UX Designer I

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Designer I

Company: Elsevier

Location: Aalborg, Denmark / London, United Kingdom

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Design

Date Posted: 2026-05-20

Experience Level: Entry-Level (1-3 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Support the design of intuitive digital experiences for Elsevier's Pure Research Information Management System and other product offerings.

• Collaborate with a team of UX designers, developers, and product managers to create a unified and enhanced user experience across a large product portfolio.

• Assist in developing user-centered design solutions and implementing pre-existing design patterns and style guides.

• Utilize data analytics and user research to inform design decisions and iterate on designs based on testing and feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as an entry-level UX Designer I, indicating a focus on supporting more senior designers and working within established frameworks. The emphasis on "research-driven team" and "Research Information Management System" suggests a B2B or academic/research-focused product environment, requiring a deep understanding of user needs within those specific domains.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Under the guidance of senior designers, contribute to the iteration of user experience concepts and components for the product, utilizing wireframes, prototypes, and process flow diagrams.

• Collaborate with UX Researchers to understand user needs and translate them into actionable design requirements.

• Assist in the development of concepts for customer-facing products and applications, ensuring alignment with user needs and business objectives.

• Work closely with visual designers and web developers to ensure the seamless implementation of UX designs, maintaining visual consistency and functional integrity.

• Implement basic User-Centered Design (UCD) solutions and processes, adhering to established methodologies.

• Utilize existing design patterns and style guides while occasionally introducing and advocating for new, well-justified patterns.

• Clearly articulate design rationale, concepts, and user-centric decision-making to cross-functional teams and stakeholders.

• Proactively use data from analytics packages, customer insights, and other sources to establish key metrics for projects and understand research context.

• Partner with the UX Research team to regularly test design work with users, iterating on research methods based on testing outcomes and data analysis.

• Stay informed about market trends, competitor activities, and emerging technologies (e.g., AI) relevant to the product domain.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on collaboration, iterative design, and data-driven decision-making, which are critical for effective UX design in a product development environment. The mention of "Jobs To Be Done, personas, journey maps" indicates a structured approach to user research and understanding.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Design, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected for UX roles, though practical experience and a strong portfolio can often substitute for formal education.

Experience: 1-3 years of professional experience in User Experience (UX) Design, with a focus on digital products and user-centered design principles.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in User Experience (UX) Design principles and methodologies.

• Experience with creating wireframes, prototypes, and process flow diagrams.

• Familiarity with customer frameworks such as Jobs To Be Done, personas, and journey maps.

• Ability to conduct and interpret user research and data analysis to inform design decisions.

• Strong problem-solving skills with a creative approach to identifying and developing solutions.

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, for articulating design rationale and collaborating with cross-functional teams.

• Experience working with visual designers and web developers to ensure design implementation.

• Understanding of UI design principles and their impact on overall user experience.

• Familiarity with design software such as Axure, Sketch, or InVision at an intermediate level.

Preferred Skills:

• Knowledge of accessibility standards and best practices in design.

• Experience with emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and their application in UX.

• Understanding of the tech stack relevant to the product or organization.

• Proactive identification of needs for training in technical and design skills.

• Experience designing for different platforms (web, mobile, etc.).

• Ability to propose new design patterns and contribute to future product vision.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "intermediate level" proficiency in design software, coupled with the 1-3 years of experience, suggests the role is suitable for junior to mid-level designers looking to deepen their practical application of UX principles within a structured corporate environment.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing a range of UX design projects, demonstrating a clear understanding of user-centered design principles.

• Case studies that detail your role in the design process, from initial research and ideation through to final design and iteration.

• Examples of wireframes, interactive prototypes, and user flows that illustrate problem-solving and design thinking.

• Evidence of collaboration with developers and stakeholders, highlighting how designs were translated into functional products.

Process Documentation:

• Examples of how you have utilized customer frameworks (e.g., personas, journey maps) to guide design decisions.

• Documentation of your approach to user research, including methodologies used and how insights were captured.

• Illustrations of how you collaborate with development teams, including communication methods and handoff processes.

• Evidence of your ability to work with and contribute to existing design systems or style guides.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is critical for a UX Designer role. The emphasis on "supporting role" and "pre-existing frameworks" means candidates should highlight projects where they've successfully worked within constraints and contributed to established design systems, rather than solely showcasing net-new, highly conceptual work.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a UX Designer I with 1-3 years of experience in Denmark and the United Kingdom, and considering Elsevier's standing as a global information analytics provider, the estimated annual salary range would be:

• Denmark: €45,000 - €65,000

• United Kingdom: £40,000 - £60,000

  Note: These are estimates and can vary based on specific location within the country, candidate's qualifications, and final negotiation.

Benefits:

• Flexible working hours and arrangements to promote work-life balance.

• Comprehensive coverage by the company’s pension and insurance scheme after 3 months of employment.

• Discounted Health Insurance Membership.

• Employer-paid internet services (potentially for remote work flexibility, though the role is on-site).

• Generous leave types, including vacation, sick leave, and public holidays.

• Access to Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) with dedicated time for volunteering.

• Extensive learning and development resources, including training and study assistance.

• Access to Well-Being & Employee Assistance Programs for mental and physical health support.

• RECARES days, providing 2 paid days per annum for supporting charitable causes.

• Access to employee offers and discounts for various services and products.

• Additional office location benefits specific to Aalborg and London.

• Sabbaticals are mentioned as a long-term benefit.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours, likely around 37-40 hours per week, with flexibility in scheduling to accommodate individual productivity and work-life balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary ranges are based on general market data for entry-level UX Designer roles in Denmark and the UK. A candidate applying from London might expect the higher end of the UK range due to higher cost of living. The benefits package is extensive, emphasizing employee well-being and professional development, which is common for large, established technology companies like Elsevier.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Information Analytics, Publishing, Technology, Healthcare, Science & Research. Elsevier is a global leader in providing information and analytics for professionals and institutions to advance science and health.

Company Size: Elsevier is part of RELX, a global provider of information and analytics for professionals and businesses. RELX is a large corporation, indicating a structured environment with established processes and resources. The specific UX team within Pure is approximately 6 designers, part of a larger UX community within Elsevier.

Founded: Elsevier was founded in 1880, signifying a long history and deep expertise in its core markets. This longevity suggests stability and a mature approach to product development and innovation.

Team Structure:

• The UX team consists of approximately 5-6 UX Designers, fostering a collaborative environment with weekly design critiques and methodology discussions.

• Designers work daily with developers, product managers, and various other stakeholders, indicating a cross-functional, agile development approach.

Methodology:

• Data Analysis and Insights: Proactive use of data from analytics, customer insights, and research to establish key metrics and understand research context.

• Workflow Planning and Optimization: Iterating on user experience concepts and components, implementing UCD solutions, and working within established design patterns.

• Automation and Efficiency Practices: While not explicitly detailed, the focus on improving user experience and working with developers implies an interest in efficient product delivery and potentially exploring automation in design workflows or product features.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Elsevier's position in the information and analytics sector, particularly for research and healthcare, means the UX team operates in a domain where accuracy, usability, and trust are paramount. The collaborative team structure suggests an environment where designers are integrated into product teams rather than working in isolation.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is an entry-level (UX Designer I) position, suitable for individuals with 1-3 years of experience. It focuses on supporting more senior designers and working within established frameworks, providing a solid foundation for skill development in user-centered design, prototyping, and cross-functional collaboration.

Reporting Structure: The UX Designer I will typically report to a more senior UX Designer or a UX Design Lead within the Pure team. They will also work closely with Product Managers and Development Leads on project teams.

Operations Impact: While this role is focused on UX Design, its impact is directly tied to the usability and effectiveness of Elsevier's research information management systems. By improving user experience, this role contributes to user adoption, satisfaction, and ultimately, the success of Elsevier's products in enabling scientific research and progress. The broader goal of creating a unified experience across products means the UX team's work has a significant impact on how users interact with the entire Elsevier ecosystem.

Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Progression from UX Designer I to UX Designer II or Senior UX Designer, taking on more complex projects and greater design ownership. Opportunities to specialize in areas like user research, interaction design, or visual design.

• Learning & Development: Access to extensive learning resources, study assistance, and potentially mentorship from senior designers. The role encourages identifying training needs, supporting proactive skill development. Participation in design critiques and methodology discussions within the team fosters continuous learning.

• Leadership Potential: With experience and demonstrated success, opportunities may arise to lead design initiatives, mentor junior designers, or contribute to the evolution of design standards and processes across the broader product portfolio.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role provides a clear pathway for growth within UX design. The emphasis on "Practices Self-Development" and "Initiates regular conversations with manager, coach or mentor" suggests a company culture that supports career progression and proactive professional development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as "On-site," indicating a traditional office-based work environment. This suggests opportunities for in-person collaboration, spontaneous discussions, and team building.

Office Location(s): The job posting lists both Aalborg, Denmark, and London, United Kingdom, as potential locations. Candidates should confirm the specific office for which they are applying.

• Aalborg, Denmark: Likely a modern office space within a technology or business hub.

• London, United Kingdom: A major global city, offering diverse cultural and professional opportunities, with likely well-equipped office facilities.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The team structure emphasizes daily interaction with developers, product managers, and other designers, fostering a highly collaborative workspace. Weekly design critiques are a key part of this.

• Operations Tools & Technology: While specific office tech isn't detailed, candidates can expect access to standard office equipment, high-speed internet, and potentially dedicated design software licenses.

• Team Interaction: The role encourages building relationships and seeking input from team members, suggesting an open and interactive workspace designed for effective teamwork.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours, with a strong emphasis on flexible working. This means while the core hours might be fixed, there's likely flexibility in start/end times and potentially compressed work week options, to help employees balance personal needs with professional responsibilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is "On-site," the mention of "Working flexible hours" and "flexing the times when you work in the day" indicates a modern approach to work-life integration, even within an office setting.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application Submission: Submit CV and cover letter (if applicable) via the Workday portal.

• Initial Screening: HR or a recruiter will review applications for basic qualifications and alignment with role requirements.

• Portfolio Review: Candidates will be asked to submit a portfolio showcasing their UX design work. This is a critical step for assessing design skills, problem-solving abilities, and process.

• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: An interview with the hiring manager and potentially senior team members to discuss experience, design philosophy, and problem-solving approach. This may include behavioral questions.

• Design Exercise/Challenge: Candidates may be given a design challenge or case study to complete, either as a take-home assignment or a live exercise during an interview. This assesses practical design skills and thought process.

• Cross-functional Interview: Potentially an interview with a Product Manager or Developer to assess collaboration and communication skills.

• Final Interview: A final discussion to assess cultural fit, long-term potential, and address any remaining questions.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your skills relevant to this role (user-centered design, wireframing, prototyping, data-informed iteration).

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, the design decisions you made (and why), the challenges you faced, and the outcomes achieved (quantify if possible).

• Showcase Process: Include wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and research artifacts to illustrate your design thinking and methodology.

• Highlight Collaboration: If possible, show how you collaborated with developers, researchers, or product managers, and how you handled feedback.

• Consider the Audience: Tailor your portfolio presentation to Elsevier's context – focus on B2B/research information systems where usability and efficiency are key.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a challenge, thoroughly understand the problem domain (research information, academic workflows) and the target users.

• Focus on Process: Demonstrate your systematic approach to problem-solving and design, not just the final visual output.

• Prioritize and Scope: Be realistic about what you can achieve within the given time. Focus on key user flows and core functionality.

• Articulate Rationale: Be prepared to clearly explain your design decisions and trade-offs.

• Consider Constraints: Acknowledge any limitations (e.g., time, scope, assumed tech stack) and how they influenced your design.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the "UX Designer I" title and the emphasis on working within existing frameworks, interviewers will likely be looking for a strong foundational understanding of UX principles, a willingness to learn and adapt, and excellent collaboration skills, rather than extensive experience leading complex design initiatives independently.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design Software: Intermediate proficiency expected in industry-standard tools such as:

  • Axure: For creating interactive prototypes and complex user flows.
  • Sketch: For vector-based UI design and asset creation.
  • InVision: For prototyping, collaboration, and design handoff.

• Wireframing Tools: Experience with tools like Balsamiq, Figma, Adobe XD, or similar for rapid ideation and low-fidelity mockups.

• Prototyping Tools: Proficiency in creating interactive prototypes to test user flows and gather feedback.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Analytics Packages: Familiarity with using data from analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or internal custom solutions) to understand user behavior and project metrics.

• Customer Insight Tools: Experience with tools or methods for gathering qualitative user feedback and insights.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, an understanding of how UX design integrates with product development workflows, which may involve project management tools (e.g., Jira, Asana) and version control systems (e.g., Git for design assets).

• Familiarity with design systems and style guides for maintaining consistency across products.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specified tools (Axure, Sketch, InVision) are core to UX design. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with these and similar tools, emphasizing how they leverage them to solve user problems and facilitate collaboration with developers.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of researchers, faculty, and administrators. Designs are driven by user research and data.

• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on teamwork, cross-functional communication, and shared ownership of product success. Designers work closely with developers, product managers, and researchers.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Encouragement to explore new ideas, challenge the status quo, and proactively seek opportunities for personal and product development.

• Data-Driven Approach: Utilizing data and metrics to inform decisions, measure impact, and iterate on designs for optimal performance and user satisfaction.

• Efficiency & Quality: A drive to create intuitive, efficient, and high-quality user experiences that support Elsevier's mission.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are embedded within product teams, working daily with developers and product managers, fostering tight-knit collaboration.

• Process Review Culture: Weekly design critiques and methodology discussions are integral, encouraging open feedback, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement of design practices.

• Knowledge Sharing: The team actively discusses and shares skills and maturity within UX design, promoting a learning environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values emphasize a blend of user advocacy, collaborative execution, and a commitment to data-informed product development, aligning with typical expectations for UX professionals in a large, established technology company.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Navigating the complexities of designing for diverse user groups within the research community while aligning with business objectives and technical constraints.

• Working within Established Frameworks: As a UX Designer I, a key challenge will be adapting to and effectively contributing within existing design patterns and systems, while also identifying opportunities for improvement.

• Cross-Product Consistency: Ensuring a unified and consistent user experience across a broad portfolio of Elsevier products, which may have different histories and design languages.

• Staying Ahead of Emerging Technologies: Keeping pace with advancements in AI, data analytics, and other technologies and understanding how they can be integrated to enhance the research workflow.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• UX Skill Advancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specific areas of UX, such as advanced prototyping, user research methodologies, accessibility, or interaction design.

• Industry Exposure: Potential to attend relevant conferences, workshops, or pursue certifications in UX design and related fields.

• Mentorship and Leadership: Access to mentorship from senior designers and opportunities to develop leadership skills through project contributions and team collaboration, paving the way for future leadership roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for entry-level roles in large organizations, emphasizing the learning curve and the importance of adaptability and collaboration. The growth opportunities are substantial, given Elsevier's commitment to employee development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Operations Strategy & Methodology: Be prepared to discuss your understanding of user-centered design principles, how you approach problem-solving for users, and how you use frameworks like Jobs To Be Done or personas. Explain how you would gather requirements for a new feature within an existing system.

• Collaboration & Stakeholder Management: Describe how you collaborate with developers and product managers. Provide an example of a time you had to communicate a design decision that was met with resistance, and how you handled it.

• Problem-Solving & Efficiency: Walk through a UX challenge you faced in a previous project. How did you identify the problem, what solutions did you explore, and what was the outcome? How did your design improve efficiency or usability for the user?

Company & Culture Questions:

• Company Operations Culture: Research Elsevier's mission and values, particularly their commitment to advancing science and health. Discuss how your design philosophy aligns with these goals and the company's focus on research information management.

• Team Dynamics: Explain your preferred collaboration style and how you contribute to a positive team environment. Discuss your experience with design critiques and how you give and receive feedback.

• Operations Impact Measurement: How do you measure the success of your designs? What key metrics would you track for a research information management system? Discuss how data informs your iterative design process.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structured Case Studies: Present 2-3 key projects, clearly outlining the problem, your role, the design process, your specific contributions, key design decisions, and the measurable outcomes.

• Visual Storytelling: Use wireframes, prototypes, user flows, and research artifacts to visually guide the interviewer through your design journey.

• Focus on Rationale: For every design decision, be ready to explain the "why" – linking it back to user needs, research insights, or business goals.

• Highlight Collaboration: Explicitly mention how you worked with others (developers, PMs, researchers) and how that collaboration impacted the final product.

• Be Concise and Engaging: Practice your presentation to ensure it's clear, engaging, and fits within the allotted time.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be assessing your foundational UX skills, your ability to work within a team and established processes, and your potential to grow within the company, rather than solely your experience with highly complex, independent projects.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Elsevier Jobs portal (Workday).

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your resume and portfolio are tailored to highlight your experience with wireframing, prototyping, user research, and working within design systems. Select projects that showcase your problem-solving approach for complex user workflows, particularly in B2B or information-heavy environments.

• Resume Optimization: Clearly articulate your 1-3 years of experience, mentioning specific design software proficiency (Axure, Sketch, InVision) and familiarity with UX methodologies (Jobs To Be Done, personas, journey maps). Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process and rationale. Prepare to discuss your portfolio projects in detail, focusing on collaboration and how you incorporated user feedback and data. Research Elsevier and its role in the research and health information landscape.

• Company Research: Understand Elsevier's mission to advance human progress through information. Familiarize yourself with their product portfolio, especially the Pure Research Information Management System, and consider the unique needs of researchers and academic institutions.

⚠️ 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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