At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the UI/UX department, crafting innovative gaming experiences for millions.
- Company: Join Creative Assembly, a leader in game development with a player-centric approach.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, enhanced holidays, and comprehensive health benefits.
- Other info: Hybrid work model with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of gaming while mentoring a talented team in a creative environment.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in UI/UX with strong leadership and project management skills.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Join Creative Assembly and craft deep and detailed games that last, entertaining millions of players across the globe for decades. As the Head of UI/UX Department, your primary focus is on building and leading the department. You will define a scalable resourcing strategy, balancing in-house expertise and external partnerships. You will define and scale the UI/UX team structure, ensuring the right mix of artists, designers, engineers, and researchers. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams (Game Design, Engineering, Art, Production) to integrate UI/UX seamlessly into the development pipeline.
We are looking for a candidate with 10+ years of experience in UI/UX or related fields, with a proven track record of leadership and team development.
In this role you will:
- Lead the recruitment, training, and mentoring of top UI/UX talent, fostering a culture of excellence.
- Craft the vision and strategy for the UI/UX for the Franchise, with the UI Product Owner, following the franchise strategy – as defined by the Franchise Leadership Team – and the needs of the Projects – as defined by the Project Game, and Creative Directors.
- Work closely with Production to establish UI/UX budgets, timelines, and staffing needs.
- Be accountable for the long-term UI/UX backlog as part of the wider Gameplay Platform initiative.
- Drive the establishment and maintenance of quality standards, best practices, design systems, documentation, and UI/UX guidelines, processes and workflows.
- Ensure a data-driven approach to UI/UX decision-making, leveraging player feedback and research for ensuring quality standards are met.
- Make sure the department stays ahead of industry trends, emerging technologies, and interaction models in gaming and beyond.
- Drive innovation in control schemes, accessibility, onboarding, and player journey design.
- Work closely with UX Testing & Research to validate player interactions, and be the primary liaison with them in the Franchise.
- Collaborate with the Project Leadership Teams and the UXR and audience research functionalities of the wider organization in the organization playtesting, A/B testing, eye-tracking studies, and user research.
- Be the primary owner of translating player insights into actionable design improvements.
- Collaborate in maintaining player personas and behavioural models to inform game design.
- Collaborate closely with the Franchise Leadership Team, and the Project Leadership Teams to identify challenges, opportunities, interesting new initiatives to pursue, as well as any potential risks, planning for mitigations, and escalating where necessary to overcome discrepancies or disagreements.
- Be responsible for representing, and timely communicating vision, strategy and status of the department, including highlighting perceived future opportunities and risks.
- Employ a data-informed, and player- and product centric, yet people-led mindset to support the Franchise and the delivery of the projects, and help build and maintain a positive, open, informed, and focused team.
On a day-to-day basis you will:
- Build and maintain resourcing strategy for the department, and be responsible for its clear communication to stakeholders.
- Lead and mentor the UI/UX team, ensuring individual and collective growth.
- Build, refine and maintain guidelines, standards, workflows, processes, and documentation across the department.
- Collaborate with the Franchise Leadership to ensure the Department vision, strategy and operation aligns with and helps deliver the strategic roadmap.
- Build and maintain a future-facing feature roadmap for the department, and be responsible for its clear communication to stakeholders.
- Collaborate with the Franchise Leadership Team, and the Project Leadership teams to plan future strategic work.
- Act as a tiebreaker between Projects and the Franchise where Department related decisions must be made.
- Be involved in UI/UX reviews, looking at design concepts, providing strategic direction and hands-on feedback.
- Stay involved in high-level problem-solving, ensuring that UI/UX solutions align with player expectations.
- Collaborate in planning and overseeing UX research and playtests, analyzing data for usability improvements.
- Engage with external vendors and outsourcing partners, overseeing quality and integration of external work.
- Advocate for product- and player-centric design in franchise-wide discussions and leadership meetings.
- Monitor UI/UX trends and best practices, ensuring the team remains at the forefront of industry standards.
Knowledge, Skill and Experience
Essential
- Strong leadership skills, with a track record of mentoring and managing UI/UX teams.
- Proven experience building and leading a UI/UX department, defining structure, hiring, and setting best practices.
- Ability to balance creative vision, business and technical constraints with player value and best practices.
- Expertise in UI/UX for games, including interaction design, accessibility, information architecture, and usability heuristics, including a good understanding of technical requirements and limitations.
- Strong knowledge of game control schemes, onboarding, and player psychology.
- Experience in outsourcing/vendor management, working with external UI/UX partners.
- A methodological and data-informed approach.
- Experience in project management methodologies such as scrum and agile.
- Knowledge of project management software and tools.
- Excellent organisational, management and problem-solving skills and mentality.
- Excellent ability to connect people, with experience building and maintaining teams through cooperation and collaboration.
- Strong diplomatic skills, with an ability to unite multiple stakeholders with varied priorities and needs.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Experience working with in-house, or proprietary game engines (Unreal Engine UMG, Unity UI, or similar UI implementation tools).
- Understanding of Agile workflows and experience integrating UI/UX into iterative game development processes.
Desirable
- Experience in AAA or high-profile game development with a major UI/UX leadership role, preferably on multiple platforms.
- Strong visual design sensibility, able to work with artists and engineers to achieve high-quality UI aesthetics.
- Familiarity with motion design and UI animation principles for interactive feedback.
- Proficiency in UI/UX tools (Figma, Adobe XD, Axure, or equivalent).
- Passion for game accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG, Xbox Accessibility Guidelines).
- Experience in planning and delivering large scale AAA game projects.
- Knowledge of the broader game development, from inception to post-release, the interplay and dependencies between different disciplines.
- Broad knowledge of games and an interest in relevant game industry trends.
- Experience working with data analytics for player behaviour analysis.
- Hands-on experience with UX research methods, including usability testing, playtests, and data-driven design.
ABOUT CREATIVE ASSEMBLY
We care deeply about the experiences we create and put our players at the heart of our decisions. We are all game makers; no matter our role we are empowered to make significant contributions to our games, supported by skills development and growth opportunities.
Most roles at Creative Assembly are hybrid; what this looks like will be discussed during the interview process. For many teams, this is 3 days a week in the studio. CA has the right to change requirements based on the needs of the business.
We offer many benefits to support you and your family including:
- Work from Anywhere for a temporary period each year (restrictions apply such as VISAs).
- Enhanced holiday allowance, maternity and paternity breaks, flexibility with our core hours, and no-notice holidays.
- Bespoke relocation package for you and your dependents.
- Private medical and dental insurance, life insurance, permanent health insurance, critical illness cover and free health care screening.
- Additional benefits ranging from free games and work parties to discount on technology.
- Wellbeing support and virtual confidential counselling.
We are an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief. Our studio sites have disabled access.
Head of UI/UX in Horsham employer: The Creative Assembly
Creative Assembly is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that prioritises creativity and collaboration in the gaming industry. With a strong focus on employee growth, we provide extensive training and mentoring opportunities, alongside a range of benefits including enhanced holiday allowances and private medical insurance. Our hybrid working model allows for flexibility, ensuring that our team can thrive both in and out of the studio while contributing to games that entertain millions worldwide.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of UI/UX in Horsham
✨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 The Creative Assembly for a Head of UI/UX, 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 The Creative Assembly before they go live!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of UI/UX in Horsham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Design Process:When you're applying for a UX/UI Design role like Head of UI/UX at The Creative Assembly, 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 The Creative Assembly 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 The Creative Assembly. 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 The Creative Assembly.
How to prepare for a job interview at The Creative Assembly
✨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 The Creative Assembly, 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. The Creative Assembly 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 The Creative Assembly!
✨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 The Creative Assembly is looking for.
