndryl focuses on designing, building, managing, and modernizing mission-critical technology systems for global clients.

Company Size: Kyndryl is a large enterprise, with its IT services business having spun off from IBM. This suggests a structured environment with established processes and a global presence.

Founded: Kyndryl was established in 2020 as an independent public company, having previously been part of IBM. This indicates a relatively new company identity but with deep-rooted expertise and history in IT infrastructure and services.

Team Structure:

• The UI Design Associate will likely be part of a broader Product Design or Digital Experience team, potentially within a larger IT services or solutions division.

• The team structure will involve collaboration with product managers, UX researchers, front-end developers, and potentially other UI designers.

• Reporting lines may lead to a Design Lead, UX Manager, or Product Development Director, depending on the specific team's organization. Methodology:

• Kyndryl emphasizes a forward-thinking approach, focusing on innovation, modernization, and building value for clients.

• Design processes are expected to be collaborative, data-informed (especially with user feedback and testing), and aligned with agile development methodologies.

• The company promotes a culture of continuous learning and skill development, encouraging employees to stay current with industry trends and technologies.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Company context is derived from the provided "Who We Are" section and general knowledge about Kyndryl as a spin-off from IBM. The emphasis on "mission-critical technology systems" and "modernize" suggests a focus on robust, scalable, and innovative solutions. The mention of "design systems" and "cross-functional teams" points to a structured, collaborative approach to product development.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as an "Associate" level, typically indicating an entry to mid-level position for individuals with 2-5 years of experience. It is a foundational role for developing expertise in UI design within a large enterprise context.

Reporting Structure: The UI Design Associate will likely report to a Design Lead, Senior Designer, or a Manager overseeing UX/UI functions. They will collaborate closely with product managers and front-end engineers on specific projects.

Operations Impact: While this role is focused on UI Design, its impact on "operations" is through the creation of user-friendly interfaces that streamline user interactions with Kyndryl's digital products and services. Efficient and intuitive interfaces reduce user friction, improve adoption rates, and contribute to overall customer satisfaction and operational efficiency for clients using Kyndryl's technology solutions.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Deepen expertise in UI design principles, interaction design, accessibility, and design systems. Opportunity to learn and master advanced features of industry-standard design tools.

• Specialization: Potential to specialize in areas like interaction design, visual design, or accessibility design within the broader UI/UX field.

• Leadership Potential: Progress to Senior UI Designer roles, potentially leading design initiatives for specific product areas or features, and mentoring junior designers.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain experience working on complex, enterprise-level digital products and with diverse client needs, broadening understanding of IT service delivery.

• Learning Programs: Leverage Kyndryl's extensive learning resources for certifications and continuous professional development in design and technology.

📝 Enhancement Note: Career and growth analysis is based on the "Associate" job title, the company's focus on modernization and technology systems, and the inherent growth paths within UI/UX design. The "Operations Impact" section specifically connects UI design to operational efficiency through user experience.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This role is designated as "Remote Solely," meaning the work environment is entirely virtual. While there may be an associated physical office location for Kyndryl (e.g., Dallas Frisco AI HUB), the employee is not expected to work from it regularly.

Office Location(s): The primary listed location is USDALFRI - Dallas Frisco AI HUB (FRI) in Dallas Frisco, Texas, United States. However, as a remote position, the employee can work from any approved location within the United States.

Workspace Context:

• The virtual workspace will require a dedicated home office setup conducive to focused design work and virtual collaboration.

• Access to necessary design software, reliable internet connectivity, and communication tools will be essential.

• The environment fosters collaboration through digital platforms, encouraging active participation in virtual meetings, design critiques, and team discussions.

• Opportunities for interaction with a global team of professionals, providing exposure to diverse perspectives and working styles.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is full-time, approximately 40 hours per week. While remote, adherence to core working hours for team collaboration and availability during business hours for the U.S. market is expected. Flexibility may be available, subject to team needs and project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Remote Solely" status is the primary driver for this section. The Dallas Frisco location is noted as the official site, but the remote nature defines the actual work environment. The context emphasizes the need for self-discipline, effective virtual communication, and a suitable home office setup.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and alignment with the role's requirements.

• Technical Interview(s): Likely to involve discussions about your design process, experience with specific design tools, and understanding of UI principles. You may be asked to walk through specific projects from your portfolio.

• Design Challenge/Case Study: A practical exercise to evaluate your problem-solving skills, design thinking, and ability to create UI solutions under specific constraints. This could be a take-home assignment or a live design session.

• Cross-functional Collaboration Assessment: Interviews with product managers and/or engineers to gauge your ability to collaborate effectively, communicate design decisions, and integrate feedback.

• Behavioral/Cultural Fit Interview: To assess your alignment with Kyndryl's values, your approach to teamwork, and your potential contributions to the company culture.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Showcase 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects that demonstrate your UI design skills, problem-solving abilities, and impact.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, your design process, the challenges you faced, and the outcomes achieved. Use visuals effectively to support your narrative.

• Highlight Process: Detail your thought process, including user research (if applicable), wireframing, prototyping, and iteration based on feedback.

• System Thinking: If you have experience with design systems, showcase how you've applied or contributed to them, emphasizing consistency and scalability.

• Accessibility Focus: If possible, include a project where accessibility was a key consideration and demonstrate how you addressed it.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics or qualitative feedback to demonstrate the positive impact of your design solutions.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: Carefully read and understand the requirements of any design challenge. Ask clarifying questions if needed.

• Time Management: Allocate your time wisely, focusing on key aspects of the challenge. Prioritize delivering a well-reasoned solution over exhaustive polish if time is limited.

• Communicate Your Rationale: Be prepared to explain your design decisions and the trade-offs you made. Focus on the "why" behind your choices.

• Practice Presentation: Rehearse presenting your work concisely and clearly, anticipating potential questions from the interviewers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process and portfolio review tips are standard for UI/UX roles and are tailored to the "Associate" level, emphasizing the need to demonstrate foundational skills, process understanding, and collaborative potential. The "design challenge" is a common component for assessing practical design abilities.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Proficiency in industry-standard tools is essential. This likely includes:

  • Figma
  • Sketch
  • Adobe XD
  • InVision or similar for prototyping and collaboration.

• Design Systems: Experience with creating, maintaining, or contributing to design systems and component libraries. This involves understanding how to build and manage reusable UI elements and patterns.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly a primary focus for UI design, familiarity with analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) can be beneficial for understanding user behavior and informing design decisions.

• Understanding how to interpret user feedback and usability testing results is crucial for design iteration. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to the core UI design tasks, but an awareness of how UI designs integrate into larger product ecosystems and workflows within CRM or automation platforms may be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tools and technology stack are inferred from the "Proficiency with industry standard design and prototyping tools" and "Experience applying and contributing to design systems" requirements. Emphasis is placed on the core design software and the concept of design systems, which are critical for consistency in enterprise environments.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A strong emphasis on understanding and designing for user needs, ensuring intuitive and effective experiences.

• Collaboration: Working effectively with cross-functional teams, valuing diverse perspectives, and contributing to a shared goal.

• Innovation & Modernization: A commitment to staying current with design trends and technologies, and applying them to create modern, efficient digital solutions.

• Quality & Consistency: Upholding high standards for design quality and ensuring visual and interactive consistency across all digital touchpoints through design systems.

• Inclusivity & Accessibility: A dedication to designing products that are usable and accessible to everyone, regardless of ability or background.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The role requires close collaboration with product managers, engineers, and potentially researchers to translate requirements into functional designs and ensure smooth implementation.

• Feedback-Driven: An open approach to receiving and providing constructive feedback during design reviews and team discussions to iteratively improve designs.

• Knowledge Sharing: A culture of sharing best practices, design patterns, and insights within the design team and with other departments to foster collective growth and efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: Team culture and values are inferred from Kyndryl's stated mission ("design, build, manage and modernize"), the emphasis on user experience and collaboration in the job description, and general corporate values related to innovation and inclusivity.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business Requirements: Effectively translating diverse stakeholder needs and technical constraints into user-friendly designs that meet business objectives.

• Maintaining Consistency Across Complex Systems: Ensuring a cohesive user experience across a portfolio of potentially large and complex digital products, leveraging design systems.

• Adapting to Evolving Technologies and Trends: Keeping pace with rapid changes in UI/UX design tools, methodologies, and user expectations.

• Remote Collaboration Effectiveness: Ensuring clear communication and strong collaboration with team members who may be geographically dispersed.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Skills: Opportunities to deepen expertise in interaction design, animation, microinteractions, and advanced prototyping techniques.

• Design System Mastery: Becoming proficient in contributing to and governing large-scale design systems, understanding their strategic importance.

• Accessibility Expertise: Developing specialized knowledge in accessibility standards and best practices, becoming a go-to resource for inclusive design.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Gaining exposure to product management, engineering workflows, and client-facing aspects of IT services.

• Industry Certifications: Utilizing Kyndryl's learning programs to obtain certifications in design tools, methodologies, or related technology areas.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges and growth opportunities are derived from the nature of enterprise-level UI design, the "Associate" role, and the company's focus on modernization and technology. The emphasis is on skill development, handling complexity, and leveraging organizational resources for growth.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for translating a complex product requirement into a user interface design. Walk me through a specific example from your portfolio." (Focus on structured thinking, problem-solving, and iterative design.)

• "How do you ensure consistency and scalability in your UI designs, especially when working with design systems?" (Highlight your understanding of design systems and component-based design.)

• "Tell me about a time you had to collaborate with engineers or product managers who had different priorities. How did you navigate that to achieve a successful design outcome?" (Demonstrate your communication, negotiation, and collaborative skills.)

• "How do you approach designing for accessibility and inclusive user experiences?" (Showcase your knowledge of accessibility standards and your commitment to inclusive design.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Kyndryl and its role in the IT services industry? How do you see UI design contributing to Kyndryl's mission?" (Research Kyndryl's services, clients, and strategic goals.)

• "How do you stay updated on the latest UI design trends and technologies?" (Demonstrate your passion for continuous learning and industry awareness.)

• "Describe your ideal team environment and how you contribute to a positive and productive team dynamic." (Align your response with Kyndryl's stated values of collaboration and inclusivity.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Start with the "Why": Clearly articulate the problem or user need your project addresses.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (wireframes, mockups, prototypes) extensively to illustrate your design solutions.

• Explain Your Process: Detail your steps, decisions, and rationale, including any research, ideation, and iteration.

• Quantify Impact: If possible, present metrics or user feedback that demonstrate the success of your designs.

• Be Concise: Aim for clarity and brevity, focusing on the most impactful aspects of each project.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation focuses on common UI/UX interview themes: design process, collaboration, problem-solving, and portfolio presentation. Questions are framed to elicit responses that align with the job requirements and Kyndryl's company context.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UI Design Associate position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Kyndryl careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating your UI design skills for web and digital applications, focusing on visual hierarchy, interaction design, and system component application.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your experience in UI design, proficiency with relevant tools, and your ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams, using keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, showcasing specific project examples, and preparing to discuss how you would contribute to Kyndryl's user-centric approach.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Kyndryl's services, clients, and mission to effectively discuss how your UI design skills can support their business objectives and contribute to their modernization efforts.

⚠️ 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.