Design Lead (UX/UI)

Design Lead (UX/UI)

Full-Time 36000 - 60000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Happl

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead UX/UI design, shaping the brand and user experience across all platforms.
  • Company: Join Happl, a top UK startup revolutionising employee benefits with AI.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, equity, flexible working, and wellbeing budget.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on employee benefits while showcasing your design skills.
  • Qualifications: 4+ years in UX/UI, strong design craft, and collaborative spirit.
  • Other info: Dynamic role with ownership and growth opportunities in a fast-paced environment.

The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.

We’re building the next generation of employee benefits infrastructure. We help global teams design, manage, and scale benefits that actually work for their people by using AI, across flex allowances, benefits, insurance, recognition, and wellbeing, all in one intelligent platform. Happl is backed by leading investors such as YCombinator, 6Degrees Capital, and more, known for backing leading companies such as Deel, Rippling, Airbnb, Coinbase, Dropbox, and most recently was awarded a place in the UK’s top 100 startups for 2026.

About The Role

As a Design Lead at Happl, your mission is to define and shape how Happl looks, feels, and is remembered. This goes beyond our platform; you’ll be owning anything design across the company, including social, website, platform, app and more. As the first member in our design team, you’ll obsess over craft and detail, building a distinctive, recognisable brand that resonates with HR leaders, People teams, and senior stakeholders. You’ll sit at the intersection of design, product, and technology, using AI and modern tools to prototype fast, ship often, and continuously raise the bar on quality. You’ll work closely with Product and Engineering to deeply understand customer needs and reimagine how users interact with our platform, while owning everything beyond the product too: website, socials, campaigns, events, and brand moments that make Happl stand out. This is a high-impact, high-ownership role for someone who thrives on challenge, brings bold ideas, moves quickly, and cares deeply about how things are made, not just that they ship.

What You’ll Be Doing

  • Owning UX/UI across the Happl product, from concept to shipped experience
  • Prototyping and shipping ideas quickly using modern tools and AI-assisted workflows
  • Working closely with Product to deeply understand customer problems and turn them into elegant, intuitive solutions
  • Shaping and evolving Happl’s visual identity to be instantly recognisable to HR leaders and senior stakeholders
  • Designing and building our website, landing pages, and marketing surfaces
  • Creating assets for socials, campaigns, launches, and events
  • Designing and shipping prototypes to test new ideas, flows, and interactions
  • Maintaining and evolving design systems, patterns, and standards across product and brand
  • Bringing new ideas, tools, and approaches to how we design, build, and ship
  • Raising the overall quality bar

What We’re Looking For

  • A strong design craft with taste, range, and attention to detail
  • 4+ Experience working across UX/UI, brand, and digital experiences
  • Comfort operating in product teams and collaborating closely with engineers
  • A bias toward shipping — you like getting things live, not just perfect
  • Experience using modern prototyping tools and AI to move faster and explore more
  • Someone who enjoys ownership, ambiguity, and being challenged
  • Strong opinions, loosely held, you care deeply but stay flexible
  • Ability to think in systems while still sweating the small details
  • A portfolio that shows shipped work across product, brand, or both

Why join Happl

  • Help shape the future of employee benefits
  • Competitive base salary and commission
  • Meaningful equity in an early stage growing business
  • Flexible hybrid working from day one
  • Access to your own Happl benefits platform
  • Optional enrolment in Private Health Insurance
  • Optional enrolment in Dental insurance, including family cover
  • A flexible Wellbeing budget to spend on whatever wellbeing means to you
  • Learning & Development (L&D) allowance
  • Work From Home (WFH) setup allowance (for remote roles)
  • Home office setup budget
  • Pension scheme from day one

Design Lead (UX/UI) employer: Happl

At Happl, we are not just building a platform; we are crafting the future of employee benefits with a focus on innovation and design excellence. As a Design Lead, you will thrive in a dynamic, collaborative environment that values creativity and ownership, while enjoying competitive salaries, flexible working arrangements, and a commitment to your professional growth through learning and development opportunities. Join us in shaping a distinctive brand that resonates globally, all while being part of a top UK startup backed by leading investors.
Happl

Contact Detail:

Happl Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Design Lead (UX/UI)

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, especially those at Happl or similar companies. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that might just land you an interview.

✨Tip Number 2

Show off your work! Make sure your portfolio is up-to-date and highlights your best UX/UI projects. When you apply through our website, include a link to your portfolio so we can see your design magic firsthand.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare for the interview by understanding our mission and values. Think about how your design philosophy aligns with what we do at Happl. This will help you stand out as someone who truly gets us!

✨Tip Number 4

Be ready to discuss your process! We love candidates who can articulate their design thinking and problem-solving skills. Share examples of how you've tackled challenges in past projects during your interview.

We think you need these skills to ace Design Lead (UX/UI)

UX Design
UI Design
Prototyping
AI-assisted Workflows
Visual Identity Development
Design Systems Maintenance
Collaboration with Product Teams
Digital Marketing Design
Attention to Detail
Creative Problem Solving
Strong Design Craft
Flexibility in Design Approach
Experience with Modern Prototyping Tools
Brand Development

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Off Your Design Skills: Make sure your portfolio is front and centre! We want to see your best work that showcases your UX/UI prowess. Highlight projects where you've made a real impact, especially those that resonate with HR leaders or similar audiences.

Tailor Your Application: Don’t just send a generic application! We love it when candidates take the time to tailor their CV and cover letter to reflect how their experience aligns with our mission at Happl. Show us why you’re the perfect fit for this role!

Be Bold and Creative: This is a design role, so let your creativity shine through in your application! Use visuals or unique formats if it fits your style, but make sure it’s still professional. We appreciate bold ideas and fresh perspectives!

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensures you get all the latest updates from us. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!

How to prepare for a job interview at Happl

✨Know Your Design Craft

Make sure you can talk confidently about your design process and the tools you use. Be ready to showcase your portfolio, highlighting projects that demonstrate your UX/UI skills and how you've tackled challenges in previous roles.

✨Understand the Company’s Vision

Research Happl and its mission to revolutionise employee benefits. Familiarise yourself with their platform and think about how your design philosophy aligns with their goals. This will show that you're genuinely interested and invested in their success.

✨Prepare for Collaboration Questions

Since you'll be working closely with Product and Engineering teams, be prepared to discuss how you approach collaboration. Share examples of how you've successfully worked with cross-functional teams to deliver impactful designs.

✨Showcase Your Prototyping Skills

Happl values quick prototyping and shipping ideas. Be ready to discuss your experience with modern prototyping tools and AI-assisted workflows. Consider bringing a few quick mock-ups or prototypes to demonstrate your ability to iterate and innovate on the spot.

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