At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead UI design projects and mentor a talented team in a dynamic studio.
- Company: Join an independent design consultancy known for innovation and creativity.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, private healthcare, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a vibrant studio culture in the heart of Shoreditch.
- Why this job: Make your mark by shaping cutting-edge digital experiences across various industries.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in UI design, leadership, and client management.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
We're looking for an exceptional Lead UI Designer - someone with the craft, the creative authority, and the leadership experience to raise the bar across our digital output and help shape where the studio goes next. We're an independent design and innovation consultancy hired to create wholly new products and experiences. The work is genuinely varied and often complex - spanning consumer electronics, tech, healthcare, wellness, and automotive.
At Lead level, you won't just be delivering outstanding work yourself; you'll be setting the standard for others, owning client relationships, and playing an active role in how we grow. As Lead UI Designer, you'll set visual design direction across multi-modal digital and AI experiences, including motion 3D, augmented reality and more - you'll bring the rigour and perspective to take our work from concept to reality. You'll line-manage and mentor designers at senior and junior level, own accounts, and contribute meaningfully to new business. This is a role for someone ready to make their mark - and build something.
You'll work alongside designers, developers, anthropologists, strategists, and engineers who are genuinely excellent at what they do. The expectation is that you are too.
Your profile
- Experienced & Agency-Tested: You have a track record of delivering high-impact visual and UI work across a range of industries, in a fast-paced creative agency environment. You know how to navigate complexity and still produce exceptional output.
- Creative Authority: You set visual design direction with confidence. Your decisions are grounded in craft and strategic thinking, and you can bring a room with you - clients and collaborators alike. You have very strong communication skills and the ability to lead clients on a design journey.
- People Manager: You have direct experience managing designers. You give clear, constructive feedback, support people's development, and know how to get the best out of a team without micromanaging.
- Account Owner: You're comfortable leading client relationships - holding the big picture, managing expectations, and maintaining trust over the course of a project.
- New Business Minded: You understand the commercial side of a studio. You're interested in helping win work - whether that's contributing to proposals, showing up well in pitches, or spotting opportunities within existing accounts.
- Cross-Disciplinary & Motion-Capable: You have working knowledge of motion design and understand how it contributes to the overall experience - timing, transitions, and bringing UI to life across platforms. You work fluidly across disciplines, bridging visual craft with 3D, UX thinking, engineering constraints, and client strategy.
- AI-Fluent: You actively explore new AI tools and integrate them thoughtfully into your workflow - not for novelty, but to elevate speed, craft, and thinking. You also understand what it means to design for AI-driven experiences.
- Craft-Led: You're rigorous about detail, such as typography, hierarchy, layout, and interaction. Your standards are high and you hold others to them too.
- Adaptable: We iterate, test, and sometimes start again. At Lead level, that means staying steady under ambiguity and helping your team do the same.
- Passionate: A genuine passion for the work is essential. We believe the best creative leaders still care deeply about the craft itself.
Why us?
- Annual Leave: 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays. We actively encourage you to take your leave.
- Enhanced Parental Leave: Enhanced maternity and paternity pay.
- Private Healthcare: Bupa private medical insurance, including 24/7 GP access, mental health support, and specialist care. A health and wellness cashback plan.
- Wellbeing & Fitness: 40% discount across the Hussle Gym network. Access to YuLife wellbeing and fitness benefits, including mindfulness resources, company-wide challenges and cash rewards.
- Professional Development: Opportunities for learning and development, access to industry talks, exhibitions, and visiting speakers.
- Studio Culture: Regular company events and studio activities throughout the year.
- Location: Our Shoreditch studio is well connected and surrounded by a vibrant design and technology community.
- Independent Studio: Native has operated independently in East London for over twenty years. We are committed to long-term thinking, craft, and delivering thoughtful innovation without compromise.
About us
Native is an independent design and innovation firm, with a unique blend of industrial, digital, and service design expertise. We pioneer ground-breaking products and services for some of the world’s most innovative brands across consumer electronics, healthcare, wellness and automotive. We pride ourselves on having assembled a world class team of designers, developers, anthropologists, strategists, engineers, and tastemakers. They have come to our studios from all over the world and share a passion for brilliant creative thinking and a ruthless attention to detail.
Lead UI Designer employer: Native Design
At Native, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant studio culture in the heart of Shoreditch, where creativity thrives. Our commitment to professional development, coupled with generous benefits like enhanced parental leave and private healthcare, ensures that our team members are supported both personally and professionally. Join us to work alongside a world-class team, where your leadership as a Lead UI Designer will not only shape innovative products but also foster growth and collaboration in a dynamic environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead UI Designer
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
In the world of UX/UI design, your portfolio speaks volumes! Make sure it's packed with your best work and showcases your process, not just the final product. We want to see how you tackle design challenges, so consider adding case studies that reflect your thought process and user-centric approach.
✨Get Involved in Design Communities
Jump into local or online design meetups and workshops! Places like UXPA or local design events can be goldmines for networking and learning. Plus, mingling with fellow designers can introduce you to potential job openings that might not be listed elsewhere.
✨Tailor Your Applications
When you find a role that excites you, like the one at Native Design for a Lead UI Designer, make your application count! Highlight specific projects and skills that directly relate to the job description. Hiring managers are looking for candidates who fit into their specific team, so show them you’re the one!
✨Leverage Social Media
Don't underestimate the power of social media in finding a UX/UI design job! Follow design leaders on platforms like Twitter or Instagram, share your work, and engage in conversations. It’s a great way to get noticed by recruiters and even catch wind of openings at companies like Native Design before they go live!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead UI Designer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Design Process:When you're applying for a UX/UI Design role like Lead UI Designer at Native Design, make sure to include examples that clearly highlight your design process. We want to see not just the final product but also the journey that led you there—wireframes, user personas, and iterations demonstrate your thought process and user-centric approach!
Tailor Your Portfolio:A tailor-made portfolio is crucial for a full-time design role! Curate your best projects that align with the kind of work Native Design does. We suggest including 3-5 case studies that showcase a variety of skills such as wireframing, prototyping, and user testing to really make your application pop.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should not just be a summary of your CV. Use it to express why you’re excited about UX/UI Design and what draws you specifically to Native Design. Mention any relevant experience, tools you’re proficient in (like Sketch or Figma), and how you can contribute to their projects.
Highlight Collaboration Skills:In the world of UX/UI Design, teamwork is crucial. Make sure to highlight any past experiences where you worked in cross-functional teams. Illustrate how you communicated design decisions and listened to feedback, as this will resonate well with the culture at Native Design.
How to prepare for a job interview at Native Design
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
When you're gunning for a full-time UX/UI design role, your portfolio is your best friend! Make sure you've got a solid selection of your work, showcasing not just the final designs, but the process behind them—think wireframes, user flows, and any user research you've conducted. During the interview with Native Design, be prepared to discuss your design decisions and how they solve specific user problems.
✨Prepare for Design Challenges
Expect to face some practical design tasks during your interview. Native Design might ask you to tackle a quick design challenge or critique an existing interface. Brush up on your problem-solving skills and try to articulate your thought process as you work through these scenarios. Showing how you approach a design problem is just as important as the final output!
✨Know the Tools of the Trade
Familiarise yourself with the tools commonly used in the industry—figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch should be second nature to you. Be ready to discuss your preferred tools during the interview and how they've shaped your design process at previous positions. This knowledge could give you an edge at Native Design!
✨Show Passion for User Experience
In a full-time UX/UI design role, having a genuine passion for improving user interactions can set you apart. Be prepared to share instances when you went above and beyond to ensure a great user experience in your previous projects. This will demonstrate that you’re not just a designer, but a user advocate, which is exactly what Native Design is looking for.
