UX Designer II (People App, Games)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Designer II (People App, Games)

Company: People Inc.

Location: New York, New York, United States / Seattle, Washington, United States

Job Type: Contractor

Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Game Design

Date Posted: May 06, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Design engaging, habit-forming casual game experiences for the PEOPLE brand, focusing on player engagement and retention.

• Craft intuitive and elegant user experience design solutions based on a deep understanding of user needs and business requirements.

• Partner closely with Product, Engineering, and Editorial teams to deliver simple, delightful, and habit-forming game experiences.

• Drive player engagement, retention, and long-term enjoyment through innovative game mechanics and interaction patterns.

• Champion the consumer experience while collaborating effectively with internal stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is for an Agency Worker, meaning the candidate will be employed and paid by a staffing agency, not directly by People Inc. This distinction is important for understanding benefits and employment terms. The focus on "casual games" and "daily challenges" suggests a need for designs that foster recurring engagement and habit formation, rather than complex, long-form gaming experiences.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and iterate on the overall functionality of casual games (e.g., puzzles, word games, daily challenges) to ensure a great user experience.

• Collaborate closely with UX researchers to conduct user research, validate design assumptions, and gather user feedback.

• Translate user needs and business requirements into concrete ideas, wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups.

• Develop core gameplay mechanics and interaction patterns that are scalable and reusable across multiple titles.

• Create interactive prototypes suitable for validating design decisions with users.

• Design features and systems that encourage daily engagement (e.g., streaks, progression, hints, rewards) and long-term player retention.

• Establish clear design standards and reusable templates to ensure a consistent player experience across games.

• Document design guidelines, share knowledge, and collaborate with the engineering team to ensure timely and accurate product shipping.

• Lead efforts to build accessible digital products (A11y and WCAG), fostering awareness and accountability across the product organization.

• Partner closely with editorial staff to integrate compelling storytelling into the game experiences.

• Apply creative problem-solving to the design, processes, and tooling of the system itself.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of creative game design, user-centric UX principles, and a strong focus on metrics like engagement and retention. The mention of "scalable, reusable systems" and "cross-game retention and monetization strategies" suggests a need for designers who can think systemically and with a business-oriented perspective, even within a creative role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent education and experience.

Experience: 4-7 years as a UX Designer for mass-market Web and Mobile products, with direct experience developing and shipping casual games (e.g., puzzles, word games, daily challenges).

Required Skills:

• Strong UX and Game Design skills, including user flows, wireframing, game mechanics, and interaction design.

• User experience skills including user research and usability testing.

• Experience building interactive prototypes suitable for validating design decisions with users.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Strong visual design skills, especially visual interface and typography.

• Familiarity with atomic design methodology and the challenges of building and maintaining design systems.

• Expertise in UX software such as Figma.

• Solid grasp of user-centered design and testing methodologies, subsystems, and usability and accessibility concerns (A11y and WCAG).

• Experience designing for player engagement and retention in casual games.

Preferred Skills:

• Basic HTML and CSS skills.

• Experience with cross-game retention and monetization strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required experience level (4-7 years) combined with the "UX Designer II" title suggests this is not an entry-level position, and candidates should be prepared to showcase a portfolio demonstrating independent work and problem-solving capabilities. The explicit mention of "Figma" as expertise and "HTML/CSS" as a plus indicates the desired technical toolset.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end UX design process for casual games, from concept and user research to final mockups and interaction specifications.

• Demonstrate expertise in creating user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups for mobile and web platforms.

• Include case studies that highlight the design of core gameplay mechanics, engagement features (streaks, rewards), and retention strategies.

• Present examples of designs that prioritize accessibility (A11y, WCAG) and user-centered design principles.

• Showcase experience with design systems or reusable components, with an understanding of atomic design principles.

Process Documentation:

• Document the process for translating business requirements and user stories into actionable design solutions.

• Illustrate the methodology for conducting user research, usability testing, and iterating on designs based on feedback.

• Detail the approach to creating and documenting rigorous user interface specifications for engineering teams.

• Explain the process for setting design standards and ensuring consistency across multiple game titles.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is crucial for this role. Candidates should be prepared to walk through their design process, articulate their decision-making, and demonstrate how their designs directly contributed to user engagement and retention metrics in past projects. The emphasis on "design systems" and "atomic design" suggests a need for designers who can contribute to scalable design frameworks.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $65 per hour (Contractor position)

Benefits:

• As an Agency Worker, benefits will be provided by the staffing agency employer, not People Inc. This typically includes options for health insurance, paid time off, and retirement plans, depending on the agency's offerings.

• Contract duration of 6 months with potential for extension.

• Opportunity to work on a new, engaging casual game experience for a major brand.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hourly rate of $65 is specified. Candidates should understand that this is a contractor role, and direct benefits from People Inc. are not applicable. The duration of the contract is 6 months with potential for extension, which is important for candidates seeking longer-term engagements.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Publishing / Digital Media / Gaming. People Inc. is described as the largest print and digital publisher in America, with a vast portfolio of iconic brands. The role specifically focuses on developing casual games within the PEOPLE brand.

Company Size: Large (implied by the number of brands and reach - "nearly 200 million people trust us each month"). This scale suggests a structured environment with established processes, but also opportunities for impact.

Founded: The founding date is not explicitly provided, but the company's extensive history and portfolio imply a well-established organization.

Team Structure:

• The UX Designer II will be part of a UX team, collaborating closely with Product Managers, Engineering teams, Editorial staff, and UX Researchers.

• There's an emphasis on cross-functional collaboration, with stakeholders distributed across the country.

Methodology:

• User-centered design and testing methodologies are central to the role.

• Emphasis on data-driven design, leveraging user research and feedback.

• Collaboration and consensus-building among stakeholders are key.

• Focus on creating scalable, reusable design systems and components.

• Commitment to accessibility (A11y) and WCAG standards.

Company Website: https://jobs.jobvite.com/dotdash/job/oz06zfwY (This is the job posting URL, the company website itself is not directly linked but is implied to be part of the 'dotdash' domain, which is a known media company, and 'People Inc.' is likely a brand within it).

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's scale and diverse brand portfolio suggest a dynamic environment. The specific focus on the PEOPLE brand and casual games indicates a niche within the larger organization, requiring designers to understand the target audience for this particular brand and product type. The mention of "dotdash" in the job URL suggests a connection to the Dotdash Meredith media group, which owns brands like PEOPLE, Better Homes & Gardens, etc.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: UX Designer II. This level typically indicates a mid-career professional who can work independently on moderately complex projects, contribute to design strategy, and mentor junior designers. The "II" suggests a step up from a junior role, with increased responsibility for project ownership and impact.

Reporting Structure: The role reports into a UX leadership structure, collaborating closely with Product Managers and Engineering leads. Direct reports are not indicated.

Operations Impact: The UX Designer will directly influence the user experience and engagement of a new casual game for the PEOPLE brand, impacting player retention, daily engagement, and potentially monetization. Their work will contribute to the overall success of the PEOPLE brand's digital gaming initiatives and the company's broader digital publishing strategy.

Growth Opportunities:

• Potential for contract extension, offering sustained project involvement.

• Opportunity to contribute to the foundational design of a new game experience, shaping its long-term trajectory.

• Exposure to a large, established media company (People Inc./Dotdash Meredith) and its diverse brands.

• Development of specialized skills in casual game UX design, player retention strategies, and accessible design.

• Collaboration with experienced product, engineering, and editorial teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this is a contract role, the "II" designation and the scope of responsibilities suggest opportunities for significant impact and skill development. Successful performance could lead to contract extensions or potentially full-time opportunities within People Inc. or its parent company, depending on business needs.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid. The role requires working from either the New York City or Seattle office, with a blend of in-office and remote work.

Office Location(s): New York, New York, United States; Seattle, Washington, United States.

Workspace Context:

• The hybrid model requires candidates to be comfortable working both remotely and in a physical office setting, implying a need for strong self-management and communication skills.

• Collaboration will occur through digital tools and in-person meetings within the office environment.

• The expectation is to actively participate in brainstorming and critique sessions, suggesting a dynamic and interactive team culture.

• Access to modern design tools (Figma) and development environments is implied.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week. Flexibility might exist within daily hours, but the primary expectation is a full-time commitment.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should be prepared for the hybrid work model, which requires balancing remote productivity with in-office collaboration. The distributed nature of the teams across the country means strong asynchronous communication skills are also essential.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a recruiter or HR screen to assess basic qualifications, experience, and alignment with the contractor status.

• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: Candidates will be asked to present their portfolio, focusing on relevant casual game UX and design projects. A design challenge or exercise related to casual game mechanics or user flows may be administered to assess problem-solving skills and design thinking.

• Hiring Manager/Team Interviews: Interviews with the hiring manager and potentially key members of the Product, Engineering, or UX teams to evaluate technical skills, collaboration style, and cultural fit.

• Final Round: May involve a deeper dive into design philosophy, strategic thinking, and alignment with company values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 of your strongest projects that directly relate to casual game design, mobile/web product UX, player engagement, and retention. Highlight projects with measurable results.

• Showcase Process: Clearly articulate your design process for each project – user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, testing, and iteration. Explain why you made certain design decisions.

• Focus on Impact: Quantify the impact of your designs whenever possible. Did your features increase engagement, retention, or player satisfaction? Use data and metrics to support your claims.

• Highlight Collaboration: Demonstrate how you worked with cross-functional teams (product, engineering, editorial) and stakeholders, and how you navigated feedback and consensus-building.

• Accessibility Emphasis: Include examples showcasing your understanding and application of accessibility (A11y/WCAG) principles in your designs.

• Tool Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your proficiency with Figma and any other relevant design and prototyping tools.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Casual Game Design: Familiarize yourself with common casual game mechanics, engagement loops, onboarding flows, and retention strategies. Research popular casual games and analyze their UX.

• Practice Whiteboarding/Prototyping: Be prepared to sketch out ideas, user flows, or basic game mechanics on a whiteboard or digital tool during a live session.

• Think Systemically: Consider how your designs fit into a larger system, especially regarding reusability and scalability across titles.

• Articulate Your Rationale: For any challenge, be ready to explain your thought process, design choices, and how you'd iterate based on feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the focus on casual games and player engagement, candidates should be prepared to discuss their understanding of player psychology, habit formation, and the specific UX considerations for mobile gaming. The portfolio review will likely be a critical component of the evaluation.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly mentioned as a required expertise for UX design, wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity mockups.

• Prototyping Tools: Candidates should be proficient with tools suitable for creating interactive prototypes for user testing (likely including Figma's prototyping capabilities).

• User Research Tools: Experience with tools for conducting and analyzing user research and usability testing is highly desirable.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

Web Technologies:

• HTML & CSS: Mentioned as a "big plus," indicating basic familiarity is advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is a non-negotiable requirement. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their skill level with this tool. Knowledge of complementary technologies like HTML/CSS and an understanding of how UX designs integrate with analytics for performance tracking are valuable additions.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep and empathetic understanding of user needs is paramount. Designs must serve the consumer experience.

• Collaboration: Strong partnership with Product, Engineering, Editorial, and other UX team members is essential. Consensus-building and open communication are key.

• Creativity & Innovation: Crafting "simple, habit-forming game experiences" requires creative problem-solving and innovative thinking.

• Excellence & Detail: A drive to deliver "elegant experience design solutions" and raise the bar on details.

• Accessibility: A commitment to building inclusive digital products and fostering awareness of A11y and WCAG standards.

• Data-Driven Approach: Designs should be informed by user research, feedback, and performance data to drive engagement and retention.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The role requires close collaboration with Product, Engineering, and Editorial teams, necessitating effective communication and alignment.

• Stakeholder Management: The ability to present design solutions and build consensus among a broad range of stakeholders is crucial.

• Knowledge Sharing: Contributing to the broader UX Team by sharing knowledge and developing best practices.

• Open Feedback Culture: Participation in critique sessions suggests an environment where constructive feedback is encouraged.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture emphasizes a balance between championing the user and collaborating effectively with internal teams. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate how they can advocate for the user while also being a team player and contributing to broader organizational goals.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Habit Formation: Creating casual games that users want to return to daily requires a deep understanding of behavioral psychology and game design principles.

• Balancing Simplicity and Engagement: Crafting intuitive, simple experiences that are also deeply engaging and habit-forming.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Navigating diverse stakeholder needs and perspectives (Product, Engineering, Editorial) to achieve consensus.

• Scalability and Reusability: Designing game mechanics and systems that can be applied across multiple titles and platforms.

• Accessibility Integration: Ensuring that designs are accessible to a wide range of users (A11y, WCAG) while maintaining engaging gameplay.

• Remote/Hybrid Collaboration: Effectively contributing and collaborating within a distributed, hybrid team structure.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Game UX Skills: Deepen expertise in casual game mechanics, player retention loops, and monetization strategies from a UX perspective.

• Design System Contribution: Gain experience in building and maintaining design systems for gaming applications.

• Accessibility Leadership: Develop skills in advocating for and implementing accessibility standards across product teams.

• Cross-Brand/Cross-Functional Exposure: Work with different teams and potentially learn about other brands within People Inc.

• Contract Extension Potential: Opportunity for extended engagement and continued project contribution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are inherent to designing engaging digital products, especially in the competitive casual gaming market. The growth opportunities are tied to developing specialized skills and gaining experience within a large media organization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• How would you approach designing a new daily challenge feature for a casual word game to maximize player retention?

• Describe your process for translating a business requirement like "increase player engagement by 15%" into concrete UX solutions for a casual game.

• How do you balance user needs with business goals when designing game mechanics? Can you provide an example?

Company & Culture Questions:

• Based on your understanding of the PEOPLE brand and casual games, what opportunities do you see for enhancing player experience?

• How do you approach collaboration with non-design stakeholders, such as editors or engineers, who may have different priorities?

• Describe a time you had to champion a user-centric design decision against resistance from other stakeholders.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Frame your portfolio projects as stories that highlight a problem, your process of solving it, and the impact of your solution.

• Focus on Relevance: Prioritize projects that showcase casual game design, mobile/web UX, and engagement/retention strategies.

• Quantify Success: Present metrics whenever possible (e.g., increased engagement, retention rates, user satisfaction scores).

• Demonstrate Process: Clearly walk through your steps: research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, testing, and iteration. Explain your rationale for key decisions.

• Highlight Collaboration: Show how you worked with teams and stakeholders.

• Accessibility Showcase: Explicitly point out how accessibility was considered and implemented in your designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to discuss their experience with casual game design principles in detail. Being able to articulate their design process, justify their decisions with user-centric reasoning, and demonstrate an understanding of engagement/retention metrics will be critical.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided jobvite link.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight experience in UX design for mass-market web/mobile products, casual game design, player engagement, retention strategies, and proficiency in Figma. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select and prepare 2-3 of your strongest casual game UX projects. Ensure they clearly demonstrate your process, design thinking, and impact. Be ready to present and discuss them in detail.

• Prepare for a Design Challenge: Familiarize yourself with casual game design patterns and be ready to tackle a problem-solving exercise related to game mechanics or user flows. Practice articulating your thought process.

• Research People Inc. and its Brands: Understand the company's mission, its brands (especially PEOPLE), and the casual gaming market. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.