UI Designer - Unpublished R&D Product (Contract)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UI Designer - Unpublished R&D Product (Contract)

Company: Riot Games

Location: Guangzhou, China

Job Type: Contract

Category: Design Operations / Product Design

Date Posted: May 19, 2026

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

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the core user experience, interaction flows, and interface design for an innovative, unpublished R&D game product.

• Lead the conceptualization, design, and iteration of interactive prototypes to ensure fluid player operations and expanded gameplay possibilities.

• Systematically analyze and refine the player experience based on product objectives and user needs, translating innovative solutions into tangible features.

• Foster close collaboration with cross-functional teams including game design, art, and programming to ensure efficient implementation of interaction designs that align with the product's core experience.

• Leverage data analysis and user feedback to continuously optimize interaction solutions and enhance key experience metrics.

• Stay abreast of industry trends and competitor activities to identify and integrate novel interaction design elements, driving experiential breakthroughs.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the original job title is "UI Designer," the responsibilities heavily emphasize interaction design, user experience (UX), and product development within an R&D context. This suggests a hybrid role where UI design is a component of a broader UX/Product Design function, particularly within the gaming industry where these domains are closely intertwined. The role requires a strategic approach to design, focusing on player journey optimization and system thinking, which aligns with advanced operations principles in product development.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end interaction design process for core product features, from concept to implementation, ensuring a seamless and engaging player experience.

• Develop detailed wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes using industry-standard tools to visualize and test design concepts.

• Conduct user research, usability testing, and A/B testing to gather insights and validate design decisions, translating findings into actionable design improvements.

• Define and maintain design documentation, including user stories, design specifications, and interaction guidelines, to ensure clarity and consistency across development teams.

• Collaborate with game designers and narrative teams to ensure the interaction design effectively supports and enhances the game's story and mechanics.

• Work closely with UI artists to ensure the visual aesthetic and interactive elements are cohesive and contribute to the overall player experience.

• Partner with engineering teams to understand technical constraints and opportunities, ensuring designs are feasible and optimized for performance.

• Contribute to the development of design systems and component libraries to promote consistency and efficiency in future design efforts.

• Actively participate in design critiques and reviews, providing constructive feedback to peers and incorporating feedback to elevate design quality.

• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to user engagement, retention, and satisfaction, using data to inform design iterations and strategic adjustments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities listed go beyond basic UI design, encompassing core user experience strategy, interaction flow optimization, and data-driven iteration, which are critical in product development operations. The emphasis on system thinking and cross-functional collaboration highlights the operational aspects of bringing a complex R&D product to life.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree or higher in Interaction Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Graphic Design, Computer Science, or a related field.

Experience: Minimum of 2 years of professional experience in interaction design, UX design, or a similar role, with a strong preference for candidates with experience in gaming, digital entertainment, or complex system products.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in industry-standard design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, Axure RP).

• Strong understanding of user-centered design principles and methodologies.

• Proven ability to create detailed wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes.

• Solid grasp of user experience (UX) best practices and their application in product development.

• Experience with data analysis and user feedback mechanisms to inform design decisions and drive iteration.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale clearly and persuasively.

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams (e.g., game design, art, engineering, product management).

• Strong system thinking capabilities, with the ability to understand and optimize complex user journeys and product architectures.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working on Unreal Engine 5 (UE5) projects or with related development tools.

• Prior experience in multiplayer online games, MOBA, sandbox, or large-scale system interaction architecture.

• Familiarity with the League of Legends IP and experience with international or multicultural projects.

• Ability to read and write design documentation in English.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "preferred skills" section indicates a strategic need for candidates who can potentially bridge design and technical implementation, especially with UE5. English proficiency is also a key differentiator for a global R&D product, aligning with Riot Games' international scope.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 2-3 comprehensive case studies demonstrating your end-to-end interaction and UI design process for complex products.

• Each case study should clearly articulate the problem statement, your role, the design process employed, key design decisions, and the implemented solution.

• Highlight your ability to conduct user research, create wireframes and prototypes, and iterate based on feedback and data.

• Include visual examples of user flows, wireframes, high-fidelity mockups, and any interactive prototypes.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate experience in creating and maintaining design documentation, including user personas, journey maps, wireframes, and detailed interaction specifications.

• Show examples of how you have translated complex requirements into clear, actionable design documents for development teams.

• Evidence of defining and contributing to design systems or style guides to ensure consistency and scalability.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role in R&D with a focus on interaction design and product development, a portfolio is crucial. It serves as a tangible representation of a candidate's ability to execute design processes, manage complexity, and deliver measurable results, akin to project management documentation in operations.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: While specific salary information is not provided, for a contract UI/Interaction Designer role with 2-5 years of experience in Guangzhou, China, the estimated annual salary range would typically fall between ¥150,000 - ¥280,000 CNY. This range is based on industry benchmarks for contract design roles in major Chinese tech hubs, considering the specialized nature of game development and R&D projects, and the typical contractor engagement model.

Benefits:

• Contract position through FESCO Adecco, a professional HR service company.

• Potential for exposure to cutting-edge R&D projects within the gaming industry.

• Opportunity to contribute to a global product from its early stages.

• Professional development and learning opportunities through project challenges and team collaboration.

• Competitive contract compensation package.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours, typically 40 hours per week, with potential for flexible scheduling as common in the tech and gaming industry, especially for contract roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on general market data for contract design roles in Guangzhou, China, for mid-level professionals. Actual compensation will depend on the specific terms negotiated with FESCO Adecco and Riot Games, including experience, skill set, and project scope. The contract nature implies specific benefits structures often managed by the contracting agency.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Video Game Development & Publishing. Riot Games is a global leader known for its player-focused approach, high-quality game development, and extensive esports ecosystem, particularly with League of Legends.

Company Size: Riot Games is a large global company with over 5,000 employees worldwide. This R&D project team in Guangzhou is likely a focused, specialized unit within the larger organization.

Founded: Riot Games was founded in 2006. Its history is marked by a commitment to long-term player engagement and continuous innovation.

Team Structure:

• This role is part of an R&D product team, implying a dynamic, agile, and potentially smaller, more specialized unit focused on innovation.

• The team likely comprises game designers, UI/UX designers, artists, programmers, and project managers working collaboratively.

Methodology:

• Player-centric design and iterative development are core to Riot's methodology.

• Emphasis on data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement.

• Cross-functional collaboration is encouraged to ensure holistic product development.

• Focus on polish and high-quality execution in all aspects of product development.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Riot Games is renowned for its strong company culture centered around player experience, craftsmanship, and meritocracy. This R&D context suggests an environment that values experimentation and pushing creative boundaries, which requires a specific mindset for operations professionals in design and product development.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Mid-Level Contract role. It offers significant opportunities to gain experience in a specialized R&D product environment within a leading gaming company. The focus on interaction design and UX within game development is a niche area with high demand.

Reporting Structure: The role reports to a Design Lead or Product Manager within the R&D team. Collaboration will extend across multiple disciplines (art, engineering, game design), providing exposure to various aspects of game development operations.

Operations Impact: As a UI/Interaction Designer, your impact will be directly felt in the player's engagement with the product. Optimizing user flows, interface clarity, and overall usability is critical for player retention and satisfaction, directly influencing the product's success metrics.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in game-specific UX/UI design, especially within R&D environments, and potentially learn advanced prototyping or user research techniques.

• Industry Exposure: Gain invaluable experience with Riot Games' proprietary tools and development processes, and contribute to an unpublished product, offering unique insights.

• Cross-Functional Development: Enhance collaboration skills by working closely with diverse teams, understanding their operational workflows and challenges.

• Portfolio Enhancement: Build a strong portfolio with a high-profile R&D project, showcasing significant contributions to product innovation and user experience.

• Potential for Future Roles: Successful contractors often have opportunities for extension or consideration for full-time roles within Riot Games or its partners, depending on business needs and performance.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a contract role, growth is often measured by skill acquisition and portfolio enhancement. This role offers a distinct opportunity to work on an R&D product, which is a different operational paradigm than live-service games, potentially offering unique learning experiences.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This role is on-site in Guangzhou, China. Riot Games typically fosters a collaborative and creative office environment, designed to encourage teamwork and innovation.

Office Location(s): Guangzhou, China. This location likely offers access to a vibrant tech and gaming community.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Atmosphere: Expect an environment that encourages open communication, brainstorming sessions, and regular design reviews.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software and potentially Riot's internal tools and pipelines for R&D projects.

• Team Interaction: Frequent interaction with cross-functional teams, fostering a dynamic and integrated work process. The R&D nature may mean more experimental and agile workflows.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is expected to be approximately 40 hours per week. While on-site, there may be flexibility in daily hours, common in creative industries, but adherence to project deadlines and team collaboration needs will be paramount.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in Guangzhou suggests a need for candidates comfortable working within a structured team environment, leveraging in-person collaboration for rapid iteration and problem-solving, which is typical for R&D projects.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and experience.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: Candidates will likely present their portfolio, detailing their design process, problem-solving approach, and impact on previous projects. Expect in-depth questions about your rationale and decision-making.

• Skills Assessment: May involve a design challenge or a practical test to evaluate your interaction design skills, system thinking, and ability to work within project constraints.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with team members from game design, art, and engineering to assess collaboration skills and cultural fit.

• Final Interview: Typically with the hiring manager or lead to discuss role fit, career aspirations, and confirm suitability.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Process: Clearly articulate your design process for each case study. Show how you arrived at your solutions, not just the final output.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs. If direct metrics aren't available, explain the potential impact based on user needs and design principles.

• Highlight R&D/Game Relevance: If you have game design or R&D experience, emphasize it. If not, draw parallels from other complex system designs and player-centric experiences.

• Showcase Problem-Solving: Present challenges you faced and how you creatively overcame them through design.

• Tailor to Riot: Research Riot Games' products and player community. Show that you understand their ethos and how your design approach aligns with it.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Game UX: Familiarize yourself with common interaction patterns and UX challenges in modern video games, especially MOBAs or similar genres if applicable.

• System Thinking Exercises: Practice breaking down complex systems into user flows and identifying potential pain points or areas for improvement.

• Rapid Prototyping: Be prepared to quickly mock up ideas or flows, even with basic tools, to communicate concepts effectively.

• Articulate Trade-offs: Be ready to discuss design decisions and the trade-offs made for technical feasibility, player experience, or business goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a design role at a gaming company like Riot Games will heavily scrutinize the portfolio and problem-solving abilities. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate not just design skills but also an understanding of the gaming industry and player psychology.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, Axure RP, or similar industry-standard tools for wireframing, UI design, and interactive prototyping.

• User Research & Analytics: Tools for usability testing, user feedback collection, and data analysis (e.g., UserTesting.com, Amplitude, Mixpanel, internal analytics platforms).

• Documentation: Confluence, Jira, or similar project management and documentation tools for creating design specifications and tracking progress.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Proficiency in interpreting user behavior data and performance metrics to inform design iterations.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how user data is managed and utilized to inform product features is beneficial.

Development-Specific Tools (Preferred):

• Game Engine Experience: Familiarity with Unreal Engine 5 (UE5) is a significant plus, indicating potential for deeper integration with the development pipeline.

• Version Control: Basic understanding of how design assets are managed within development pipelines (e.g., Git for assets, Perforce).

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in design and prototyping tools is essential. The mention of UE5 suggests that candidates with some familiarity with game development environments will have a distinct advantage, indicating the company's desire for designers who can understand and potentially work within these technical frameworks.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Player Focus: All design decisions are ultimately made to enhance the player experience and ensure satisfaction.

• Craftsmanship & Quality: A commitment to high standards in design, polish, and execution.

• Innovation & Experimentation: Encouragement to explore new ideas and push creative boundaries in an R&D setting.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication and shared ownership across teams.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Using insights from data and user feedback to guide design strategy.

• Continuous Improvement: A mindset of always looking for ways to refine and optimize.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Close partnerships with game design, art, engineering, and product management teams.

• Iterative Design: Working in agile sprints, with frequent feedback loops and design reviews.

• Open Dialogue: A culture that encourages constructive criticism and diverse perspectives.

• Shared Ownership: Teams work together towards common goals, with designers playing a key role in translating vision into reality.

📝 Enhancement Note: Riot Games' culture is strongly aligned with the principles of operational excellence in product development: a player-centric approach, high standards of craft, and data-informed iteration. This suggests an environment where designers are empowered but also held to high standards of collaboration and execution.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• R&D Environment: Working on an unpublished product means dealing with ambiguity, evolving requirements, and the inherent risks of innovation.

• Balancing Innovation and Usability: Finding the sweet spot between groundbreaking new mechanics/experiences and ensuring they are intuitive and accessible to players.

• Cross-Disciplinary Communication: Effectively translating design intent to art, engineering, and game design teams, ensuring alignment and efficient implementation.

• Data Interpretation: Translating raw user data and feedback into actionable design insights, especially in early-stage product development where metrics might be nascent.

• Global Audience Considerations: Designing for a potentially international player base, requiring sensitivity to cultural nuances and varying user expectations.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Game UX: Gaining deep expertise in designing for complex game systems and player psychology.

• R&D Methodologies: Exposure to agile and experimental development processes unique to R&D projects.

• Industry Tools & Pipelines: Learning to work with Riot's specific development tools and workflows.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to learn from experienced designers and product leads within Riot Games.

• Portfolio Building: A chance to contribute to a significant, potentially groundbreaking product, enhancing your professional profile.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical of R&D environments and high-stakes product development, requiring strong problem-solving skills and adaptability. The growth opportunities are geared towards specialized skill development within the gaming industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex user flow you designed for a product and the challenges you encountered. How did you approach solving them, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on problem-solving, process, and impact.)

• "How do you ensure your designs are user-centric, especially when working on an R&D project with limited initial user data?" (Focus on research methods, empathy, and proactive design.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working on an unpublished R&D product at Riot Games?" (Research Riot's player-first philosophy, its R&D efforts, and connect it to your career goals.)

• "How do you stay updated on the latest trends in UI/UX design and the gaming industry?" (Show passion for continuous learning and industry awareness.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Frame each case study as a narrative – the problem, your journey, the solution, and the impact.

• Visual Clarity: Ensure your presentation is visually clean and easy to follow. Use high-quality visuals of your work.

• Interactive Elements: If possible, demonstrate interactive prototypes live or via video to showcase the user experience.

• Quantify Results: Be ready to discuss metrics and the measurable impact of your designs. If exact numbers are unavailable, discuss the intended impact and how you would measure it.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Practice your presentation to be thorough yet efficient.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation for this role should heavily focus on demonstrating not only design proficiency but also strategic thinking, problem-solving capabilities, and an understanding of the operational aspects of product development within the gaming industry.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UI Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Riot Games careers portal, ensuring your resume and portfolio are uploaded.

• Customize Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest case studies that best showcase your interaction design, UX process, and problem-solving skills relevant to game development or complex systems. Ensure each case study clearly outlines the challenge, your process, your contribution, and the outcome.

• Optimize Your Resume: Highlight your experience with UI/UX design, prototyping tools, user research, data-driven optimization, and cross-functional collaboration. Tailor keywords to match the job description, especially terms like "interaction design," "user experience," "prototyping," and "system thinking."

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio with a focus on storytelling and quantifiable results. Be ready to explain your design rationale and decision-making process clearly and concisely.

• Research Riot Games: Understand their player-centric philosophy, their key games (especially League of Legends), and their reputation for quality. Prepare to articulate why you are a good fit for their culture and this specific R&D project.

⚠️ 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 or FESCO Adecco before making application decisions.