UX/UI Designer, Salt Lake City, UT

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX/UI Designer

Company: Western Governors University

Location: Salt Lake City, UT, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Design Operations / Product Design

Date Posted: 2026-08-12

Experience Level: 2-5 years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the creation of intuitive and visually compelling digital experiences for web and mobile applications, focusing on user-centered design principles.

• Collaborate closely with product managers, business leaders, and internal clients to translate complex requirements into seamless and engaging user interfaces and workflows.

• Drive the entire product design lifecycle, from initial research and conceptualization through rapid prototyping and final design asset creation.

• Establish and maintain design standards, including the development of reusable design patterns and components to ensure consistency and efficiency across multiple WGU products and business areas.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is UX/UI Designer, the emphasis on collaboration with business leaders, internal clients, and the need to create reusable design patterns suggests a role that bridges pure design with early-stage product development and operational efficiency within the educational technology space. This role is crucial for ensuring the usability and effectiveness of WGU's digital learning platforms.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize and execute visually impressive UX and UI designs for desktop, responsive web, and mobile applications, ensuring alignment with WGU's brand and user needs.

• Apply a robust user-centered design process throughout the entire product development lifecycle, from ideation to implementation.

• Conduct user research and analysis to deeply understand user needs, pain points, and behaviors, translating these insights into intuitive and effective design solutions.

• Rapidly develop and iterate on wireframes, mockups, interactive prototypes, and proof-of-concepts to effectively communicate design ideas and gather feedback.

• Design and build reusable design patterns, components, and finished screens that can be leveraged across multiple WGU products and business units, promoting design system adoption and consistency.

• Lead and actively participate in brainstorming sessions, design critiques, and stakeholder discussions to gather requirements, validate design decisions, and refine solutions.

• Partner closely with front-end developers to ensure the technical feasibility, performance, and quality of design implementations, providing clear design specifications and assets.

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of WGU's digital products by identifying opportunities for enhanced usability, accessibility, and overall user satisfaction.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a hands-on design role with a strong focus on process, collaboration, and the creation of scalable design assets. The mention of "enterprise-scale products" and "multi-product UI frameworks" indicates the need for strategic thinking beyond individual feature design, aligning with operational efficiency goals.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree required. Equivalency in education and experience may be considered. Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years of professional experience in UX/UI design, with a focus on web and mobile applications.

• Demonstrated experience designing user interfaces for high-performance, high-availability web and mobile applications.

• Proven experience designing user interfaces for enterprise-scale products, indicating an understanding of complex systems and scalability. Required Skills:

• In-depth understanding of core UX and UI design principles, methodologies, and best practices.

• Proficiency with industry-standard design tools such as Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator), InVision, and similar platforms for wireframing, mockup creation, and prototyping.

• Expertise in visual graphic design, including mastery of color theory, typography, layout and composition, grid systems, and animation/transitions.

• Strong understanding of HTML 4/5 and CSS 2/3, with the ability to comprehend technical constraints and collaborate effectively with developers.

• Solid understanding of data visualization and data representation techniques for conveying complex information clearly.

• Proven ability to conceptually design multi-product UI frameworks and contribute to the development of design systems.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions and present concepts clearly in English.

• Exceptional attention to detail, with a strong sense of ownership and pride in delivering high-quality product designs. Preferred Skills:

• Broad knowledge of project management principles and methodologies.

• Experience presenting design concepts, prototypes, and user-centered solutions to diverse stakeholder groups, including executives and customers.

• Familiarity with accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and best practices for inclusive design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for understanding HTML/CSS and contributing to high-performance applications suggests that candidates should not only be visually adept but also have a foundational understanding of front-end development principles to ensure design feasibility and optimization. The emphasis on a portfolio and enterprise-scale design points towards a need for candidates who can demonstrate impact and scalability in their previous work.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• An outstanding design portfolio is mandatory, showcasing strong UX and UI design capabilities across a range of projects.

• The portfolio must demonstrate proficiency in creating intuitive user flows, compelling visual designs, and interactive prototypes.

• Include case studies that clearly articulate the problem, your design process, your specific contributions, and the impact of your solutions, ideally for enterprise-scale applications.

• Highlight examples of reusable design patterns, components, or contributions to a design system, showcasing efficiency and scalability. Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate experience in applying user-centered design processes throughout the product lifecycle, from research to iterative testing and refinement.

• Showcase your ability to rapidly develop wireframes, mockups, and prototypes, illustrating your workflow for concept validation and stakeholder buy-in.

• Provide examples of how you've collaborated with developers to ensure the technical feasibility and quality of design implementations.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this role, the portfolio is paramount. It should not just display aesthetic quality but also evidence of a structured, user-centric design process, problem-solving skills, and the ability to create scalable, reusable design elements that contribute to operational efficiency and consistency. Case studies demonstrating impact on enterprise-scale products are highly valued.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $91,000 - $136,400 annually.

• This range is based on the provided pay scale for Professional Grade 310. Compensation decisions will be made based on factors such as skill set, experience, training, licensure, certifications, and business needs. It is not typical for individuals to be hired at the top of the range. Benefits:

• Healthcare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance; telehealth services; mental healthcare support; Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options.

• Insurance: Basic and voluntary life insurance, disability coverage, accident insurance, critical illness insurance, and hospital indemnity insurance.

• Financial Security: Legal coverage, identity theft protection, and a retirement savings plan.

• Wellness & Development: Wellbeing program, discounted WGU tuition for employees and potentially dependents, and opportunities for professional growth.

• Time Off: Flexible paid time off (PTO) with no accrual requirement, flexible paid sick time with no accrual requirement, 11 paid holidays, and up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave.

Working Hours:

• This is a full-time position requiring 40 standard weekly hours. The role is on-site, indicating a structured work schedule within the office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is competitive for a UX/UI Designer role with 2-5 years of experience in a major metropolitan area like Salt Lake City. The extensive benefits package indicates a strong commitment to employee well-being and long-term retention, which is often a focus for established educational institutions like WGU. The "flexible paid time off" and "flexible paid sick time" with no accrual are significant perks, offering autonomy and trust.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Higher Education / Educational Technology. WGU operates as a pioneer in online, competency-based higher education, leveraging technology to expand access and provide flexible learning pathways. This industry context means the digital products designed will directly impact student learning, faculty support, and administrative efficiency.

Company Size: WGU is a large organization, likely employing over 1,000 employees, as indicated by typical university structures and its national reach. This size suggests established processes, dedicated departments, and potential for internal mobility.

Founded: Western Governors University was founded in 1997. Its longevity reflects a stable, mission-driven organization committed to innovation in education.

Team Structure:

• The UX/UI Designer will likely be part of a Product Development, Digital Experience, or IT department. This team is expected to be specialized, with roles focusing on product management, development, QA, and design.

• Reporting will likely be to a Design Lead, UX Manager, or Director of Product/Digital Experience, with a dotted line to product managers for project-specific collaboration.

• Cross-functional collaboration is essential, involving close partnerships with product managers, business stakeholders, subject matter experts (SMEs), developers (front-end and back-end), and potentially marketing or curriculum development teams. Methodology:

• The company's mission-driven approach suggests a culture that values innovation, student success, and continuous improvement.

• Data analysis and insights are critical for informing design decisions, particularly in an educational technology context where learning outcomes and user engagement metrics are key performance indicators.

• Workflow planning and optimization are inherent to designing efficient digital platforms that streamline student journeys and administrative processes.

• While not explicitly stated for design, automation and efficiency are likely core tenets of WGU's operational philosophy, which the design team must support.

Company Website: https://www.wgu.edu/

📝 Enhancement Note: WGU's focus on competency-based education means its digital platforms are core to its delivery model. The UX/UI Designer will play a vital role in ensuring these platforms are not only functional but also highly effective and engaging for students and faculty, directly impacting the university's core mission and operational success.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level individual contributor ("Professional 310," "2+ years of experience"). It requires a solid foundation in design principles and the ability to work independently on defined projects, while also contributing to broader design strategy and system development.

Reporting Structure: The designer will likely report to a Design Manager or Director within a product or digital experience team. They will collaborate extensively with product managers and engineering teams, working in a matrixed project environment.

Operations Impact: The UX/UI Designer's work directly impacts the user experience of WGU's online learning platforms. This has significant operational implications:

• Student Success: Intuitive interfaces can improve student retention and graduation rates by reducing frustration and increasing engagement.

• Operational Efficiency: Well-designed systems can streamline administrative tasks for both students and staff, reducing support load and improving workflow efficiency.

• Brand Perception: A professional and user-friendly digital presence enhances WGU's reputation and attractiveness to prospective students.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specialized areas like accessibility, interaction design, or design system management.

• Leadership Potential: Transition into senior designer roles, lead design initiatives, mentor junior designers, or move into a UX/UI management track.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain deeper understanding of product management, educational technology, and business operations through close collaboration.

• Specialization: Focus on specific product areas within WGU's diverse offerings (e.g., student portal, learning management system, faculty tools).

📝 Enhancement Note: For a mid-level designer, growth at WGU likely involves deepening technical design skills, contributing to strategic design initiatives, and potentially moving into leadership or specialized expert roles within the expanding educational technology landscape. The company's mission-oriented culture can also provide strong personal and professional fulfillment.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an on-site position requiring full-time presence in the Salt Lake City, UT office. This setup is designed to foster in-person collaboration, spontaneous idea sharing, and team cohesion.

Office Location(s): Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. This location is a primary hub for WGU's operations.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is designed to facilitate collaboration, suggesting open-plan areas, meeting rooms, and potentially dedicated design spaces.

• Access to necessary design tools and technology is implied, including powerful workstations, software licenses, and potentially collaboration platforms.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with design peers, product managers, and developers are abundant, fostering a dynamic and interactive work environment. Work Schedule:

• The role is full-time, requiring 40 standard weekly hours. While the core hours are expected, the "flexible paid time off" and "flexible paid sick time" suggest some degree of autonomy in managing personal time as long as operational needs and collaboration requirements are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on an on-site role indicates a preference for in-person collaboration, which is common in design roles where visual communication and brainstorming are crucial. Candidates should be prepared for a structured office environment that prioritizes team interaction.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application Submission: Submit resume and portfolio online.

• Initial Screening: Talent Acquisition team reviews applications for basic qualifications and portfolio relevance.

• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: Conversation focused on design philosophy, past projects, problem-solving approach, and cultural fit. Expect questions about your design process, how you handle feedback, and your experience with specific tools.

• Design Challenge/Portfolio Review: A practical exercise or in-depth review of your portfolio. This is where you'll present case studies, explain your design decisions, and demonstrate your understanding of UX/UI principles and their application to WGU's context.

• Stakeholder/Cross-functional Interview: Discussion with product managers or developers to assess collaboration skills and ability to work within a team environment.

• Final Interview/Offer: Final discussions, potentially with senior leadership, followed by an offer.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 3-5 of your strongest projects that best showcase your UX/UI skills, problem-solving abilities, and impact, especially those relevant to educational technology or enterprise-scale applications.

• Structure Your Case Studies: For each project, clearly outline the problem statement, your role and responsibilities, the design process you followed (research, ideation, prototyping, testing), key design decisions and rationale, and the measurable outcomes or impact.

• Highlight Process: Emphasize how you arrived at your solutions, not just the final visual output. Show sketches, wireframes, user flows, and explain the rationale behind your design choices.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion times, increased user satisfaction scores).

• Tailor to WGU: If possible, include a project that demonstrates an understanding of educational technology or a similar complex system. Be prepared to discuss how your skills can benefit WGU's mission.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If a design challenge is given, ensure you thoroughly understand WGU's mission, target audience (students, faculty), and the specific problem domain.

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

• Articulate Strategy: Be prepared to explain your design choices, assumptions, and potential trade-offs. Focus on your thought process and problem-solving approach.

• Presentation Skills: Practice presenting your solution clearly and concisely, anticipating questions about feasibility, user impact, and alternative approaches.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily weigh your portfolio and your ability to articulate your design process and its impact. Be ready to defend your design decisions with user-centric reasoning and data-driven insights, demonstrating how you can contribute to WGU's operational goals of enhancing student success and efficiency.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator), InVision, Figma (likely, though not explicitly listed, it's a modern standard). These tools are essential for creating wireframes, mockups, interactive prototypes, and final design assets.

• Collaboration: Tools for team communication and file sharing (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace) and potentially project management software (e.g., Jira, Asana).

• Design Systems: Experience with or ability to contribute to a design system, utilizing tools for component libraries and style guides.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary responsibility, an understanding of how design impacts analytics is crucial. Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or similar platforms used to track user behavior and performance metrics.

• Ability to interpret data visualization and performance reports to inform design iterations. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly involved in CRM or automation tool management, but understanding how user journeys within these systems are designed is beneficial. The role focuses on the front-end user interface that interacts with these backend systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in standard UX/UI design software is non-negotiable. Familiarity with tools that support collaboration and design system management will be highly advantageous, reflecting modern design operations practices. Understanding how design choices influence user behavior tracked by analytics platforms is also key.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Student-Centricity: A fundamental value at WGU, driving all decisions to improve the student experience and outcomes. Designers must consistently advocate for the user.

• Innovation & Adaptability: WGU operates in a dynamic field, valuing creative solutions and the ability to adapt to new technologies and educational paradigms.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Emphasis on using data and analytics to inform design choices, measure impact, and drive continuous improvement.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Strong emphasis on working together across departments to achieve shared goals and deliver cohesive user experiences.

• Efficiency & Quality: Commitment to delivering high-quality, well-designed products that are also efficient to develop and maintain, supporting WGU's operational excellence.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Expect close collaboration with product managers, developers, and business stakeholders. Design thinking is integrated into the broader product development process.

• Feedback-Rich Environment: A culture that encourages constructive feedback on design work to ensure the best possible outcomes. Designers should be comfortable giving and receiving critique.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouragement of sharing best practices, design patterns, and insights within the design team and across relevant departments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at WGU is deeply rooted in its educational mission. Designers must embrace a student-first mentality while also contributing to the operational efficiency of the university through thoughtful, data-informed design. A collaborative and feedback-oriented approach is essential for success.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Navigating competing priorities between user experience, technical feasibility, and WGU's strategic objectives.

• Designing for Scale: Creating consistent and effective user experiences across a wide range of products and user segments within an enterprise environment.

• Keeping Pace with Technology: Adapting to evolving web and mobile technologies, design tools, and user expectations in the rapidly changing EdTech landscape.

• Data Interpretation: Translating complex user data and analytics into actionable design improvements.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Skills: Opportunities to master new design techniques, tools, and methodologies through internal training, workshops, or external conferences.

• Industry Trends: Staying abreast of emerging trends in UX/UI design, educational technology, and digital product development.

• Leadership Development: Potential to grow into senior or lead designer roles, taking on more strategic responsibilities and mentoring junior team members.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Gaining exposure to product management, instructional design, and university operations to broaden perspective.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers the opportunity to tackle complex design challenges within a mission-driven organization. The growth path is likely centered on deepening design expertise, contributing to strategic initiatives, and potentially moving into leadership roles within WGU's expanding digital ecosystem.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance competing user needs with business constraints. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your process, decision-making, and ability to find compromise.)

• "How do you approach designing for accessibility and inclusivity? Can you provide an example from your portfolio?" (Demonstrate your understanding of WCAG and commitment to user-centered design for all.)

• "Walk us through a complex UI framework or design system you've contributed to. What were the key challenges, and how did you ensure consistency and scalability?" (Highlight your experience with reusable components and strategic design thinking.)

• "How do you collaborate with developers to ensure the technical feasibility of your designs?" (Emphasize communication, understanding of constraints, and iterative feedback loops.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about WGU's mission and our approach to education?" (Research WGU's competency-based model, accreditation, and impact.)

• "How do you stay updated on the latest UX/UI trends and technologies?" (Show your commitment to continuous learning.)

• "Describe your ideal team environment and how you contribute to a positive collaborative culture." (Align your values with WGU's stated values of student-centricity and teamwork.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Frame each project as a narrative: problem, your approach, challenges, solutions, and results.

• Visual Clarity: Ensure your presentation is clean, professional, and easy to follow. Use high-quality visuals and minimal text on slides.

• Focus on Process: Be prepared to deep-dive into your design process for each project, explaining the 'why' behind your decisions.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success and value of your design work.

• Engage and Interact: Treat it as a conversation. Be open to questions and discussions about your work, showing your ability to think on your feet.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare to discuss your design process in detail, showcase how you solve problems, and articulate the impact of your work, especially as it relates to user experience and operational efficiency within an educational context. Demonstrating an understanding of WGU's unique mission will be crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX/UI Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the WGU Workday job portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate and polish your design portfolio, highlighting 3-5 relevant projects that demonstrate your UX/UI expertise, problem-solving skills, and experience with enterprise-scale applications or educational technology. Ensure case studies clearly outline your process and impact.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize keywords from the job description, such as "UX/UI design," "user-centered design," "wireframing," "prototyping," "Adobe Creative Suite," "Sketch," "HTML/CSS," and "enterprise-scale products." Highlight achievements with quantifiable results.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, rationale, and outcomes for your portfolio projects. Prepare to discuss your understanding of WGU's mission and how your skills align with the role's responsibilities and the company's values.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Western Governors University, its mission, its competency-based education model, and its target audience. Understand how design contributes to student success and operational efficiency within the higher education sector.

⚠️ 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.