UX/UI Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX/UI Designer

Company: Discovery

Location: Sandton - 1 Discovery Place, GP, 2196, South Africa

Job Type: Full-time

Category: User Experience & Interface Design

Date Posted: 2026-06-24

Experience Level: Mid-Level (3-5 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and develop intuitive and engaging user experiences and user interfaces for web and mobile applications, ensuring alignment with business objectives and user needs.

• Conduct comprehensive UX research, including user interviews and data analysis, to inform design decisions and identify opportunities for improvement.

• Translate research insights and complex requirements into innovative, user-centered design solutions, utilizing a design system for consistency.

• Create and iterate on wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity designs, employing a strong understanding of design principles, typography, and color theory.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including product managers, developers, and stakeholders, to ensure design feasibility and successful implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the raw listing is for a "UX/UI Designer," this enhancement reframes the role within a broader GTM context by emphasizing the impact of design on user adoption, customer journey optimization, and the overall digital product strategy. The "Areas of responsibility" and "Knowledge and Skills" sections have been carefully integrated to highlight the strategic and analytical aspects crucial for operations-minded professionals.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Problem Decomposition & Solution Ideation: Analyze complex user and business problems, breaking them down into manageable components to identify root causes and generate a diverse range of innovative design solutions.

• User Research & Insights Gathering: Conduct thorough user research, including user interviews, surveys, and analysis of user behavior data, to gain deep insights into user needs, motivations, and pain points. Leverage desktop research and competitive analysis to inform design strategies.

• Interface Design & Iteration: Design and iterate on user interfaces for both web and mobile applications, progressing from low-fidelity wireframes to high-fidelity mockups, ensuring a seamless and intuitive user experience.

• Prototyping & User Flow Development: Create interactive and visual design prototypes to effectively communicate design intent, test user flows, and gather early feedback from stakeholders and users.

• Design System Utilization & Enhancement: Leverage the existing design system to maintain consistency and efficiency across all digital features and channels. Explore opportunities to enhance the design system using AI and emerging technologies.

• Usability Testing & Feedback Analysis: Plan and conduct usability testing sessions, analyze user feedback and performance data, and translate findings into actionable design refinements.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work collaboratively with product managers, developers, engineers, and other stakeholders throughout the product development lifecycle to ensure design feasibility, alignment with business goals, and successful implementation.

• Platform & Device Compatibility: Ensure designs are optimized for various platforms, browsers, and devices, considering factors such as form factors, screen resolutions, and aspect ratios.

• Accessibility Integration: Incorporate accessibility principles into the design process, ensuring that digital products are usable by individuals with diverse needs and abilities.

• Trend Awareness & Innovation: Stay abreast of the latest UX/UI design trends, emerging technologies (including AI), and best practices. Actively participate in conferences and community forums to contribute to innovation and maintain high usability standards.

• Stakeholder Communication & Storytelling: Effectively communicate design rationale, present design solutions, and articulate user insights to design leadership and business stakeholders using compelling storytelling techniques.

• Peer Review & Knowledge Sharing: Participate in peer design reviews, provide constructive critique, and contribute to internal training sessions and community forums to foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement within the UX/UI team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities have been expanded to clearly articulate the full design lifecycle and the strategic thinking involved, moving beyond basic task execution. Emphasis is placed on research, analysis, problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration, which are critical for operations-minded individuals. AI and emerging technologies are highlighted as requested.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Matric/Grade 12 (Essential)

• Relevant Bachelor's or equivalent 3-year degree in User Experience Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Graphic Design, or a related field (Advantageous) Experience:

• 3 to 5 years of minimum relevant working experience in UX/UI design.

• A strong portfolio of work demonstrating a proven track record for solving complex UX design problems and simplifying intricate requirements into intuitive interfaces for customers.

• Experience in UX design specifically for web and mobile applications/platforms (Advantageous).

• Experience and understanding of Lean and Agile development processes. Required Skills:

• UX Research: Proficient in conducting user research, analyzing data, and translating insights into actionable design strategies.

• UI Design: Demonstrated mastery of visual design principles, including typography, color theory, and layout design, applied to creating engaging user interfaces.

• Interaction Design: Strong understanding of interaction design principles to create intuitive and efficient user flows.

• Prototyping Tools: Proficiency with prototyping tools (e.g., Figma) to convey design intent and create interactive user experiences.

• Design Tools Proficiency: Mastery of design tools such as Figma for wireframing, UI design, and prototyping.

• Usability Testing: Experience in planning, conducting, and analyzing usability tests to gather user feedback and refine designs.

• Accessibility Standards: Operational understanding of WCAG guidelines and the ability to integrate accessibility best practices into designs.

• Agile & Lean Methodologies: Experience working within Agile and Lean development frameworks, understanding their impact on the design process.

Preferred Skills:

• Wireframing: Ability to create clear and effective wireframes to map out user flows and information architecture.

• Storytelling: Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present design rationale and user insights effectively using storytelling techniques.

• Stakeholder Collaboration: Proven ability to collaborate effectively with product managers, developers, and other stakeholders.

• AI & Emerging Technologies: Familiarity with leveraging AI and emerging technologies to enhance design systems and processes.

• Data Analysis & Reporting: Ability to analyze design performance data and report insights to inform future design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The skills section has been structured into Required and Preferred categories for clarity. Emphasis is placed on "operational understanding" of accessibility and "experience with Agile/Lean methodologies," aligning with operations-focused requirements. Keywords like "User Journey Mapping" and "Stakeholder Collaboration" are integrated to reflect common operations and GTM requirements.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Problem-Solution Showcase: Include case studies that clearly articulate a specific UX/UI problem, your research and analysis process, the design solutions developed, and the resulting impact or outcomes.

• Design Process Documentation: Demonstrate your end-to-end design process, from initial research and ideation through wireframing, prototyping, UI design, and usability testing.

• System Integration & Consistency: Showcase examples where you have worked with or contributed to design systems, demonstrating an understanding of maintaining visual and interactive consistency across platforms.

• Impact & Rationale: Clearly articulate the rationale behind your design decisions, supported by user research, data, or usability testing results, and quantify the impact of your designs where possible (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time, enhanced user satisfaction).

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Provide examples of how you have mapped out and optimized user workflows to enhance efficiency and user satisfaction.

• System Implementation Standards: Illustrate your understanding of how designs integrate with underlying technical systems and adhere to platform requirements.

• Measurement & Performance Analysis: Demonstrate your ability to define key performance indicators (KPIs) for user experience and to analyze design performance post-launch.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section is tailored to operations roles by emphasizing the "process" aspect of design. The portfolio requirements focus on demonstrating problem-solving, analytical thinking, and the ability to measure impact, which are key in operations. The inclusion of "system integration" and "measurement & performance analysis" directly aligns with operational responsibilities.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Estimated Range: ZAR 400,000 - ZAR 650,000 per annum.

• Methodology: This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for UX/UI Designers with 3-5 years of experience in the South African market, specifically within the financial services and technology sectors in Gauteng. Factors considered include the company's size and reputation, the role's responsibilities, and the general cost of living in Sandton. This range is indicative and may vary based on the candidate's specific qualifications, experience, and interview performance.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Insurance: Access to Discovery's renowned health insurance plans, promoting employee well-being.

• Retirement Savings Plan: Contributions to a pension or provident fund to support long-term financial security.

• Performance-Based Bonuses: Potential for annual bonuses tied to individual and company performance.

• Vitality Program Integration: Opportunity to participate in and benefit from Discovery's award-winning Vitality wellness program.

• Professional Development: Support for continuous learning through training, workshops, conferences, and access to design communities.

• Generous Leave Policy: Annual leave, sick leave, and other paid time off benefits.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours are typically 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

• While the role is on-site, Discovery may offer some flexibility in start and end times, subject to team and business needs, to support work-life balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: A salary range has been provided with a clear methodology, considering regional market data. Benefits are expanded to highlight aspects relevant to a large, established company like Discovery, emphasizing wellness and financial security, which are attractive to professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services (Insurance, Health, Investments)

• Discovery operates within a highly regulated and competitive financial services sector in South Africa and internationally. The company is known for its innovative approach, particularly its shared-value insurance models that incentivize healthier and safer behaviors. This context means a strong emphasis on data security, compliance, customer-centricity, and continuous product development to maintain a competitive edge.

Company Size: Large Enterprise (Over 1,000 employees)

• As a large enterprise, Discovery offers stability, structured career paths, and access to extensive resources and training programs. For operations professionals, this translates to opportunities to work on large-scale projects, implement robust processes, and collaborate within a well-defined organizational structure. It also implies a degree of process standardization and the potential for matrixed reporting.

Founded: 1992

• Founded in 1992, Discovery has a long-standing history of innovation and growth. Its evolution from a life insurer to a diversified financial services group demonstrates adaptability and a forward-thinking approach. This history suggests a culture that values long-term vision, strategic planning, and continuous improvement, which are core tenets of effective operations. Team Structure:

• Operations Team Context: The UX/UI Designer will likely be part of a broader Digital Product Development or Technology division. This team is expected to be cross-functional, comprising UX/UI designers, product managers, business analysts, developers (front-end and back-end), QA testers, and potentially data analysts.

• Reporting Structure: The designer will likely report to a UX/UI Lead or Manager, who in turn reports to a Head of Digital Product or similar senior leadership within the technology or product function. Collaboration will extend across various business units within Discovery Insure.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: High levels of collaboration are expected with Product Management to understand business requirements and user needs, with Development teams to ensure design feasibility and implementation, and with Marketing or Business Units to align digital experiences with broader company strategies.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: A strong emphasis on using data, analytics, and user research to inform design decisions and measure impact, aligning with operations' focus on metrics and ROI.

• Agile & Iterative Development: The team likely operates using Agile methodologies (Scrum or Kanban), involving iterative design cycles, regular feedback loops, and close collaboration with development sprints.

• User-Centricity & Continuous Improvement: A core philosophy of placing the user at the center of all design and development efforts, coupled with a commitment to continuous improvement based on feedback and performance data.

Company Website: https://www.discovery.co.za/

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides context on Discovery's industry, size, and history, linking these factors to what they mean for an operations-minded professional. The team structure and methodology are inferred based on typical tech/product team compositions in large financial services firms, emphasizing collaboration and data-driven approaches.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-Level Designer

• This role is positioned as a mid-level contributor, requiring 3-5 years of experience. It involves executing design tasks with a degree of autonomy, contributing to design strategy, and mentoring junior designers. The focus is on delivering high-quality design solutions and actively participating in the product development lifecycle. For operations professionals, this level signifies a transition from execution to contributing to process improvement and strategic input within the design domain. Reporting Structure:

• The UX/UI Designer typically reports to a UX/UI Lead or Manager. This structure allows for mentorship and guidance while providing exposure to higher-level design strategy and decision-making. Collaboration with Product Managers and Development Leads is also a key aspect of the reporting dynamic, fostering cross-functional alignment. Operations Impact:

• The UX/UI Designer's work directly impacts the user's interaction with Discovery's digital products, influencing customer acquisition, retention, engagement, and overall satisfaction. By creating intuitive and effective user experiences, the designer contributes to key business metrics such as conversion rates, task completion efficiency, and the adoption of new features, thereby driving operational efficiency and supporting revenue generation through improved customer journeys. The use of AI and emerging technologies also points towards a forward-looking approach that can enhance operational scalability and innovation. Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization Paths: Potential to specialize in areas such as UX Research, Interaction Design, Design Systems, or Accessibility.

• Leadership Track: Opportunity to progress into Senior UX/UI Designer roles, UX/UI Lead, or Management positions, overseeing design teams and strategic initiatives.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Possibility to move into related roles such as Product Management, Service Design, or even operational roles focused on process optimization within digital product development.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning opportunities through internal training, external workshops, conferences, and access to cutting-edge design tools and methodologies, including AI-driven design tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section analyzes the career trajectory associated with the role, framing it within an "operations" lens by highlighting impact on business metrics and efficiency. Growth opportunities are detailed to show potential career progression and skill development relevant to operations professionals aiming for leadership or specialized roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Corporate Office Environment

• The role is based at Discovery's headquarters at 1 Discovery Place in Sandton, a modern and professional corporate setting. This environment typically fosters a culture of collaboration, professionalism, and innovation, with dedicated office spaces designed for focused work and team interaction. Office Location(s):

• Sandton - 1 Discovery Place, GP, 2196, South Africa: This is the primary location. Sandton is a major business hub in Johannesburg, offering excellent accessibility via public transport and major road networks. The location provides a professional and dynamic working environment.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The office likely features a variety of collaborative spaces, including meeting rooms, brainstorming areas, and open-plan zones, facilitating seamless interaction between designers, product managers, and developers.

• Technology & Tools: Access to industry-standard design software (e.g., Figma), hardware, and potentially specialized UX research tools. The environment supports a digital-first approach to design and development.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular team stand-ups, design critiques, workshops, and cross-functional project meetings, promoting a shared understanding and collective problem-solving.

Work Schedule:

• The typical work schedule is 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday, aligning with standard business hours. While on-site, there may be some flexibility in daily start/end times, dependent on team needs and management approval, to accommodate personal commitments and optimize productivity.

📝 Enhancement Note: Details about the office environment are provided with a focus on how it supports collaboration and efficiency, which are crucial for operations roles. The specific location is highlighted for practical considerations.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your application and portfolio by the recruitment team or hiring manager to assess your qualifications and experience against the role requirements.

• Technical Interview/Design Challenge: This may involve a practical exercise or a detailed discussion of your portfolio. Be prepared to walk through 1-2 key projects, explaining your process, design decisions, challenges faced, and outcomes achieved. Focus on demonstrating your problem-solving skills and how you leverage user insights.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with potential team members (e.g., other designers, product managers, developers) to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, and communication skills. You may be asked to present a specific design scenario or discuss how you would approach a particular problem.

• Final Interview: A discussion with senior leadership to assess strategic thinking, alignment with company values, and overall suitability for the role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 3-5 of your strongest projects that best showcase your skills and experience relevant to the job description. Prioritize projects that demonstrate end-to-end design thinking.

• Showcase Process, Not Just Polish: Clearly document your design process for each project. Explain the problem, your research methods, ideation phase, user testing, iterations, and the final solution. Highlight any challenges and how you overcame them.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, include metrics or data that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased conversion rates, improved user satisfaction scores, reduced bounce rates). If direct metrics are unavailable, articulate the expected impact based on your design rationale.

• Tailor to Discovery: Research Discovery Insure's products and target audience. If possible, include projects that touch upon financial services, insurance, or complex digital platforms, and explain how your designs align with Discovery's mission and values.

• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, how you handle feedback, your experience with Agile/Lean, and your understanding of accessibility and emerging technologies.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Objective: If given a design challenge, ensure you fully understand the problem statement, target users, and business goals.

• Time Management: Practice working within time constraints, prioritizing tasks, and delivering a coherent solution.

• Articulate Your Thinking: Clearly communicate your thought process, design decisions, and assumptions, even if you cannot complete the entire design. Focus on the strategy and rationale behind your approach.

• Consider Constraints: Be mindful of potential technical or business constraints mentioned in the challenge, and how they influence your design.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides actionable advice for candidates, focusing on how to present their work effectively and prepare for interviews, with specific guidance tailored to a UX/UI role within a corporate environment. The emphasis on process, impact, and tailoring applications aligns with operations expectations.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (primary tool for UI design, wireframing, and prototyping).

• User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting user interviews, surveys, and usability testing (e.g., Lookback, UserTesting.com, SurveyMonkey, Google Forms).

• Collaboration Tools: Platforms like Jira, Confluence, Slack, Microsoft Teams for project management, documentation, and team communication.

• Design System Management: Familiarity with tools or processes for managing and contributing to design systems.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web/App Analytics: Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or similar platforms for tracking user behavior and performance metrics.

• Data Visualization Tools: Tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Looker for reporting and presenting design-related data and insights.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly used by UX/UI designers, an understanding of how CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms interact with digital interfaces can be beneficial for context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Specific tools are listed, with Figma highlighted as the primary design tool. The inclusion of analytics and collaboration tools reflects the operational aspects of the role, emphasizing data-driven decision-making and efficient teamwork.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of Discovery's customers, ensuring that digital experiences are valuable, intuitive, and empowering.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: A drive to constantly explore new ideas, technologies (including AI), and methodologies to enhance user experiences and solve complex problems more effectively.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: A belief in the power of collective effort, encouraging open communication, knowledge sharing, and mutual support across teams and departments.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: A reliance on data, research, and analytics to inform design choices, measure impact, and drive continuous optimization of digital products.

• Excellence & Quality: A commitment to delivering high-quality work, paying attention to detail, and upholding rigorous standards in design and execution.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers work closely with Product Managers to define requirements and strategy, with Developers to ensure feasibility and implementation, and with other stakeholders to align on business goals.

• Iterative Feedback Loops: A culture that embraces regular feedback through design critiques, sprint reviews, and usability testing sessions, fostering an environment where ideas are shared and refined collaboratively.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouragement of internal community forums, workshops, and presentations to share best practices, learnings, and insights across the UX/UI discipline and broader teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section outlines the likely cultural values and collaboration styles, framing them through an "operations" lens by emphasizing data-driven approaches, continuous improvement, and efficient cross-functional teamwork.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Effectively navigating the inherent tension between creating optimal user experiences and meeting strict business objectives, regulatory requirements, and technical constraints.

• Designing for Complex Financial Products: Translating intricate financial services and insurance concepts into simple, understandable, and engaging digital interfaces.

• Integrating AI and Emerging Technologies: Staying ahead of the curve and effectively incorporating new technologies like AI into the design process and product offerings, while managing associated risks and ethical considerations.

• Maintaining Consistency Across Platforms: Ensuring a cohesive and branded user experience across a diverse range of web and mobile applications, devices, and touchpoints.

• Adapting to Evolving User Expectations: Continuously researching and understanding changing user behaviors, preferences, and technological advancements to keep digital products relevant and competitive.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Opportunities to deepen understanding of how UX/UI design impacts broader operational efficiency, customer lifecycle management, and revenue generation.

• Industry Conferences & Certifications: Support for attending relevant UX/UI conferences, workshops, and pursuing certifications in specialized areas of design or user research.

• Mentorship Programs: Access to senior designers and leaders for mentorship, guidance, and career development advice within the UX/UI field and potentially in operations-adjacent roles.

• Exposure to Innovation Labs: Potential involvement in innovation initiatives or labs focused on exploring new technologies and applying them to product development.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section identifies potential challenges and growth avenues, linking them to operational efficiency and strategic thinking. The emphasis on AI and continuous learning is reinforced.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Problem Framing: "Describe a complex UX problem you encountered and how you approached breaking it down to find a solution. What was your process from identifying the issue to proposing a design?" (Focus on analytical breakdown, research methods, and solution ideation).

• Collaboration & Influence: "How do you collaborate with product managers and developers to ensure design feasibility and alignment with business goals? Provide an example of a time you had to negotiate design decisions." (Highlight communication, stakeholder management, and compromise skills).

• Design Rationale & Impact: "Walk us through a project in your portfolio where your design significantly improved user experience or met a key business objective. What were the specific design decisions and how did you measure the impact?" (Prepare a case study emphasizing metrics and ROI).

Company & Culture Questions:

• Mission Alignment: "How do you see your UX/UI design approach contributing to Discovery's core purpose of making people healthier and enhancing their lives?" (Research Discovery's mission and values).

• Team Dynamics: "Describe your preferred working style within a cross-functional team. How do you handle constructive criticism or disagreements on design?" (Showcase adaptability and collaborative spirit).

• Innovation & Trends: "How do you stay updated with the latest UX/UI trends and emerging technologies like AI, and how have you incorporated them into your work?" (Demonstrate proactive learning and forward-thinking).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling Structure: For each portfolio piece, follow a narrative structure: Problem -> Research & Insights -> Design Process & Iterations -> Solution -> Impact & Learnings.

• Visual Clarity & Conciseness: Use clear visuals and concise text to explain your work. Avoid jargon where possible, or explain it clearly.

• Interactive Demonstration: Be prepared to navigate through your prototypes or design files to illustrate key features and user flows.

• Focus on Process & Rationale: Emphasize why you made certain design decisions, backing them up with research, data, or user feedback. Highlight your problem-solving skills.

• Tailor to the Role: Select projects that best align with the responsibilities and requirements outlined in the job description, especially those related to complex applications or financial services if applicable.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides specific, actionable interview preparation advice, focusing on how to answer strategy, company, and culture questions, and how to present a portfolio effectively, all framed within the context of a UX/UI role and its operational implications.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX/UI Designer position:

• Submit Application: Navigate to the provided careers portal link and submit your resume and any requested supporting documents.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date and highlights projects that demonstrate your problem-solving skills, end-to-end design process, and impact. Tailor your selection to showcase relevant experience for financial services or complex digital products.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your years of experience, key skills (e.g., Figma, UX Research, Prototyping, Accessibility), and quantifiable achievements relevant to UX/UI design. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, rationale, and project outcomes. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions and be ready to discuss your approach to user research, collaboration, and problem-solving.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Discovery, its mission, values, products (especially Discovery Insure), and its approach to technology and innovation. Understand how your role contributes to the company's overall strategy.

⚠️ 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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